The Legislative
Branch
BicameralA legislative body with two
houses established by the
Constitution- Article I
modeled after the British Parliament
TermLength of time between elections in Congress
terms begin according to the
20th Amendment in JanuaryTerms are numbered consecutively
9, 10, 11,12, 13,…
1st Congress March 4, 1789
SessionFormal meetings in which members perform legislative work (each term divided into 2
sessions)
until WWII 4 month sessions
currently full year sessions with short recess
Congress ends Jan. 3
2011
CONSTITUENTS the people who are represented
CONTINUOUS BODY all seats are never up for election at the same time
Vocabulary
“I have come to the conclusion that one
useless man is called a disgrace, that two are
called a law firm, and that three or more become a
Congress.”
1776, A Musical Play
“It can probably be shown by facts & figures that there is
no distinctly native American criminal class except
Congress.”
Samuel L. Clemens
(Mark Twain)
If the opposite of pro is con, then the opposite of
progress must be Congress.
House of Representatives # of seats not fixed
apportioned distributed based
on population
serve 2 year terms without term
limitation
Reapportion Redistribute
–every 10 years Census
–435 is “permanent” size
•Congress can change size
Elections ALL re-elected
–even number years
House of Representatives
Districts
–drawn up to elect reps. to
House (Census)
Gerrymander
–to draw districts to give an
advantage to a political party
House of Representatives
*25 years of age
*U.S. Citizen for 7 years
*Inhabit state represented*can’t be arrested while in session unless
commit treason OR felony
custom dictates representative must live in
district
House Qualifications
Who are OUR elected officials?
House of Representatives (9th District)Bill Shuster (R) (from Everett)
• first elected in 2000
Senate# of seats fixed by “C”
100
2 from each State
6 year terms
Represent entire State
NO DISTRICTS
Older membership -
House Senate House
Prestigious less members; tougher to get elected
HIGH media visibility
staggered terms 1/3 expire each year
Senate
Senate Qualifications
*30 years of age
*U.S. Citizen for 9 years
*Inhabit state represented
Who are OUR elected officials?
Pat Toomey (R) Elected 2010
Bob Casey (D)
Elected 2006
The Powers of Congress
Expressed
vs.
Implied
The Expressed Powers of Congress
Powers given by (written in)
the Constitution
NOT clearly defined; subject
to interpretation
Peace Powers
To collect taxes
To borrow money
To regulate trade
To coin money
To establish post
offices
To grant patents
and copyrights
To create courts
War Powers
To declare war
To raise and support armies
To provide and maintain a navy
To make laws governing land and
naval forces
Implied Powers
The Necessary and Proper Clause
“To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”
Implied Powers
Often called the “Elastic Clause” because it has allowed the Federal Government to stretch its powers.
Implied Powers
Examples
-…collect taxes --- IMPLIES the power to make tax evasion a crime and provide for its punishment
-... raise armies and a navy --- IMPLIES the power to draft men into the armed forces
-…regulate trade ---IMPLIES the power to fix minimum wages and maximum work hours
The Non-legislative Powers
Impeachment
–House has the sole power to impeach-bring charges against
–Senate has the sole power to judge an impeachment case
The Non-legislative Powers Constitutional Amendments
Electoral Duties– Election of a President by House, if no
majority from the electoral college– Each state receives one vote– Election of V-P by Senate, if no
majority from the electoral college
The Non-legislative Powers
Executive Powers
–confirmation of major appointments by the President
The Non-legislative Powers
Investigative Power
–Oversee operation of executive branch
–Expose questionable activities of public officials
Interest group
- a private organization that tries to “influence” lawmakers
Lobbying
- the activities of a person for a pressure or interest group, usually influencing lawmakers
The basic job of a lobbyist is to try to get a member of Congress to vote in a beneficial way toward the group
the lobbyist represents.
Congressional Voting Options
Trustee-
Members of Congress vote on issues “as they see fit.” They are not influenced by outside groups OR constituents
Congressional Voting Options
Delegate -
Member is an agent of those who elected them. Vote based on what “the folks back home” would want
Congressional Voting Options
Partisan -
Member owes 1st allegiance to their political party. Leading factor in influencing votes.
Congressional Voting Options
Politico -
tries to balance all three
Congressional Voting Options
Sellout -
gives in to the pressure put on by lobbyists, interest groups, & PACs
Congress OrganizesHouse of Representatives
Speaker of the House
– Maintains order in the House
– supposed to remain bipartisan in decision-making process
– elected by peers - from the majority party
Congress OrganizesHouse of Representatives
Majority Leader– top ranking official of the party with the
most members– assisted by the majority whip
Minority Leader– top ranking official of the party with the
least members– assisted by the minority whip
Senate
President of the Senate
– Vice President of the United States
– maintains order in the Senate
– supposed to remain bipartisan in decision-making process
Senate
President Pro Tempore
– performs the duties of the President of the Senate in his absence
– elected by his peers - from the majority party
Senate
Majority Leader– top ranking official of the party with the
most members– assisted by the majority whip
Minority Leader– top ranking official of the party with the
least members– assisted by the minority whip
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi-D CA
(John Boehner-R OH
Jan 3, 2011)
Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer-D MD
Minority Leader
John Boehner-R OH
Senate
President of the
Senate
Joe Biden-D (VP)
President Pro Tempore
Daniel Inouye-D HI
Majority Leader
Harry Reid-D NV
Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell-R KY
Committees in Congress
standing committees - permanent committees– each house has own committees– chairmen chosen by party leaders– majority party holds majority in committee
Committees in Congress
Joint committees – composed of members of both houses
House Standing Committees Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Finance, and
Urban Affairs Budget District of Columbia Education and labor Energy and Commerce Foreign Affairs Government Operations House Administration Interior and Insular
Affairs
Judiciary Merchant marine and
Fisheries Post Office and Civil
Service Public Works and
Transportation Rules Science, Space and
Technology Small Business Standards of Official
Conduct Veterans’ Affairs Ways and Means
Senate Standing Committees Agriculture, Nutrition
and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Energy and Natural
Resources
Environment and Public Works
Finance Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs Judiciary Labor and Human
Resources Rules and
Administration Small Business Veterans’ Affairs
Joint Committees of Congress
Economic Committee The Library Printing Taxation
How A Bill Becomes a Law
After a bill is introduced and
passed in one house it must go to the other for the same process.
Senate BillHouse Bill
1. Referred to a committee
2. Then to a subcommittee
3. Committee decides future
• recommend or decline
Floor Action
•Debate strict limitations
limited time to speak
must be about the bill
Vetoed bill
A bill may be presented
in either house
1. Referred to a committee
2. Then to a subcommittee
3. Committee decides future
• recommend or decline
Floor Action
•Debate no limitations
filibuster
“talk a bill to death”
Vetoed bill
PRESIDENTIAL ACTION
sign into law or veto
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