The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

Congress: It's Who You Vote ForCongress: It's Who You Vote For

Congress is the largest branch in govt. Congress is the largest branch in govt. (535 people)(535 people)

- Congress is - Congress is bicameralbicameral, which means it is split , which means it is split into two parts:into two parts:

- - Senate & House of Reps.Senate & House of Reps.

- Congressional Elections occur every two years - Congressional Elections occur every two years (all of House, 1/3 of Senate)(all of House, 1/3 of Senate)

- This is the branch of govt. that people have the - This is the branch of govt. that people have the most control overmost control over

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Known as “The House”Known as “The House” Reps serve two year termsReps serve two year terms Number of reps per state is Number of reps per state is

based on populationbased on population California has the most (53), several states California has the most (53), several states

have only 1 (Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska)have only 1 (Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska) No term limits (can serve as long as they want)No term limits (can serve as long as they want)

House of Representatives (cont.)House of Representatives (cont.)

QualificationsQualifications::

- at least 25 years old- at least 25 years old

- Citizen of U.S. for 7+ years- Citizen of U.S. for 7+ years

- Must live in the state they represent- Must live in the state they represent However, there are several unwritten However, there are several unwritten

qualifications for representativesqualifications for representatives Can you think of any? What would Can you think of any? What would youyou want want

youryour representatives to be like?? representatives to be like??

House of Representatives (cont.)House of Representatives (cont.)

Unwritten QualificationsUnwritten Qualifications::

- Good background in law (lawyer a plus)- Good background in law (lawyer a plus)

- Good background in business- Good background in business

- Older the better (more experience)- Older the better (more experience)

- Usually served in some type of govt before - Usually served in some type of govt before (State or Local) (State or Local)

Mainers in the House!Mainers in the House!

Who are you Repin'?Who are you Repin'?

In states with only 1 In states with only 1 Rep, the elected Rep, the elected person represents the person represents the whole stateswhole states

In states with more In states with more than 1 Rep, the person than 1 Rep, the person represents a represents a congressional congressional districtdistrict, or section of , or section of the statethe state

Gerrymandering Gerrymandering

GerrymanderingGerrymandering refers to refers to creating or re-organizing creating or re-organizing congressional districts to congressional districts to favor a particular partyfavor a particular party

Usually favors either Usually favors either Democrats or RepublicansDemocrats or Republicans

Legal because re-districting Legal because re-districting is left up to state govt.is left up to state govt.

Little to no regulationsLittle to no regulations

Gerrymandering Activity (A)Gerrymandering Activity (A)

Please read sections about Please read sections about gerrymandering on pages gerrymandering on pages 123-124 in your Govt. 123-124 in your Govt. TextbookTextbook

Answer the Gerrymandering Answer the Gerrymandering questions.questions.

Visit the Gerrymandering Visit the Gerrymandering link at the Class Wiki.link at the Class Wiki.

Play the Re-Districting Play the Re-Districting Simulation Game.Simulation Game.

Gerrymandering Activity (B/C)Gerrymandering Activity (B/C)

Please read sections about Please read sections about gerrymandering on pages gerrymandering on pages 181 & 214 in your Civics 181 & 214 in your Civics TextbookTextbook

Next, answer this question:Next, answer this question: Do you think Do you think

gerrymandering should be gerrymandering should be legal? Why or why not? legal? Why or why not? What problems or solutions What problems or solutions might occur because of might occur because of gerrymandering?gerrymandering?

11stst Day in Congress Activity Day in Congress Activity

• Please grab your NetBooks and log onto the Please grab your NetBooks and log onto the following website:following website:

- http://kids.clerk.house.gov/high-school- http://kids.clerk.house.gov/high-school

• Choose Activities and click “1Choose Activities and click “1stst Day in Day in Congress” from the drop-down menuCongress” from the drop-down menu

• Complete the worksheet Complete the worksheet given to you by Mr. Durangiven to you by Mr. Duran

SenateSenate

Upper house of Congress is called the SenateUpper house of Congress is called the Senate Each state elects two people to serve in the Each state elects two people to serve in the

Senate, known as “Senators”Senate, known as “Senators” Senators serve 6 year termsSenators serve 6 year terms Elections held for 1/3 of the Senate every 6 yearsElections held for 1/3 of the Senate every 6 years No terms limits (serve as long as they are elected)No terms limits (serve as long as they are elected) Each Senator represents the entire stateEach Senator represents the entire state Senators do Senators do notnot have to work together have to work together

Senate (cont.)Senate (cont.)

