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Chapter Five
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- 2. Key Words • bicamerallegislature • session • census • Reapportionment • Redistrict • Gerrymander • at-large • censure • incumbent • constituents • caucus • majority leader • whips • bill • calendars • Quorum • president pro tempore • filibuster • cloture
- 3. Key Words • standingcommittee • subcommittee • select committee • joint committee • conference committee • seniority system • personal staff • committee staff • administrative assistant • legislative assistant • caseworker • expressed powers • necessary and proper clause • implied powers • revenue bill • appropriations bill • interstate commerce • impeachment • subpoena • perjury • contempt • immunity • legislative veto
- 4. Key Words • nationalbudget • Impoundment • private bill • public bill • simple resolution • rider • hearing • veto • pocket veto • tax • closed rule • Appropriation • authorization bill • Entitlement • Lobbyist • Lobbying • Casework • Pork-Barrel legislation • logrolling
- 5. Objective • Members ofCongress • Organization of Congress • Powers of Congress • Passing a Bill
- 6. Structure of Congress Bicameralismis the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers, Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses. Senate and House of Representatives
- 7. Members: House ofRepresentatives • 435 members – Limit on members • 1789 = 65 Representatives • Each member represents a Congressional District – Area of a state that includes about 600,000 people – Number of districts depend on a state’s population
- 8. Members: House ofRepresentatives • Congressional elections are held on even years – 2010, 2012… • Each term is two years • If a representative dies, the state governor calls a special election
- 9. Members: House ofRepresentatives • Qualifications according to Article I of Constitution: • Must be at least 25 years old • United States citizen for at least 7 years • Resident of the state represented
- 10. Members: House ofRepresentatives • Every 10 years, Congress decides how districts will be apportioned or distributed by using the Census. • If a state’s population increases – State will gain seats • If a state’s population decreases – State will lose seats
- 11. Members: House ofRepresentatives • If a state loses or gains seats, district lines need to be redrawn – Gerrymandering is the practice redrawing district lines to favor a person or political group.
- 12. Members: Senate • 100members – 2 per state • 1789 = 26 Senators • Senators represent whole state
- 13. Members: Senate • Electionsare held on even numbered years – 2010, 2012… • Each term is 6 years • If a Senator dies, the governor appoints a replacement until the next election
- 14. Members: Senate • Qualificationsaccording to Article I of the Constitution: • Must be at least 30 years old • United States citizen for at least 9 years • Resident of the state represented
- 15. Members: Salary andBenefits • Annual salary of $165,200. • Members have offices in the Capitol building and receive an allowance to pay staff • Member perks: – Free trips of their home state – Mail official letters and packages for free (Franking Privilege)
- 16. Members: Rules ofConduct • Rules of Conduct – Each house has its own written rules for conducting business – Constitution – Article I – The House Rules and Manual and The Senate Manual • Example: In the Senate Manual, it talks about a filibuster, or a method of delaying action on a bill by making long speeches
- 17. Members: Rules ofConduct • Expulsion – If a member commits a serious offense, the member could be expelled from office. –Expulsion means that a person must give up their seat.
- 18. Members: Rules ofConduct • Censure – Less serious offenses may bring a vote of censure, or formal disapproval of a member’s actions. – A censured member must stand alone at the front of the House or Senate and listen as their charges are read.
- 19. Organization: House of Representatives •The highest officer in the House of Representatives is called the Speaker of the House • Elected by members of the House to make sure that everything runs smoothly • Member of the majority party John Boehner (R)
- 20. Organization: House of Representatives •Duties of the Speaker of the House – Assign legislation to committees for discussion and preparation – Decide the legislative agenda for a session of the House – Decide when and who can speak on an issue
- 21. Organization: Senate • Constitutionstates that the Vice President is the presiding officer over the Senate. • When the Vice President cannot make it, the President Pro Tempore presides. • Members of the Senate vote for the President Pro Tempore.
- 22. Organization: Party Leadersand Whips • In each house, members of the majority and minority parties have a floor leader and a whip. • Floor leaders act as spokespersons for their parties. • Work to persuade members of both parties to vote for specific laws. House of Representatives – Party Leaders Senate – Party Leaders Eric Cantor (R) Nancy Pelosi (D) Mitch McConnell (R) Harry Reid (D)
- 23. Organization: Party Leadersand Whips • Whips assist the floor leaders in communicating with party members. • “Whip” members into shape. House of Representatives – Whips Kevin McCarthy (R) Steny Hoyer (D) Senate – Whips Jon Kyl (R) Richard Durbin (D)
- 24. Organization: Committees • Congressdivides itself into different committees that focus on specific subject areas. – Examples: Education, Agriculture, Science, etc. – Led by a chairperson who guides and sets priorities for their committees. – Members are chosen by their political parties and seniority
- 25. Organization: Committees • Committeeshave 3 main roles – Research specific subjects – holding hearings to get advice from experts – Write legislation – write laws that are related to their specific subject areas – Decide whether to send legislation to the floor – important enough for a vote
- 26. Organization: Committees • Thereare four types of committees: 1. Standing 2. Joint 3. Select 4. Conference
- 27. Organization: Committees • StandingCommittee – Permanent groups set up that are responsible for specific subject areas. – Divided into sub- committees – Examples • Veterans Affairs • Homeland Security • Agriculture • Education
- 28. Organization: Committees • JointCommittee – Permanent committees made up of members of both houses – They investigate issues and make recommendations but don’t write bills.
