The Legislative Branch Overview: Students will analyze the functions of the legislative branch of the federal government.
GC.10 Analyze Article I and the 17th Amendment of the Constitution as they relate to the legislative branch, including: eligibility for office, roles, length of terms, and election to office for representatives and senators, respectively. H, P
What am I learning today?
How our government is structured by political office and the qualifications, responsibilities and length of service of our Federal legislators.
Why am I learning this?
Knowing who our legislators are, their powers, and impact on our lives gives us a better understanding of our government.
How will I know I learned this?
When you can explain the length of terms of our House and Senate members, their qualifications and how they are elected.
Article 1
Legislative Branch
17th Amendment
Popular Election of Senators
Landmark Legislation: The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution
Eligibility for office
The House of Representatives
“No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.”
— U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 2, clause 2
US Senate
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. [U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3, clause 3]
Powers of the Legislators
Length of Terms
All House members are elected for two years. All members stand for reelection in the general election during even years and begin serving the first day of the legislative session following the general election.
US Senate
Elections
Midterm Elections