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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Congress
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A quick definition of Congress:
Congress is a group of people who make laws for the United States. It is made up of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. People vote for members of Congress to represent them. The House of Representatives has more people and they serve for two years. The Senate has two people from each state and they serve for six years. Congress has the power to make laws, change the Constitution, and check on the other branches of government. They also have special powers like impeaching the President and confirming appointments. Congress is important because they make sure the government is doing what it's supposed to do.
A more thorough explanation:
Congress is the main policymaking authority in the United States government. It is made up of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is responsible for creating laws. The Founding Fathers designed Congress to share power and prevent tyranny.
- Congress is responsible for passing laws that affect the entire country, such as the Affordable Care Act.
- The House of Representatives has the power to impeach government officials, such as the President, if they are believed to have committed a crime.
- The Senate has the power to confirm or reject the President's appointments for executive and judicial branch positions.
These examples illustrate how Congress is responsible for creating and enforcing laws, as well as checking and balancing the power of other branches of government.