(initial capital letter) 1  the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution. 2  this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership: the Ninety-Seventh Congress.
1769 in the US federal judicial branch. Longer explanation: Legislative branch: There are 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators. Judicial branch: Congress authorizes a set number of judge positions, or judgeships, for each court level. Since 1869, Congress has authorized 9 positions for the Supreme Court.
legislative branch in Culture Expand. legislative branch [(lej-i-slay-tiv)] The branch of the federal and state government empowered to make the laws that are then enforced by the executive branch and interpreted by the judicial branch. The legislative branch consists of Congress and the fifty state legislatures. At both state and federal levels, legislatures are made up of popularly elected representatives, who propose laws that are sensitive to the needs and interests of their local constituents.