THE US GOVERNMENT

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

Differences and Similarities between the House of Representative and
the Senate
Categories House of Representatives Senate
Qualifications Be 25 years of age
Be a citizen for at least 7 years
Live in the state from which he/she is elected
Be 30 years of age
Be a citizen for at least 14 years
Live in the state from which he/she is elected
Term of O. 2 years 6 years
Salary Representatives: $158,000
Speaker:$ 193,600
Leaders:$172,900
Senators:$158,000
President pro tempore:$193,600
Leaders:$172,900
Privileges and
benefits
Tax deduction because they keep home in their
districts and in DC.
Free postage for all official business
Free printing of speeches, newsletters
Pension plan
Low-cost health and life insurance
Tax deduction because they keep home in their
districts and in DC.
Free postage for all official business
Free printing of speeches, newsletters

Pension plan
Low-cost health and life insurance
Duties of members Serve on committees
Help constituents in dealing with the federal
government.
Serve on committees
Help constituents in dealing with the federal
government.
Duties of each house Propose revenue or tax, laws
Elect president in the event of a tie
Confirm or reject presidential nominees
Confirm or reject treaties with other nations

Powers of Congress
Type of
power
Money power Commerce power Military and national
defense power
Other legislative powers
Expressed
powers
To tax
To borrow money
To regulate
bankcrupcies
To print and coin
money
To punish
counterfeiters
To regulate business

between states and
business with other
nations
To punish crimes at
sea
To declare war
To set up, fund and
regulate the armed
forces
To provide for,
regulate, and call into
service a militia
To establish lawa for
naturalization
To set up post offices
To grant copyright and
patents
To set up a system of
federal courts beneath the
Supreme Court
To govern Washington,DC
To make all laws
necessary and proper for
carrying out the other
powers
Implied
powers
To punish those
who don’t pay their
taxes

To use tax revenue
to support
programs such as
education and
public housing
To outlaw
discrimination in
movie theatres,
restaurants, hotels and
similar places
To set a minimum
wage
To protest those with
disabilities
To draft Americans
into the armed forces
To limit and regulate
immigration

ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
CONSTITUTIONAL ROLES
•
Head of State: represents the US and performs
ceremonial duties
•
Chief executive: sees that the government carries out
the laws that Congress passes and decisions of the
federal courts are put into effect.
•
Chief legislator: proposes the annual budget and other

legislation to Congress
•
Chief diplomat: represents the nation in dealings with
governments of other nations
•
Commander in chief: uses the military to support foreign
policy goals
UNOFFICIAL ROLES
•
Economic planner
•
Head of his political party