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Who represents you?

The Legislative Branch

Representatives are voted into positions as critical Agents of the People; to uphold the words & spirit of the Constitution; protect the welfare and enlarge the Freedoms & Liberties of the People whom they serve. 

The Congress - Basic U.S. Constitutional Requirements for Representative Offices (Article 1)

Voters choose who is best to represent their interests & protect their Freedoms & Liberties

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

This page: Congressional duties & limits; Law making process & terms; Links to Representatives

Does The Constitution Give Citizens Their Rights?

 No.


The Constitution does not give citizens their rights.  They already had their rights before they created the Constitution. 

The Constitution guarantees to protect the People's unalienable Rights. 

the senate - rules under the U.S. constitution

Article I, Sections 1-4

Senate Powers Advice & Consent - Impeachment

Senate - Classed - Voting - Presiding Officer

  How composed

Two Senators from each state


– Eligibility

1.  Attain age of thirty (30) years


2. Must be citizen of the United States for nine (9) years


3. Shall be an inhabitant of the State where chosen


4. No United States officers shall be a member of either House of Congress


– Term

The Senators term runs for six (6) years


– Vacancies

On the event of a vacancy by resignation or 

during the recess of the legislature of any state

1. The executive thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies until the next meeting of the legislature

2. The legislature shall fill such vacancies


 By Whom Chosen

1. Originally, Constitution gave the voting/election power to the legislature of the several States


2. The Seventeenth Amendment (17th) Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913 – 


Amendment XVII modified Article I, section 3 and states:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. 

Senate - Classed - Voting - Presiding Officer

Senate Powers Advice & Consent - Impeachment

Senate - Classed - Voting - Presiding Officer

  

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State 

in the Senate, the executive authority of such State 

shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: 

Provided, 

That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make 

temporary appointments until 

the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.


– When Chosen

One third the number of Senators shall be chosen 

every second year


– How Classed

After first election they shall assemble and divided into three class:


1. First class- shall be vacated at the expiration of the 

second (2nd) year;


2. Second class – shall be vacated at the expiration of the fourth (4th) year;


3. Third class – shall be vacated at the expiration of the 

sixth (6th) year.


 – Vote

Each Senator shall have one (1) vote



– Presiding Officer


1. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate

2. Vice President shall have no vote unless there is a tie-vote in the Senate

3. The Senate shall also choose a president pro tempore in the absence of the Vice President, including if he is acting in the position/office of the President of the United States
 

Senate Powers Advice & Consent - Impeachment

Senate Powers Advice & Consent - Impeachment

Senate Powers Advice & Consent - Impeachment

  

3. Advise and Consent to confirm the nominations by the President of the United States for the positions:

a. Judges of the Supreme Court

b. Federal judges in accordance with Constitution, and established by law

c. Ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls


4. They shall choose their officers, including a president pro tempore


5. If the Electors fail to elect a Vice President, the Senate shall elect one


 Impeachment powers: 


1.  The Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside over impeachment trial.


2.  Impeachment requires 

two-thirds of the members present with votes for impeachment conviction


 3.  The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all 


Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation.  

When the President of the United States is tried, 

the Chief Justice shall preside: And 

no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment 

shall not extend further 

than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: 

but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Amendment XVII (17) Gave the People the Power to Choose - to vote for who they wanted to Represent them in the U.S. Senate

Prior to the 17th Amendment  - April 8, 1913, when the Amendment was ratified, the Legislature would choose members of the Senate.

By The People and For the People

The U.S. Constitution - Powers prohibited

Congressional Powers Prohibited

Congressional Powers Prohibited

Congressional Powers Prohibited

  

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not 

be suspended, 

unless when 

in Cases of Rebellion or 

Invasion the public 

Safety may require it.


No Bill of Attainder or 

ex post facto Law 

shall be passed.


No Capitation, or other direct, 

Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.*


No Tax or Duty 

shall be laid on Articles 

exported 

from any State.


No Preference shall be given 

by any Regulation 

of Commerce or Revenue 

to the Ports of one State over those of another: 

nor shall Vessels bound to,

or from, one State, 

be obliged to enter, 

clear, or pay duties in another.



* AMENDMENT XVI
Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913 modified Article I, section 8 & 9, of the Constitution.

excerpt:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. . .  


Congressional Powers Prohibited

Congressional Powers Prohibited

Congressional Powers Prohibited

  


 No Money shall be drawn 

from the Treasury 

but in 

Consequence 

of Appropriations 

made by Law; 

and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts 

and Expenditures 

of all public 

Money shall be published 

from time to time.



No Title of Nobility 

shall be granted by 

the United States: 

And no Person 

holding any Office of Profit 

or Trust under them, 

shall, without the Consent 

of the Congress 

accept of any present, Emolument, Office, 

or Title, 

of any kind whatever, 

from any King, Prince, 

or foreign State. 

State Powers Prohibied

Congressional Powers Prohibited

State Powers Prohibied

 No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; 

grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; 

coin Money; 

emit Bills of Credit; 

make any Thing but 

gold and silver Coin 

a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, 

ex post facto Law, 

or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, 

or grant any Title of Nobility.


No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, 

lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: 

and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, 

laid by any State on Imports 

or Exports, 

shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Congress. 


