The French and Indian War

The Legislative BranchChapter 7

Structure of CongressLesson 1Essential Questions:

Why do people create, structure and change governments

It Matters Because:Congress makes the federal laws that affect all Americans

Guiding QuestionWhy is Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate

Bicameral CongressSmaller states- wanted each state to have equal representationLarger states- wanted representation based on populationCompromise Create a bicameral (two parts) bodySenate- each state would have two representatives House of Representatives- members from each state would be based on population

House of Representatives Census- population count every ten years This determines how many representatives each state is allowedStates are divided into districts Each district gets one House member 435 members with 2 year termsConstituents- people who live in a districtGerrymander- an oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group

The SenateThe Senate has 100 members 2 from each state Six year terms Every two years one third is up for reelectionFilling seats that become vacant depends on state lawThe Governor can appoint a replacement Special elections could be held

House and Senate Compare and Contrast

Congressional LeadershipMajority Party- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party that has more than half of the members

Minority Party- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party that has less than half of the members

Top Leadership in the HouseSpeaker of the House- chosen by members of the majority partyThe Speaker has great powerGuides legislation through the House, and leads the debates on the floor of the House If anything happens to the President and Vice President the Speaker of the House is next in line to become President

Paul RyanTop Leadership in the SenateVice President-presiding officer in the SenateThe Vice President only gets to vote in the Senate in case of a tiePresident Pro Tempore- President of the senate when the Vice President is not there. Pro tempore means for the time beingAfter the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore is next in line to the presidency Mitch McconnellSenate Majority Leader

Joe BidenVice PresidentOrrin Hatch

The Committee SystemEach house is set up of many different committeesThese committees help in handling the thousands of bills that are considered each session and there are three types Standing CommitteesThey are permanent committees (used each term)Focus on specific area of government such as agriculture, defense, and foreign affairsSelect CommitteeTemporary committees that deal with special issuesJoint Committees Committees that include members of both houses, they consider specific issuesGetting on a CommitteeSenators and representatives try to get placed on committees that affect the people who elected themMembers from a farming areas such as Iowa, or Kansas try to serve on agriculture committeesYour interests, experience, and party loyalty help to determine which committee you are placed in Seniority- years of service, also determines the committee you are placed in. Committee ChairpersonDecides when the committee meets Decides which bill will be consideredLesson 2Powers of CongressIt Matters BecauseThe framers of the Constitution gave Congress many powers and also placed some limits on those powers

Guiding Question What kinds of lawmaking powers were given to Congress by the Constitution

Understanding what powers Congress has, and how those powers are limited is vital knowledge for every American citizen. Legislative Powers Expressed Powers- powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the ConstitutionMost powers are listed in Article 1, Section 8Also referred to as enumerated powers 18 clauses that lists powers given to Congressi.e. Print money, declare war, borrow money, collect taxes

Implied Powers- powers that Congress has that are not explicitly listed in the ConstitutionArticle 1, Section 8, Clause 18 states that- Congress has the power to do whatever is necessary and proper.Clause 18 is also known as the elastic clauseLawmaking PowersThree Major CategoriesMoney powers-raise and spend money, tax, print moneyCommerce- regulate, manage trade and business between statesMilitary / Foreign Policy- laws about defense, war, and foreign policy

Other Powers and LimitsNon Legislative Powers- duty Congress holds besides making lawsKeep check on other branches Reject Presidents nomineesImpeach-to accuse government officials of misconduct in office

Limits on Congressional PowerThe Bill of Rights- limits government powers

Writ of habeas corpus- a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding a person

Bills of attainder- a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

Ex post facto law- a law that allows a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

Other powers are denied to the federal government by setting them aside only for the states

Lesson 3How Congress works It Matters BecauseIn making laws, Congress makes decisions that affect all Americans

Guiding Question What are the qualifications for becoming a member of congress?

