Legislative Branch Packet

Part 1 - Congress• Term of Congress

– Lasts 2 years, Begins January 3rd of Every Odd Year• Session of Congress

– 2 Sessions Each Term– Until WWII a Session Lasted 4 or 5 Months

• Adjourn– Officially End a Session, Requires Consent of Both Chambers

• Prorogue– President’s Power to Force Adjournment

• Special Session– President’s Power to Call Congress into Session

• Questions 1-7, page 265

How long is a Term of Congress?

1 Y

ear

2 Y

ears

3 Y

ears

4 Y

ears

5 Y

ears

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 1 Year

2. 2 Years

3. 3 Years

4. 4 Years

5. 5 Years

20

When does a term of Congress begin?

Diff

eren

t dat

e ev

ery

y...

Nov.

3rd

of e

very

eve

...

Nov.

3rd

of e

very

odd...

Jan

. 3rd

of e

very

eve

...

Jan

. 3rd

of e

very

odd

...

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Different date every year.

2. Nov. 3rd of every even year.

3. Nov. 3rd of every odd year.

4. Jan. 3rd of every even year.

5. Jan. 3rd of every odd year.

20

How long does a session of Congress last?

1 Y

ear

2 Y

ears

6 m

onths

Most

of t

he Yea

r

It is

up to

Congre

ss ..

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 1 Year

2. 2 Years

3. 6 months

4. Most of the Year

5. It is up to Congress to decide

20

The President’s power/authority to force adjournment of Congress is

known as?

Forc

ed A

djour

nmen

t

Ses

sion V

eto

Pro

rogue

Spec

ial S

essi

on

Ter

min

atio

n

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Forced Adjournment

2. Session Veto

3. Prorogue

4. Special Session

5. Termination

20

Participant Scores

400 Participant 1

400 Participant 10

400 Participant 20

400 Participant 28

400 Participant 29

Fastest Responders (in seconds)

4.69 Participant 5

5.8 Participant 24

9.98 Participant 8

10.06 Participant 29

11.14 Participant 26

Capitol Building / Congress

How does one know whether or not the House or Senate is in session?

Lig

hts in

the

windows

New

s va

ns par

ked o

ut...

The

flag is

flyi

ng

Piz

za d

eliv

erie

s

Can

’t te

ll

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Lights in the windows

2. News vans parked out front

3. The flag is flying

4. Pizza deliveries

5. Can’t tell

20

How many members of the H. of Reps.?

50 100

335

435

538

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 50

2. 100

3. 335

4. 435

5. 538

20

How many years is the term of a Representative?

1 Y

ear

2 Y

ears

3 Y

ears

4 Y

ears

5 Y

ears

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 1 Year

2. 2 Years

3. 3 Years

4. 4 Years

5. 5 Years

20

House of Representatives

• Size– 435 Members

• Term– 2 Years

• Number From Each State– Based on Population,

1/650,000

• Qualifications– 1. Must be 25 Years Old– 2. Citizen for 7 Years– 3. Must be Inhabitant of

State Elected From

How many Representatives from each state?

2 10

Bas

ed o

n Popula

tion

Sam

e as

Num

ber o

f ...

None

of the

abo

ve

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 2

2. 10

3. Based on Population

4. Same as Number of Senators

5. None of the above

20

Why isn’t Jack qualified to run in Florida for the House?

He

is 3

4 ye

ars

old

He

was

bor

n in

Cal

ifo...

His

par

ents

are

not U

...

He

has o

nly b

een a

ci..

.

He

has o

nly li

ved in

...

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. He is 34 years old

2. He was born in California

3. His parents are not US citizens

4. He has only been a citizen for 6 years

5. He has only lived in the US for 13 years

20

Party Seats Popular Vote

2004 2006 +/−  % Vote  % +/−

Democratic Party 202 233 +31 53.6% 42,082,311

52.0% +5.4%

Republican Party 232 202 −30 46.4% 35,674,808

44.1% –5.1%

Independents 1 0 −1 0 220,842 0.3% -0.3%

Others 0 0 0 0 2,997,576 3.6% +0.0%

Total 435 435 0 100.0% 80,975,537

100.0% 0

Voter turnout:   36.8 %

Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

House of Representatives• Apportioned

– Distribution of Seats Based on Population

• Reapportioned– Seats Redistributed after 10 Year

Census• Reapportionment Act of 1929

– Capped Seats at 435• Off-Year Elections

– Non-Presidential Election Year, Poor Turnout, 2006 – 38.6%

• Single Member District– McNerney Represents our

District• At-Large Election

– Representatives Elected by Entire State

• Gerrymandering– State Legislatures Unfairly

Drawing District Lines to Benefit Majority Party

What would cause a state to lose Representatives in the House?

