#42: CIVICS 101: The Legislative Branch
Q&A #42: What organizations are included in the legislative branch?
Our American Government
Our American Government is a small book published by the House of Representatives for citizens and those who seek a greater understanding of the American interpretation of democracy. It follows a question-and-answer format and covers a broad range of topics dealing with the three branches of our Government, the electoral process, and the role of political parties.
The Savvy Citizen is reproducing the 169 questions-and-answers through a series of posts called Civics 101. Each post will contain the Q&A as well as some additional commentary to add historical context, fun facts, or anything we believe will add to our collective understanding of these topics.
Think of it as your adult Civics class but without the test!
Let’s keep at it.
SECTION: The Legislative Branch: The Congress
Members, Offices, and Staff
Q&A #42: What organizations are included in the legislative branch?
In addition to Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—the legislative branch includes:
the Architect of the Capitol,
the Government Printing Office (GPO),
the Library of Congress, and
the legislative support agencies:
the Congressional Budget Office,
the Congressional Research Service in the Library of Congress, and
the General Accounting Office
The Architect’s principal duties involve the construction, maintenance, and renovation of the Capitol Building as well as the congressional office buildings and other structures in the Capitol complex such as the Library of Congress buildings.
GPO publishes the Congressional Record, congressional committee hearings and reports, and other congressional documents, as well as many executive branch publications.
The Library of Congress, in addition to providing library services, research, and analysis to Congress, is also the national library. It houses premier national book, map, and manuscript collections in the United States; serves a major role assisting local libraries in book cataloging and other services; and supervises the implementation of U.S. copyright laws.
Three support agencies are also part of the legislative branch.
the Congressional Budget Office,
the Congressional Research Service in the Library of Congress, and
the General Accounting Office
.. directly assist Congress in the performance of its duties. On occasion, temporary advisory commissions are established and funded in the legislative branch.
My Thought
I practiced intellectual property law for 15 years, preceded by 4 years in law school during which I also worked in an IP law firm as a “student lawyer” (I worked during the day and went to school at night), and a 7 year tenure working for a retired law professor who was an expert in intellectual property law and global trade.
My work as an attorney focused on trademarks and copyrights (not patents), so I had extensive dealings with the U.S. Copyright Office during that time. Most people, including lawyers, don’t realize that copyright matters are technically part of the legislative branch of government, as opposed to the executive branch, which houses the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce (an executive agency).
Intellectual property was so important to our founders that provisions for its protection were included IN the body of the Constitution itself, prior to the Bill of Rights, which enumerated the most important fundamental rights accorded to individual citizens.
Article 1, Section 8 outlines Congress’ enumerated powers, which are explained over the course of 18 unique clauses.
Art. 1. Sec. 8. Clause 8 enumerates Congress’ power to …
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
This is often referred to as the “intellectual property” clause as it serves as the basis for protecting private rights for inventors and authors.
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Back next time with Q&A #43: What are the functions of the congressional support agencies that are funded in the legislative appropriations acts?
Meanwhile, don’t forget that we’re organizing the post links on a single page available here.
xo,
Kelley for the Savvy Citizen Team
January 17, 2025