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The legislative branch. Supreme legislative power in the American government lies with Congress: the Senate, the upper house; and the House of the Representatives - the Lower House. Each state has its own government - State Assemblies or, Legislatures with two houses. According to the constitution of the USA, all citizens of both sexes over 18 years of age has a right of voting, but in reality, the number of voters is much smaller. The main task of Congress is to make federal laws, to levy federal taxes, to make rules for trade, to com money, to organize Armed forces, to declare war, to make amendments to the constitution or put foreign treaties into effect.
Under the constitution, the US Senate has some special powers, not given to the House of Representatives. It approves or disapproves the main presidential appointments: Ambassadors. Cabinet Members and federal judges, also ratify by a 2/3 vote treatments between the USA and foreign countries. The House of Representatives has a special power of its own - to invent a bill to raise money.
The Senate is composed of 100 members - two from each of 50 states, who are elected for a term of * years. Although congressional elections lake place every two years, only 1/3 of the Senate is reelected. A Senator must be a. leas. 30ty years old, a citizen of the USA for 9 years and a resident of the state from which he is elected. Democrats sit in the western part of the chamber- on Vice-president Right. Republicans sit on his left. Vice-president presides over the Senate and conducts debates. The Senate is stable and more conservative than the House of Representatives and many Senators are more experienced politicians.

House of representatives has 450 members. The number of Presentativcs depends on the population of each state. A Representative must be least 25 years age, a US citizen for 7 years and live in the state from which he is elected. Democrats sit on the Speakers right, republicans - on his left. The Speaker presides over the House and conducts debates. The Speaker, like Vice-president, may vote. Most of the Congressmen are layers, businessman and bankers. The American press as an unrepresentative institution sometimes criticizes the US Congress.