Congress
Who writes the laws?
The 20 questions in this topic
- 16Name the three branches of government.
- 17The President of the United States is in charge of which branch of government?
- 18What part of the federal government writes laws?
- 19What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
- 20Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
- 21How many U.S. senators are there?
- 22How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
- 23Who is one of your state's U.S. senators now?
- 24How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
- 25How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
- 26Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?
- 27How many senators does each state have?
- 28Why does each state have two senators?
- 29Name your U.S. representative.
- 30What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
- 31Who does a U.S. senator represent?
- 32Who elects U.S. senators?
- 33Who does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
- 34Who elects members of the House of Representatives?
- 35Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?
Transcript
Rafa: Mom, that's easy: the President makes the laws. He signs and done.
Lupe: What part of the federal government writes laws?
Rafa: The President! And Congress is one room with fifty guys: one per state.
Lupe: Mmm… The President?
Rafa: … The red stamp again?
Grandpa: Rewind.
Grandpa: The government has three branches: one makes the laws, one carries them out, one judges them. Congress writes the laws.
Grandpa: Congress has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Grandpa: The Senate: two per state, and there are fifty states… one hundred senators. They serve six years.
Grandpa: The House: four hundred thirty-five. More people in your state, more representatives. They serve two years.
Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. How many U.S. senators are there?
Rafa: Fifty! One per state.
Grandpa: Rafa! It's TWO per state. Two times fifty…
Lupe: One hundred.
Grandpa: Good. Another one: How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Lupe: Six years.
Lupe: Your turn, mijo: How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Rafa: Mmm… Four hundred thirty-five?
Grandpa: There. Now we're talking.
Lupe: My second stamp in the passport!
Grandpa: Two out of twenty, Lupe. You're picking up speed.
Grandpa: Now, your ear. Listen to the officer, answer out loud… then repeat after me.
Officer: What part of the federal government writes laws?
Grandpa: Congress. KAHN-gress.
Officer: What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Grandpa: The Senate and House of Representatives. SEN-it… rep-ri-ZEN-tuh-tivz.
Officer: How many U.S. senators are there?
Grandpa: One hundred. wun HUN-dred.
Officer: How long is a term for a U.S. senator?
Grandpa: Six years. SIKS YEERZ.
Officer: How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
Grandpa: Four hundred thirty-five. FOR HUN-dred THUR-tee FIVE.
Officer: How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
Grandpa: Two years. TOO YEERZ.
Lupe: A hundred senators, and four hundred thirty-five in the House!
Grandpa: And Congress writes the laws, not the President. Say them out loud every day, Lupe.
Rafa: Okay, okay… the President doesn't do everything. Got it.