Legislative power

Make the laws

All federal lawmaking power belongs to Congress, and only Congress. Nothing becomes federal law without both chambers passing identical text, a deliberately hard process the Constitution makes harder with the President's veto.

Article I, Sections 1 & 7

Read the clause itself, verbatim and in plain language, in the in-app Constitution.

Held by

Congress: House & Senate together

U.S. Representative U.S. Senator

How it works in practice

A bill must survive committee, pass the House (majority, on the Rules CommitteeThe House committee that writes the terms of debate, the 'rule', for each major bill: how long debate runs and which amendments are allowed.Read the full definition (opens a new tab)'s terms) and the Senate (in practice, often 60 votes for clotureThe Senate's only procedure for ending debate over objection. Most legislation needs 60 votes; nominations need a simple majority.Read the full definition (opens a new tab)), be reconciled into one text, and be presented to the President. The full path is the app's step-by-step walkthrough.

The answering checks

The PresidentCan veto any bill; Congress needs supermajorityAny threshold above half: three-fifths for Senate cloture, two-thirds to override a veto or convict on impeachment, three-fourths of states to ratify an amendment.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) of chamberOne of the two houses of a legislature. Congress has two: the House of Representatives and the Senate. A bill must pass both, in identical text.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) to override.

The courtsCan strike down enacted laws that exceed Congress's powers or violate rights.

The statesRetain all powers not delegated (Tenth AmendmentPowers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.Read the full definition (opens a new tab)); federal law must trace to an enumerated power.

See it in the app

Source

Constitution Annotated, Article I

Terms to know: billA proposed law introduced in the House (H.R.) or Senate (S.). It only becomes law if both chambers pass identical text and the President signs it, or Congress overrides a veto.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) · clotureThe Senate's only procedure for ending debate over objection. Most legislation needs 60 votes; nominations need a simple majority.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) · vetoThe President's refusal to sign a measure, returning it to Congress with objections. Congress can override with two-thirds of both chambers.Read the full definition (opens a new tab)

Plain-language civic education, not legal advice. The live boundaries of this power are set case by case; the sources above and the constitutional text control.