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{{Government Lectures}}

{{Government Lectures}}

Last class we focused on the Executive branch of government, discussing the presidential election.  This week we discuss the branch that the Founders thought would be more important:  the Legislative branch, which primarily consists of Congress.

In our first lecture we focused on the Executive branch of government, including a discussion of the upcoming presidential election.  We devote this week's lecture to the branch that the Founders thought would be more important:  the Legislative branch, which primarily consists of Congress.

"Divided government" refers to when one political party controls the executive branch, but a different political party controls part of the legislative branch.   Sometimes this can be healthy because it compels politicians to work harder at serving the public.

In the United States and in 49 out of 50 states there is a "bicameral" legislature, which means there are '''''two''''' legislative bodies.  In Congress this legislature consists of the separate entities (or chambers) of the House of Representatives and the Senate.  State legislatures usually have a Senate but use different name for their more democratic legislative body in New Jersey the equivalent of the U.S. House of Representatives is called the "Assembly".  Nebraska has a "unicameral" legislature: only one body rather than two.

Another term important in discussing politics, and particularly Congress, is "grassroots".  The grassroots are ordinary citizens who volunteer their time to participate in politics, by speaking out, by emailing others, by attending political events, by putting bumper stickers on their cars or signs along the roads, by making phone calls urging others to vote, and expressing their views to public officials on important issues.

 

Another term important in discussing legislative politics is "grassroots".  The grassroots are ordinary citizens who volunteer their time to participate in politics, by speaking out, by emailing others, by attending political events, by putting bumper stickers on their cars or signs along the roads, by making phone calls urging others to vote, and by expressing their views to public officials on important issues.  The grassroots are in contrast with the media, the political insiders, and the corporations; the grassroots care more about social values that affect the future direction of the Nation, for example.  The grassroots are those who volunteer to help with and attend large political rallies.  The Tea Party movement in recent years has been among the grassroots.

== Congress ==

== Congress ==