Requirements and Benefits Who are members of Congress2 out of 5 are lawyers, others are farmers, doctors, homemakers, former armed forces members, entertainers and athletes Senators- average age is 62House Representatives- average age is 56Salary- in 2010 was $174,000 a yearFree office space, parking, trips home Franking privilege- free job related mail serviceFree life and health insuranceFree gym, special restaurants and clinicLegal protection in certain situations

Congressional StaffTo help do their jobs the Congressmen hire:A staff of clerks, secretaries, and special assistantsThey have offices near the Capitol They deal with reporters and lobbyists- people who represent interest groupsThey draft, or outline bills

Agencies of CongressThe Library of CongressLargest library in the world Its an important source of information for Congress and their staff At least one copy of every book published in the United States is found thereCongress has also created agencies to support its work

Agencies of CongressThe Government Accountability Office (GOA)Examines financial matters for CongressReviews spending by federal agenciesStudies federal programs Suggests how to improve spending Helps in considering new lawsStudies problems and analyzes actions that can be takenAlso advises executive departments

Agencies of CongressThe Congressional Budget Office (CBO)Provides information needed by Congress to develop the governments budgetAdvises Congress on cost and benefits of actions being considered It does not suggest policies,It estimates the costs of programs

Congress at WorkMaking laws is one of the main functions of CongressThey act as investigators, thinkers, and they study issues in order to understand themCasework- the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem Some receive as many as 10,000 requests per yearThis helps with their reelection

Congress at Work (cont.)Pork-barrel projects- government project grant that primarily benefits a congressmans home district or stateBring federal money (the fat)to their district or stateMoney used to build bridges, dams, military bases, veterans hospitals, highways

Earmarks- wording that is added to bills to provide funds for specific projects they favorLesson 4How a Bill Becomes a LawIt Matters BecauseThe process Congress follows to make laws is complex

Guiding Question What kinds of bills come before Congress?

Types of BillsThe process of making laws is designed to be long and complicated This makes sure that bills are considered carefullyTwo types Private bills- concern individual people or places Deals with claims against the government Public bills- apply to the entire nationDeals with matters such as taxation, farm policy, or highway building. ResolutionsIn addition to billsResolutions- statement expressing lawmakers opinions or decisionsThey usually wont become lawsJoint resolutions- a resolution that is passed by both houses of CongressThey become law if the President signs them

From Bill to LawA bill starts with an idea from:Private citizensThe President Special-interest groups- an organization made up of people with common interests who try to influence gov. decisionsSponsor- the member who introduces a billEvery bill is given a numberSenate- S.1House- H.R.- 2Committee Action Pass the bill, which sends it to the full chamberMake changes to the bill and then pass it and sent it to the full House or SenateReplace the original bill with a new bill on the same subjectpigeonhole the bill- which means to ignore the bill and let it die in committeeKill the bill out right by having a majority vote against it.Debating the BillBills approved in committee are then considered by the full House or Senate (floor debate)The House accepts only amendments relevant to the billSenate-allows riders- a completely unrelated amendment added to a billHouse- has many members, so there is a time limit on discussionsSenate- has fewer member, no time limitFilibuster- a tactic used for defeating a bill (talking the bill to death)Cloture- a procedure in the Senate to limit debate on a the bill

Voting and VetoesHouseAfter the bill is debated it is brought to a vote (3 ways)Voice vote (Aye=Yes, Nay=No)Standing vote- members stand to be counted for a vote Recorded vote- votes are recorded electronically

SenateAlso has 3 methods of votingRoll-call vote- Aye or Nay vote when the senators name is calledVoice voteStanding vote

A simple majority is necessary, must pass both houses, if either house rejects it, the bill is dead.

Different Versions of BillsConference CommitteeSometimes each house passes a different version of a billIf there are differences the bill goes to a conference committeeIn conference they make compromises and come out with one version of the billThe bill then goes to the President to sign (approve) or veto (reject)Pocket Veto- is the presidents power to kill a bill, if Congress in not in session, by not signing the bill for 10 daysw