Government Information

Colorado State Senate Chamber
Creative Commons licensed by Polytikus

The US Constitution gives the Legislative Branch the power to make laws, and it calls for two kinds of legislative bodies. The Senate has members that equally represent the states, meaning that each state has two legislators in the Senate. The House's members proportionally represent the states. The number of representatives from each state depends on that state's population as measured by the US Census. This two-house, or bi-cameral system allows for both large and small states to have powerful voices in the nation's lawmaking process. The states have bi-cameral legislative systems as well, but counties and municipalities usually have one law-making body, such as a city council.