Legislative Branch
Definition
The legislative branch is the part of the United States government that creates laws. It consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Analogy
Think of the legislative branch as a team of chefs in a restaurant. They're responsible for creating (or "cooking up") new dishes (laws) based on what they think their customers (the American people) will like or need.
Related terms
Bicameral Legislature: A legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress, which includes the Senate and House of Representatives.
Bill: A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration.
Veto: The power held by an executive (like the President) to reject a bill passed by Congress.
"Legislative Branch" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (4)
How does the bureaucracy typically interact with the legislative branch?
What are the primary responsibilities of the Legislative branch?
How did the presidency of Richard Nixon affect the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches?
What is the primary role of the legislative branch in US government?
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.