No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, 

lay any Duty of Tonnage, 

keep Troops, or Ships of War

 in time of Peace, 

enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, 

or with a foreign Power, 

or engage in War, 

unless actually invaded, 

or in such imminent Danger 

as will not admit of delay.  


Congress = Senate & House of Representatives

    shared powers - Senate & house of representatives

    Constitutional Provisions

    Constitutional Provisions

    Constitutional Provisions

      Article I, Section 1. 


    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.


    Article I, Sections 4-9 (excerpts)


    Assembly

    The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, 

    and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, 

    unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.


    Quorum

    Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications 

    of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; 

    but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, 

    and under such Penalties as each House may provide.  


    Rules

    Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, 

    expel a Member.


    Journal

    Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and

     the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.


    Adjournment

    Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.


    Compensation

    The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. 


    They shall in all Cases, 

    except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, 

    be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses

     and in going to and returning from the same; and

     for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place...

    Rules

    Constitutional Provisions

    Constitutional Provisions

      No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, 

    be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or 

    the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; 

    and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.


    Bills for Raising Revenue

    All Bills for raising Revenue 

    shall originate in the 

    House 

    of Representatives; 

    but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments 

    as on other Bills.


    President’s Approval of Bills

    Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 

    the Senate, shall, 

    before it become a Law, be presented to the President 

    of the United States; 


    If he approve he shall sign it, 

    but if not 

    he shall return it, 

    with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. 


    President’s Disapproved or Unreturned Bill – Rules to Pass by Congress

    If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House 

    shall agree to pass the Bill, 

    it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, 

    by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if 

    approved by two thirds 

    of that House, 

    it shall become a Law. 


    If any Bill shall not be 

    returned by the President 

    within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, 

    unless

     the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.


     Bills, Orders & Resolutions

    Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; 

    and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, 

    shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitation prescribed in the Case of a Bill.


    Voting – 

    Yeas & Nays

    But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively.  

    Immense Powers

    Constitutional Provisions

    Immense Powers

     (Original Constitution language) 

    - excerpt from Article I, Section 8


    Taxes


    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;


     *AMENDMENT XVI 

    Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913 

    modified

    Article I, section 8 & 9, of the Constitution.

    excerpt:

    The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. . . 



    Section 8 continued:


    Power to Borrow Money on the credit of the United States;


    Power to Regulate Commerce with:

    foreign Nations, and 

    among the several States, 

    and with the Indian Tribes;

    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;


    To promote the Progress of Science 

    and 

    useful Arts, 

    by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;


    To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;


    To define and punish 

    Piracies and Felonies 

    committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations . . .




    u.s. constitution limits the powers of government & Guarantees Citizen's Rights & Liberties

    1/2

    shared powers of congress - continued

    War & Military Powers

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

      War 


    To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;


    To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation 

    of Money to that Use 

    shall be for a longer 

    Term than two Years;


    To provide and maintain a Navy;


    To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;


    To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws 

    of the Union, 

    suppress Insurrections 

    and repel Invasions;


    To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, 

    and for governing 

    such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, 

    reserving to the States respectively, 

    the Appointment of the 

    Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia 

    according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;


    To exercise exclusive 

    Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

    –And

    To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper 

    for carrying into Execution 

    the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by 

    this Constitution in the Government of 

    the United States, 

    or in any Department 

    or Officer thereof. 

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

      (Original language) 

    The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.*


    AMENDMENT XIV 


    Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868. 


    *Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.


    AMENDMENT XIV Section 1.


    All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. 

    No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; 

    nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.


    Section 2. 

    Voting

    Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. 


    But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

    Amendment XIV continued

    Article I, Section 2 Modified by 14th Amendment

    Amendment XIV continued

      

    Section 3.


    No person shall 

    be a Senator 

    or Representative 

    in Congress, 

    or elector 

    of President and 

    Vice-President, 

    or hold any office, 

    civil or military, 

    under the United States, 

    or under any State, 

    who, having previously 

    taken an oath, as a 

    member of Congress, 

    or as an officer 

    of the United States, 

    or as a member of any State legislature, 

    or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, 

    to support the Constitution 

    of the United States, 

    shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. 

    But Congress may by a vote 

    of two-thirds of each House,

     remove such disability.


    Section 4.

    The validity of the public debt 

    of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. 


    But neither the United States 

    nor any State shall 

    assume or pay any debt 

    or obligation incurred 

    in aid of insurrection 

    or rebellion 

    against the United States, 

    or any claim for the loss 

    or emancipation of any slave; 

    but all such debts, 

    obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.


    Section 5.

    The Congress shall have 

    the power to enforce,

     by appropriate legislation, 

    the provisions of this article.





    *Voting age changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment to eighteen years of age.

    Knowledge is Your Power

    How laws are made

    Get the facts - the House of Representatives and Senate are responsible for creating our laws.

    Learn  more about the law-making process which affects the daily lives of all Americans.

    Find out more

    Who protects Your liberty?

    Find Your Representative By Your Zipcode
    U.S. House of Representatives seal

    U.S. House of Representatives

    Mike Johnson is the "Speaker of the House."  He is second in line after the Vice-President to succeed the President.

    Link below to Congress' site - 

    Link to Congress Reps
    U.S. Senate seal

    U.S. Senate Leadership

    Want to know who your State Leaders are & who heads Senate committees? 

    Go directly to the most current information.

    Find out more

    colonial Government Systems

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    legislative branch - A representative government body

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