The Senate and The Supreme Court

Congress has two parts: the House and the Senate. The Senate is smaller, but has more power and respect.

For example, the Senate has the power to approve or deny the president’s choices for the cabinet and the courts. The Senate decides to impeach presidents or other federal positions, too.

Each state has only two senators. Each senator works for all the people in the state.

In Oregon, your senators represent you if you live in Portland.

Your U.S. senators represent you if you live in Beaverton or Washington county.

Your U.S. senators represent you if you live in Salem.

Your U.S. senators represent you if you live in Klamath Falls, Ontario, or Burns.

Your U.S. senators represent all the people of the state.

Who does a U.S. Senator represent? –> All people of the state

Every state has two senators, and we have 50 states. So, we have 100 senators in total.

Do you remember the senators from your state? In Oregon, they are Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

How many U.S. Senators are there? –> 100

Senators have a lot of respect. For example, we elect representatives for only 2 years. We elect the president for only 4 years. But we elect US senators for 6 years!

We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? –> six

Now, let’s learn about another part or branch of the government: the courts, or judicial branch. Judges review laws and interpret them so we can understand them.

Also, if congress or the president do something against the law of the constitution, the courts can hold them responsible. This is an example of checks and balances.

What does the judicial branch do? –> Reviews laws / interprets laws

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Every county in every state in the U.S. has a court. There are courts above those courts. And every state has a supreme court, too. We also have federal courts for every state, and courts above those courts.

The highest court in the U.S. is The Supreme Court.

What is the highest court in the United States? –> The Supreme Court

The judges on the supreme court are special, and are called justices. When one retires or dies, the president can choose a new judge. But, the Senate has to approve the new justice.

In February 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer made a plan to retire from the Supreme Court, and President Biden chose Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to join the Supreme Court.

After Biden nominated Jackson, the Senate interviewed her and discussed her nomination. On April 7, 2022, the Senate confirmed her to the Supreme Court. She is the first African-American woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Right now, there are still nine justices on the Supreme Court. John Roberts is the chief justice.

How many justices are on the Supreme Court? –> nine

Review: The House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court

1. Who makes federal laws?
2. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
3. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
4. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
5. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
6. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
7. How many U.S. Senators are there?
8. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
9. What does the judicial branch do?
10. What is the highest court in the United States?
11. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?