2. Table of Contents:
-Three Branches of government
-What is the legislative branch?
-Government Spending
-Who is the legislative branch?
-Congress video
-In the beginning
-Over the years
-House of Representatives
-Census
-Important people
-Senate
-In the beginning
-Important people
-Fun fact
-Election Day
-House of Representatives vs. Senate
-Bills Becoming Laws
-Capital Hill Timeline
-General Assembly vs. County Commissioner
Additional Resources & Activities

3. Three Branches of Government
Separation of Powers
- Each branch is responsible for their job.
- No one gets too much power.
- Helps things run smoothly.

4. Legislative Branch
-Has power to write the laws.
-Sets apart funds (money) for government.
-Responsible for watching what the Executive Branch does.
-Impeachment (removal of a person from office, EVEN the president!)
Imagine if you had the power to write laws. What would be some laws
you want to create? Why? Write a persuasive letter about a law that
you would like to have passed in government.

5. The legislative branch can raise taxes. Everyone that is
a citizen of the U.S. must pay taxes to keep
government running.
-Can you determine total percentage of money spent on Medicare
& Social Security together?
-Can you determine the total difference between National Defense
& net interest?

6. Who is in the legislative
branch?
Congress
Congress is made up of 2 parts:

7. Click the video to learn about congress in the
legislative branch!

8. In the Beginning…
When congress was first established in
1789, there were only 65 representatives from the
original 13 colonies (settlements).
FUN FACT: Did you know Georgia was one of the
original 13 colonies?!

9. Over the Years…
The number of representatives increased with population
growth. By the early 20th Century it reached up to 435
representatives. Congress decided to keep it at 435 in 1913.

10. Where do the House of
Representatives come from?
The number of seats in the House (435) is based on the
number of districts in each state. The districts (areas) are
divided up into equal populations. Each district sends one
person to Congress to speak for them.

11. Census
Every 10 years a census (an official count of the population
of every state) is taken. The more people in a state the more
representatives they have in the House of Representatives.

12. Important People:
Leader: Speaker of the House
-3rd in line for President (if the
President & Vice President had
to leave office).

13. Does the Senate work the
same way?
-Made up of 100 senators
-2 from every state REGARDLESS of population
-Big & small states have an equal vote in the Senate.
Hint: It’s a trick question!

14. In the Beginning…
Before 1913 senators were elected by their state legislator
(person who makes laws). But today they’re chosen by the
people they represent.

15. Important People:
Official Leader: Vice President
-Votes only if there’s a tie
Day-to-Day-Leader: President Pro-Temp (person in
charge when the vice president is absent).
-4th in line for president

16. FUN FACT!!!
Did you know that there is NO educational
requirement to be a congressman?!
BUT
75% are college graduates
50% of legislators are lawyers

17. When do you get to become a member of
the House of Representatives or Senate?
Election Day is always the 1st Tuesday after the first
Monday in November.

19. -1st Introduced by Congress (House/Senate)
-Then sent to the White House for the President’s
signature for approval. If he doesn’t want to pass
it, he can veto (deny) it. The House/Senate can
over rule the President if 2/3 of both parties agree
on it.

20. 1791 Started building Capital Hill
1811 Completed Capital Hill
1812 War of 1812 burned it down
1814 Rebuilt
1846 First picture of the Capital was taken
1850-1860 Built the dome, Senate wing, House of
Representatives wing added
1855 New Dome & North wing
1863 “Freedom” –Statue on top of the dome
How many years
has it been since
“Freedom” was
placed on the dome?

21. General County
Assembly Commissioner
-State level -City level
-Voted by the state -Voted by the
people
-Law making for the -To improve the
state quality of life in
the county

22. Additional Resources
& Activities