Legislative Branch

Terms to know

· Bicameral: Having two houses (e.g., the Senate and the House of Representatives)

The Virginia General Assembly and the United States Congress are bicameral legislatures.

Legislative powers

· Expressed (specifically listed)

· Implied (used to carry out expressed powers)

The lawmaking process in national and state legislatures

· Working in committees

· Debating on the floor

· Voting on a bill by both houses

· Signing the bill into law by the President or governor

Elected officials write laws and take action in response to problems or issues.

Individuals and interest groups help shape legislation.

Legislative powers over

· The executive branch

- Overrides vetoes

- Impeaches a President

· The judicial branch

- Approves federal judges

- Impeaches federal judges

Executive powers over

· The legislative branch

- Vetoes acts of Congress

- Calls Congress into special session

· The judicial branch

- Appoints federal judges

Judicial powers over

· The legislative branch

- Declares laws unconstitutional

· The executive branch

Declares executive acts unconstitutional