A tr

easo

nous ac

t

Fai

lure

of R

epre

sent..

.

A p

opulat

ion d

rop

Whi

te H

ouse

party

...

None

of the

abo

ve

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. A treasonous act

2. Failure of Representatives to vote

3. A population drop

4. White House party change

5. None of the above

20

How often are seats in the House reapportioned?

Eve

ry 2

yea

rs

Eve

ry 4

yea

rs

Eve

ry 5

yea

rs

Eve

ry 1

0 ye

ars

Afte

r eve

ry p

resi

dent..

.

0% 0% 0%0%0%

201. Every 2 years

2. Every 4 years

3. Every 5 years

4. Every 10 years

5. After every presidential election

Gerrymandering of district lines is done by…?

Sta

te L

egis

latu

res

Sta

te A

ttorn

eys

Sta

te G

overn

ors

City

Cou

ncils

City

May

ors

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. State Legislatures

2. State Attorneys

3. State Governors

4. City Councils

5. City Mayors

20

Post – 2008 Election

• Election Results

• Questions 1-6, Page 273

US Senate

• Size– 100 members

• Term– 6 years

• Number From Each State– 2 per state

• Qualifications– 1. Must be 30 Years Old– 2. Citizen for 9 Years– 3. Must be Inhabitant of State

US Senate Live

US Senate

Affiliation Members Note

  Democratic Party 49

  Republican Party 49

  Independent 2 Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman caucus with the Democrats.

  Majority 51 The Democratic Caucus (51 members) is in the majority.

Total 100

Post – 2008 Election

• Election Results

• Senate Debate

Committee Room

How Congress Operates

(10:01)

US Senate• Continuous Body

– 1/3 of its’ membership is ever up for election

• Constituencies– The people they represent, entire state

• 17th Amendment, 1913– Changed election procedures.– Before – Chosen by state legislatures– Now – elected by voters

• Salary - $162,000 / year• You Tube, Jerry McNerney – District 11

Questions 1-6, page 278

Congressional Powers

• Three Types of Powers– Expressed Powers

• Explicitly Stated in the Constitution

– Implied Powers• Reasonably Deduced from Expressed Powers

– Inherent Powers• Powers that Sovereign Nations Naturally Possess

– Ex. Power to protect the nation against rebellion

Expressed Powers• 1. The Power to Tax• 2. The Borrowing Power• 3. The Commerce Power• 4. The Currency Power• 5. The Bankruptcy Power• 6. Foreign Relations Power• 7. War Powers• 8. Naturalization• 9. The Postal Power• 10. Copyrights and Patents• 11. Weights and Measures• 12. Power Over Territories and Other Areas• 13. Judicial Powers• See pages 294-304 for a discussion of the above.

Power to Tax

Bankruptcy Power

Implied Powers

• Made Possible by the “Necessary and Proper Clause”

“To make all laws that 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 Office thereof.”

-Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18

• Strict Constructionist v. Liberal Constructionist

Roe v. Wade

• How is it that the Constitution gives authority to the Federal Government to regulate abortion?

• Right to Privacy which is impliedimplied by 4th Amendment Search and Seizure protections and …

Liberal v. Strict Constructionists

Non-Legislative Powers

• 1. Constitutional Amendments• 2. Electoral Duties

– House Chooses a President if None Receives 270 Electoral College Votes

• 3. Impeachment• 4. Executive Powers

– a. Senate Approves Appointments– b. Senate Approves Treaties

• 5. Investigatory Power

Constitutional Amendments

Impeachment

Investigatory Power

• Students Being Questioned about a School Shooting in Kentucky.

Homework

• Study for Final Test -

• Complete Text Assignment and Packet

• **Extra Credit** Think of a law appropriate to present to the US Congress. Develop a Proposal. Sell it to the class. Present the day of the Final Exam, given time. Turn in write up.