CONGRESS:The Legislative Branch

LESSON 8

Key items to know about the Congress…

I. KEY ITEMS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CONGRESS

Most closely represents the people responsible for making the laws

Bicameral legislature

II: See table on next slide and your handout…

House of Representatives CATEGORY SenateMinimum 25 years old AGE Minimum 30 years old

U.S. citizen for 7 years CITIZENSHIP U.S. citizen for 9 years

Must live in state they represent RESIDENCY Must live in state they

representApportionment based on state’s population (435

total)APPORTIONMENT

(State Membership)Apportionment equal among the states (2 per state – 100 total)

2-year term TERM OF OFFICE 6-year term

Speaker of the House PRESIDING OFFICER

•Vice President•President Pro Tempore

Requirements for membershipEXTRA CREDIT:Who’s this guy?

EXTRA CREDIT:Who are these

people?

EXTRA CREDIT:Who are these

people?

EXTRA CREDIT:Who’s this guy?

Membership has its privileges…III. CONGRESSIONAL

PRIVILEGESA. Substantial salary

(2015-17: $174,000)B. Travel allowanceC. Free office space

and funds for supplies

D. Franking privilege: right to send official mail free of postage

E. Freedom from civil arrest during sessions

F. Freedom of speech on the floor

• Can not be sued for slander or libel

• Free to speak and debate

EXTRA CREDIT:Who’s this guy?

When does the Congress meet?

IV. CONGRESSIONAL SESSIONS

A. Meets in two regular sessions in a 2-year term

B. Session starts on January 3rd and continues as long as there is a need

• Beginning with the first Congress 1789-1791, Congress is numbered in order (2015-2017: 114th Congress)

2015-2017: 114th Congress

Special Powers of the House of RepresentativesV. SPECIAL

POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A. Start all revenue bills

B. Bring charges of impeachment against federal officials

C. Elect the president if the electoral college fails to give a candidate a majority

Special Powers of the Senate

VI. SPECIAL POWERS OF THE SENATE

A. Ratify treaties negotiated by the President (2/3 majority vote)

B. Decide on impeachment trials (2/3 majority vote)

C. Approve Presidential appointments (majority vote)

D. Elect Vice President if electoral college is deadlocked

Key Constitutional differences between the House and the Senate

House of Representatives S e n a t e

Initiates all revenue bills

Initiates impeachment procedures and passes articles of impeachment

Two-year terms

435 members (apportioned by population)

Must confirm many major presidential appointments

Tries impeached officials

Six-year terms (One-third up for reelection every two years)

100 members (two from each state)

Approves treaties

How a bill becomes a law…

Idea

Bill goes to proper committee

Bill goes to the committee of the

other house

Bill is considered by the entire house (majority wins)

Bill is considered by the entire house

Proposal by Congressperson

from either houseIf

approved…

If approved…

If approved…

If approved…

If it’s a REVENUE BILL, it starts in the House of Representatives

If the bill PASSES, it goes to the President

Pigeonholing: Most bills proposed (90%) are killed in committee

Conference committee: Members “fine-tune” the bill and create a compromise bill

How a bill becomes a law…

1. If signed within 10 days, it becomes law.2. If not signed within 10 days, and Congress is

still in session, it still becomes law.3. POCKET VETO: Not signed, and Congress is

NOT in session, it’s dead.4. If President vetoes bill, it goes back to the

house it originated (started) in.5. Congress may override Presidential veto with

a 2/3 majority vote in BOTH houses.

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

How do members of Congress make sure their voice is heard?

VII.HOW TO INFLUENCE VOTING IN CONGRESS

A. FILIBUSTERING1. FILIBUSTER: Senate rules

allow a senator to filibuster — to speak for an indefinite period of time on any subject whatsoever to prevent action on a measure being debated

2. A deliberate attempt by a Senator to “talk a bill to death”

How do members of Congress make sure their voice is heard?

3. Possible result bill may be returned to committee

4. Cloture • A process used by Senate

to bring an end to a filibuster

• A 3/5 majority vote can halt a debate Filibuster - Green Eggs and Ham

How do people have their issues discussed in Congress?

B. LOBBYING AND THE INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS1. Special Interest

Groups: Political, economic, or social groups that attempt to pressure members of Congress into passing favorable laws

How do people have their issues discussed in Congress?

2. Lobbyists: Professional, politically experienced people hired by special interest groups to carry out their legislative goals

3. Who are they?Individuals in the private sector (i.e.,

wealthy, activists, etc.)CorporationsFellow legislators

4. Actions used by lobbyists and special interest groupsMeet with members of Congress and provide

expert informationArrange parties, campaign funds, favorsUrge public response

Pros & Cons of Lobbying

PROS• They have the

right to petition Congress

• Allows special interest groups to express opinions

• Call attention to the need of laws

• Provide valuable information

CONS • Questionable

methods• Well-financed

groups have an advantage over other groups

• Information may be one sided

In what other ways do Congressmen “bring home the bacon”?VIII.OTHER PRACTICES

INFLUENCING VOTING IN CONGRESS

A. Pork Barrel Legislation: Members of Congress provide public works programs and other spending for their home districts “bringing home the bacon”; “earmarks”

B. Logrolling: Deal-making and the trading of favors among members of Congress trades for votes

• “You vote for my bill, I’ll vote for yours.”

How can some areas guarantee “better” representation than other places around the country?

C. Gerrymandering • A practice that

attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries to create biased electoral districts

• An attempt to manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class