Legislative Branch7th Grade CivicsSpring 2014

Capital Building

National Mall

Washington Monument

National Mall

Lincoln Memorial

Bicameral Legislature• Bicameral – a two part government

body consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate

• The Great Compromise: In 1787, states with large populations received representation based on population in the House while less populated states received equal representation in the Senate.

Legislative BranchHouse of Representatives• Size: 435 Representatives• Census: Population count

determines the number of House members.

• Congressional Districts: Areas with one representative.

• Constituents: The people from the district for whom the Representative was elected.

Senate• Size: 100• Length of Term: 6 years• Staggered Terms: No

more than 1/3 of Senators are up for election in any one election cycle. Class I (2014), Class II (2016), and Class III (2018)

• Reason for Staggered Terms: Ensures seniority in the Senate.

Congressional LeadershipHouse

• Speaker of the House John Boehner [R- OH]

• Majority Leader – Eric Cantor [R-VA]

• Minority Leader – Nancy Pelosi [D-CA]

Senate

• Vice President – Joe Biden

• President Pro Tempore – Patrick Leahy [D-VT]

• Majority Leader – • Harry Reid [D-NV]• Minority Leader –

Mitch McConnell [R-KY]

ComparisonSpeaker of the House• Degree of Power: Most

powerful member in all of Congress. Second in line for the Presidency.

1. Vice President Joe Biden [D-DE]

2. SpeakerJohn Boehner [R-OH]

• Key Spokesperson: Speaks for The House and for constituents living in the 435 districts.

President Pro Tempore

• Degree of Power: No true power usually acts as chairperson or ceremonial head of floor discussions/debates.

• Member of the Majority Party in the Senate.

ComparisonSpeaker of the House• Speaker

Responsibilities:1. In charge of floor

debates.2. Influences all House

business.3. Steers legislation

through the House.

Vice President• Casts the deciding

vote in the event of a tie 50-50 on a Floor Vote.

Congressional LeadershipFloor Leaders

• To make sure the laws passed are in the best interest of their party.

• Speak about the major issues as viewed by their political party.

• Advance bills through the legislative process.

• Persuade undecided representatives to vote a certain way.

Party Whips• Job Description: To

track where all party members stand on the issues and round up colleague support to attain the needed votes.

• House of Representatives- 290 votes 2/3 majority – 218 for a simple majority

• Senate– 66 votes 2/3 majority– 51 votes simple majority

Role of Political PartiesMajority Party

Holds 51% of seats• Majority Whip• Majority Secretary

Minority PartyHolds 49% or less of seats• Minority Whip• Minority Secretary

Legislative Committees Congress at Work

“Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.” - Woodrow Wilson, 1885

Legislative Committees• Standing Committees

– A permanent committee that continues work from one session to the next.

– # in House 19– # in Senate 16

• Select Committees– Formed to complete a

specific task for a short period of time.

– 911 Commission tasked with

• Conference Committees– Temporary committee

that include members from both houses tasked with resolving differences in two bills to agree on one proposed law.

• Joint Committees– Permanent committees

that include members from both houses.

Senate Standing Committees

• Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry

• Armed Services• Banking, Housing,

& Urban Affairs

• Commerce, Science, and Transportation

• Foreign Relations• Health, Education,

Labor, and Pensions

• Judiciary

Legislative PowersExpressed Powers

• $ $ Money Powers $ $ o Tax, Borrow Money, Print Money

• Commerce Powerso Regulate foreign & Interstate

Commerce

• Military & Foreign Policy Powers

• Declare War• Raise & Regulate Army/Navy• Other Legislative Powers• Est. Laws of Naturalization• Est. Post Offices & Build Highways

Implied Powers• $ $ Money Powers $ $ • Support Public Schools, Welfare

Programs and Public Housing• Maintain the Federal Reserve Board

• Commerce Powers• Prohibit discrimination in restaurants,

hotels, and public golf courses

• Military & Foreign Policy Powers

• Raise Army/Navy = Right to draft people

• Other Legislative Powers

ClerksSecretaries

Special Assistants Committee Staff have expert knowledge about the topics: taxes, military, health care,

education & energy

Young people (High School and/or College age) who

volunteer to work in Congress

Congressional research Service (CRS)

General Accounting Office (GAO)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Congressional Staff/Agencies

How a Bill Becomes LawTypes of Bills

1. Private Bills – Concern individual people and places. A Constituent’s claim against the government. Example: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

2. Public Bills – Apply to the entire nation and involve general matters such as taxation, civil rights, or terrorism.

Where Can Bills Come From?

1. Private Citizens2. Special Interest Groups3. Lobbyists4. The President

Who has to introduce a Bill?

What are the 5 things a committee can do?

1. Pass the Bill without changes.2. Mark up a bill with changes and suggest that

it be passed.3. Replace the original bill with an alternative.4. Ignore the bill and let it die (which is called

“pigeonholing” the bill)5. Kill the bill outright by majority vote of “Nay.”

What is the difference between the House and the

Senate as far as amendments to Bills?

What is a filibuster?

Who can use this tool?

How many votes does it take to get cloture on a Bill?

What are the 4 voting methods used by Congress?

1. Voice Vote – Those in favor of the bill say “Yea” and those who oppose say “Nay”

2. Standing Vote – Those in favor of the bill stand to be counted and those who oppose the bill stand to be counted.

3. Roll-Call Vote – In the tradition bound Senate members voice their votes as an official record.

4. Electronic Voting – The House of Representatives cast votes electronically.

What 4 things can a President do to a Bill?

1. Sign the Bill and declare it a new Law.

2. Veto the Bill, or refuse to sign the Bill.

3. Do nothing for 10 days. If Congress is in session then on the 11th day the Bill becomes Law.

4. Pocket Veto. President does nothing for 10 days. If Congress is in recess then the Bill is killed.

What does it take to override a Presidential veto?