On the other hand, the House of Representatives is given by the Constitution a very important and special money-raising power; which is, that all laws about raising revenue must be passed by the House before the Senate can act on them. As a result, in reaching the first decision as to the way in which necessary money shall be raised for the Federal Government, the large States have more votes than the small States. In actual practice, of course, the Senate may vote any number of amendments to a revenue bill which the House has passed. Then a "conference committee," made up of Members appointed from both houses, must work out some sort of a compromise satisfactory to both before the bill can become a law. However, the authority of the House of Representatives to originate revenue bills is a very important one and is one of the "checks and balances" of the Legislative Branch of our National Government. SUMMARY You have learned in this chapter how the Constitution of the United States set up a Legislative Branch called the Congress, and how it gave every State an equal representation in the United States Senate. You have learned how the House of Representatives has grown from a small group of 65 lawmakers to a very large group of 435. In allotting the 65 seats of the first House of Representatives among the 13 States, the Constitution provided that each Representative should represent not more than 30,000 people; but this country has grown so fast that today each Congressman represents about 300,000 people. Even so, the people of the United States still feel and know that the final authority belongs to them and that their Congressmen and Senators are their representatives and must answer to them for the welfare of the country. In our next chapter we shall learn what kind of laws the Congress is authorized to make, and how it goes about its lawmaking duties. each year. ances. Session (regular). Meets January 3 of Meets January 3 of each year. Vice President of the United States. (1) To consent or refuse to consent to treaties. (2) To try persons impeached. (3) To confirm or refuse to confirm appointments made by the President. (4) To elect a Vice President if no candidate has a majority of the electoral votes. Figure 48 Make-Up of Our National Congress THINGS TO DO Questions to discuss in your study group: 1. Why did the Fathers of the Constitution decide that a bill should pass both houses before it could become a law? 2. Why is it important that we elect able and qualified persons to the National Legislature? Furnish the missing information in the following outline: the National House of Representatives. I live in Congressional District No. The date on which we next elect our National Senators and Representatives is Select the word or phrase which will make each of the following statements read correctly: 1. The main task of the Legislative Branch of our National Government is to make the laws. to explain the laws. 2. The upper house of the National Legislature is called the House of Representatives. Senate. 8 3. Each State elects members of the National Senate. 4. Senators and Representatives are chosen by the direct vote of the people. by the State courts. 5. The required age for United States Senators is higher than that for Members of the House of Repre lower sentatives. 6. The number of Representatives each State is entitled to send to the House of Representatives depends upon the 2 serve terms of 3 years. 8. Revenue bills must be introduced in the House of Representatives. Senate. 9. Before bills become laws they must be passed by both only one of the houses of the legislature. |