The legislative branch is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators are elected for six-year terms, while Representatives are elected for two-year terms. Each state has two Senators, regardless of its population, while the number of Representatives each state gets is based on its population.
The legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House. A bill must be passed by both the Senate and the House in identical form before it can become law. If a bill passes both chambers, it is then sent to the President for his signature. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law. If the President vetoes the bill, it can still become law if two-thirds of both the Senate and the House vote to override the veto.
The legislative branch also has the power to impeach the President, Vice President, or other federal officials for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Impeachment is the process by which a public official is removed from office. To be impeached, an official must be found guilty of an impeachable offense by a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives. If an official is impeached, they are then tried by the Senate. If two-thirds of the Senate votes to convict the official, they are removed from office.
The legislative branch is a vital part of the US government. It is responsible for making laws, overseeing the other two branches of government, and protecting the rights of the American people.