- 29. Organization: Committees Select Committee Committees createdto study an issue or event Examples: Energy Independence and Global Warming
- 30. Organization: Committees • Conference Committee –Committees formedwhen the two houses can’t agree on the details of a bill
- 31. Powers of Congress:Expressed Powers • Expressed Powers – Powers specifically stated in Article I of the Constitution – Examples • Decide how to raise money by setting taxes and borrowing funds • Decide how to spend money for the benefit of the nation • Regulate commerce among states and foreign nations • Declare war • Coin money • Regulate process of becoming a citizen • Create post offices • Create an army/navy
- 32. Powers of Congress:Implied Powers • Implied Powers – Powers the Constitution gives Congress that are not listed in detail. – The Constitution gives Congress the power to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”. – This is known as the Elastic Clause. • Collect taxes – members don’t go collect taxes directly. Created the IRS.
- 33. Powers of Congress:Special Powers • Unique Powers of the House of Representatives – Impeach, or formally accuse of wrong-doing, government officials – most importantly, the President. – Choose the President if there is no majority in the Electoral College
- 34. Powers of Congress:Special Powers • Unique Powers of the Senate – Approve treaties – Approve presidential appointments – Conduct the trial when the House impeaches an official
- 35. Passing a Bill:Introduction • Introduction of a Bill – Any member of either house can introduce a bill – Ideas for bills come from the President, businessmen, farmers, and ordinary citizens.
- 36. Passing a Bill:Introduction • Bills can be introduced in both houses. – The only exception to this rule is an Appropriations Bill, or one approving the spending of money, which must begin in the House of Representatives.
- 37. Passing a Bill:Committees • Bill is sent to Committee – The Bill is sent to a standing committee. The subject of the bill determines which committee will receive the bill. – The committee can decide to: • Make no changes to the bill • Rewrite the bill • Ignore the bill which “kills” the chance of it becoming a law • Send it to a subcommittee for more study and investigation
- 38. Passing a Bill:Committees • If a bill is sent to a subcommittee: – The subcommittee then reports back to the larger committee and decides what to do with the bill. – The larger committee then votes to send it to the floor to be debated – If the floor votes “no”, the bill is sent back to the committees. If it votes “yes”, it is sent to the other house of Congress.
- 39. Passing a Bill •Once it is in the other house of Congress, it goes through the committee process again. • After the committee approves the bill, it will be debated and voted on. – If the vote is “no”, the bill is sent back to the committees. If the vote is “yes”, the bill is sent to a Conference Committee.
- 40. Passing a Bill •The Conference Committee resolves any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill • The Bill is sent back to both houses for a final vote
- 41. Types of Voting •The Senate has three methods of voting: a voice vote, a standing vote, and a roll. • Standing-You must stand to vote • Voice Vote-You must speak. • Roll Call Vote- All Senators are called alphabetically and say “Yye or No” Their vote is kept on record.
- 42. Passing a Bill •Approved bills are sent to the President who can sign the bill into law or veto it. – If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the House and Senate where they can vote to override the veto with a 2/3 vote. • Finally the bill becomes a law
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- 44. • Representatives listento: – Visits home / face-to-face meetings – Letters, faxes, e-mails, form letters – Surveys – Polls – Key supporters • Why? Reelection! • Constituents expect politicians to defer to the district’s needs more than the “good of the nation” Constituents
- 45. • President • Specialinterest groups / lobbyists • PAC’s (Political Action Committees) • Lobbyists or PAC’s may represent: – Businesses – Labor unions – Professions (doctors, educators, etc.) – Non-profits (environmental groups, etc.) Other Influences
- 46. Personal Staff Workdirectly for individual senators ad representatives. Many work back in the home state, well some work in D.C. The bigger the state the more people and money you get.
- 47. Administrative Assistant (Chiefof State) Runs the lawmaker’s office, supervises the lawmaker’s schedule, and gives advice on a political matters. Average Salary $120,051.55
- 48. Legislative Assistants Makescertain that the lawmaker is well informed about the many bills, does research, and attends committee meetings when the lawmaker can not. Salary: $43,189.28
- 49. Library of Congress Oneof the largest libraries in the world. Contains more than 100 million items. Receives two copies of any copyrighted material.