Friday February 3, 2012









Legislative

Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which collectively form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

The House of Representatives is composed of 435 elected members from the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also 6 non-voting members who represent the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other American territories.

The Senate is made up of 100 Senators, with two senators from each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913. The Vice President serves as the President of the Senate and provides the decisive vote in the event of a tie.

Together, the House of Representatives and the Senate are the lawmakers of the nation. Any piece of legislation must pass through both houses of Congress before it is either vetoed or signed into law by the President.

It is vitally important that Americans pray for wisdom and understanding on behalf of the lawmakers of their nation.

Featured Member of the Legislative Branch for Prayer

PrayFocusLegislativeElijah Cummings, United States Representative from Maryland

Elijah Eugene Cummings was born in January 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Baltimore City College and later from Howard University with a B.A. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland, and was engaged in the private practice of law for 19 years.

Cummings served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland General Assembly for a combined total of 16 years.

He has been a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Maryland’s 7th district since 1996. He is presently the Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

He is married to Maya Rockeymoore Cummings. The family are Baptist.

IN THE NEWS: The ongoing debate about who should shoulder the burden of deficit reduction continues as lawmakers struggle to reach a deal. Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland sent a letter to the conference committee asking conferees to oppose an additional one-year pay freeze for government workers that would follow the two-year pay freeze already in place. He argued that reductions in the federal workforce means government employees are having to work harder than ever with fewer resources and shouldn’t have to give up more.





US Congress

Legislative Branch Prayer Needs

PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS

Lawmakers from both parties are signaling they will do everything in their power to stop the Obama Administration from launching another round of military base closures across the U.S. as part of Pentagon cost-cutting measures.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are moving closer to a vote that would make English the official language of the United States. The bill would also establish English as a requirement for naturalization.

Pray about the things that make and keep America strong – our military, our melting-pot culture, our system of laws.