Summary: The United States Legislative System

Most individuals with a general background knowledge of the United States Federal Government system are aware that in order for a bill to become a law, it must first pass a majority vote in Congress. There is, however, a very important step in the legislative process that sometimes goes unnoticed. The committee system of the legislation process ensures that the appropriate attention is given to each bill introduced to Congress. Each member of both chambers are assigned to committees and subcommittees, and are expected to become subject matter experts in their respective roles as committee members.

The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives is calculated based on a state’s adult population,

As mentioned before, getting a federal law passed takes more steps than a state or local law. A member of Congress must first introduce the bill. After the bill is introduced to Congress it is then referred to a committee or multiple committees. The committee that the bill is referred to depends on what committee has jurisdiction over the primary issue of the bill (Steps in Making a Bill a Law: The Federal Legislative Process). Sometimes the bill is referred to a subcommittee first. According to, “Steps in Making a Bill a Law: The Federal Legislative Process,” once referred to a committee, “The chairman of the Committee determines whether there will be a hearing on the bill and whether there will be ‘mark up’” (Steps in Making a Bill a Law: The Federal Legislative Process). A “mark up” is when members of the committee meet to offer changes that could be made to the bill. After changes are accepted or rejected, the chairman moves to vote the bill favorably out of committee then the entire body of the committee favorably reports out the bill (Steps in Making a Bill a Law: The Federal Legislative Process). The third step to making a bill a law is a committee report. In this step, the committee chairman’s staff writes a report of the bill. The report of the bill describes the intent of legislation, the bill’s legislative history, the impact the bill will have on existing laws and programs, and the position that the majority of the members of committee take on the bill (Steps

“ Congress: The Electoral Connection”, the article is written by David R. Mayhew. Mayhew represents his view about Congressmen activities. These politicians discuss certain issues going on within the country and to emphasize people to focus on their listed issues and get attention of public in order to take position in House.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, four being in Kansas. Each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House for a two-year term. Representatives are also called congressmen/congresswomen. The four Kansas representatives are Tim Huelskamp, Lynn Jenkins, Kevin Yoder, and Mike Pompeo. They are all four Republicans and represent the four different districts in Kansas. Tim has the first district, Lynn the second, Kevin the third and Mike the fourth. Harvey County is located in the fourth district.

Michigan State Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. It Consists of 38 members who are elected from districts that had an average of 260,096 residents. The Senate meets at its capitol in Lansing. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor, the senators serve four-year terms with the governor’s term of office. Moreover, terms for senators begin on January 1, then November is the general election.

Congressional voting is something that is very important in helping to support the United States of America's version of democracy, yet despite the importance of it our ways of life and government, there is undeniable influences that effect voting placement and results. The three main things that influence the representatives are interest groups, political parties, and the general thought process of any congress member as people. The House of Representatives, also known as Congress, was designed as part of the Legislative Branch to be the most powerful and represent the common opinion (Ginsberg 9th et al, 41-43) so of course, it should follow as such, but is following the common opinion best for the country? For the people? There are many ways

In today’s government, the state of Michigan has two representative in the Senate (Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters) and one in Congress (Debbie Dingell). Debbie Stabenow currently resides as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Foresty, and the Senate Committee on Finance, along with serving on subcommittees on commodities, conservation, and rural development and energy. Gary Peters currently sits on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Homeland Security, and Armed Services, along with being apart of subcommittees on Fisheries, aviation, emerging threats, and strategic forces. Debbie Dinged currently resides on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, while being on

Congressional districts are the 435 areas from which members are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. After the apportionment of congressional seats among the states, which is based on decennial census population counts, each state with multiple seats is responsible for establishing congressional districts for the purpose of electing representatives. The boundaries and numbers shown for the congressional districts are those specified in the state laws or court orders establishing the districts within each state. Congressional districts for the 108th through 112th sessions were established by the states based on the result of the 2000 Census. Congressional districts for the 113th through 115th sessions were established by the states

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, 14 in Michigan, each with a

The next major area of issues lies with the Legislative Branch. The Legislative branch is the ranch of government that crafts new laws and amendments as well as ensuring the voice of the people is expressed. Under Article I. of the original Constitution,” All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives…The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States… The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote… The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, … To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

Congress has many functions to keep it working and functioning. They do many things to make laws, make sure they’re fair, and much more. There are also many committees with important jobs. There are many things that influence congressional elections such as reapportionment, redistricting, much more. There are many people who make up the House and Senate and they have many important jobs to keep things running smoothly.

The House of Commons is made up of 308 representatives, each of whom represent one single electoral district ("House of Commons of Canada."). Although, as of the upcoming election, they have raised risen the number to 338 representatives that will be part of the House of Commons ("House of Commons of Canada."). The population in the provinces and territory determines the number of House of Commons; the people get to choose to represent them; within those provinces and territories there are a minimum of 295 electoral districts ("House of Commons of Canada."). The electrical district is where the people go to vote for the candidate they want to upcoming election, they have raised risen the number to 338 representatives that will be part of the House of Commons ("House of Commons of Canada."). The population in the provinces and territory determines the number of House of Commons; the people get to choose to represent them; within those provinces and territories there are a minimum of 295 electoral districts ("House of Commons of Canada."). The electrical district is where the people go to vote for the candidate they want to running for the available positions of being a part of the House of Commons, so the people will choose which candidate will represent them. Since, there are more areas that are populated they have more representatives ("The Canadian

I believe that the legislators have the most power . I feel like This because they make the laws and without them making the laws wouldn’t be laws to follow . I will give you three reasons why I feel like the legislators have the most power . One reason is that they make laws for people to follow . My second reason is that the legislature make the money and that they have other jobs to take care of too.

The different types of legislatures vary from state to state. Professionalism is defined in our Textbook, Governing States and Localities, as the Process of providing legislators with the resources they need to make politics their main career, such as making their positions full time or providing them with full-time staff (Smith and Greenblatt). About 50 percent of states are in between full-time, well paid, and large staffed, and part-time, low pay, and small staffed. While states like California, New York, and Pennsylvania are on the high end in terms of professionalism in legislature, New Hampshire is known as one of the six least professional. In the United States there are 28 Republican-controlled legislatures and 17 Democrat-controlled legislatures, and 5 split legislatures ("Full- and Part-Time Legislatures"). You will soon see that New Hampshire is in the minority amongst the states in having a split legislature. Currently New Hampshire is one of four states with a Democratic Governor, Maggie Hassan, and a split legislature ("2014 State and Legislative Partisan Composition").