Qualifications:Qualifications:

-- Must be at least 30 years oldMust be at least 30 years old

- Citizen of U.S. for 9+ years- Citizen of U.S. for 9+ years

- Must live in state they represent- Must live in state they represent

Same unwritten qualifications as HouseSame unwritten qualifications as House Most Senators are former RepresentativesMost Senators are former Representatives Why??Why??

Maine SenatorsMaine Senators

Senate Map (2008 - 2010)Senate Map (2008 - 2010)

The dreaded The dreaded FilibusterFilibuster!!

• During a debate in the House, each Rep. is limited to During a debate in the House, each Rep. is limited to speaking for only 5 minutes.speaking for only 5 minutes.

• In the Senate, a Senator “has the floor” until they end In the Senate, a Senator “has the floor” until they end or yield their argument.or yield their argument.

• Many Senators enact Many Senators enact filibusters filibusters to block or to block or stop legislation.stop legislation.

• They just talk, talk, talk....They just talk, talk, talk....

Until the bill is either repealedUntil the bill is either repealed OROR They run out of breath!They run out of breath!

The Powers of the LegislatureThe Powers of the Legislature

• Congress does not have unlimited powerCongress does not have unlimited power

• The authority and power of Congress can be The authority and power of Congress can be found in Article I of the Constitutionfound in Article I of the Constitution

• These powers allow them to create laws, run These powers allow them to create laws, run day-to-day business, manage the military, and day-to-day business, manage the military, and levy (create & collect) taxeslevy (create & collect) taxes

• ““Power of the PursePower of the Purse””

3 Major Powers of Congress3 Major Powers of Congress

The powers of Congress are separated into The powers of Congress are separated into 3 Major Categories:3 Major Categories:

1. Enumerated Powers (listed in Constitution)1. Enumerated Powers (listed in Constitution)

2. Implied Powers2. Implied Powers(Elastic Clause)(Elastic Clause)

3. Special Powers 3. Special Powers

Enumerated & Implied PowersEnumerated & Implied Powers

• Enumerated PowersEnumerated Powers::

- Create & maintain a military (Army/Navy)- Create & maintain a military (Army/Navy)

- Power to declare war on foreign countries- Power to declare war on foreign countries

• Implied PowersImplied Powers::

- - Expand militaryExpand military (Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines) (Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines)

- - Create military academiesCreate military academies (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy) (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force Academy)

- - Military DraftMilitary Draft

Non-Legislative PowersNon-Legislative Powers

• Please turn to pages 224-225 in Please turn to pages 224-225 in your Civics textbook.your Civics textbook.

• Please complete the following Please complete the following questions:questions:

1. What is the power of 1. What is the power of impeachment? Explain the impeachment? Explain the process in as much detail as process in as much detail as possible.possible.

2. List 4 Special Powers of Congress 2. List 4 Special Powers of Congress and explain the importance of and explain the importance of each power.each power.

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• One of Congress' main One of Congress' main jobs to create & pass billsjobs to create & pass bills

• Bills can be introduced Bills can be introduced by several people, by several people, including:including:

- Reps/Senators - Reps/Senators - Citizens - Citizens - Interest Groups - Interest Groups

- President & - President & Executive Office Executive Office

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• After it is sponsored, After it is sponsored, the bill is put in the the bill is put in the bill hopperbill hopper and is and is introduced by the introduced by the Speaker of the House Speaker of the House or the Clerkor the Clerk

• It is then debated in the It is then debated in the HouseHouse

• If it is approved by If it is approved by 2/32/3 of the House, it moves of the House, it moves onto the Senate for a onto the Senate for a votevote

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• The bill is debated in The bill is debated in the Senatethe Senate

• The bill is either The bill is either killed by a killed by a filibusterfilibuster or it is accepted and or it is accepted and brought to a votebrought to a vote

• If If 2/32/3 of the Senate of the Senate approves the bill, it is approves the bill, it is sent to the President sent to the President for approvalfor approval

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• When a Bill is introduced When a Bill is introduced to the President, he has to the President, he has 3 options:3 options:

1. He can 1. He can signsign (approve) the (approve) the bill, making it a lawbill, making it a law

2. He can 2. He can vetoveto (reject) a bill, (reject) a bill, sending it back to sending it back to CongressCongress

3. He can 3. He can pocket vetopocket veto a bill, a bill, which is where he does which is where he does nothingnothing

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• If the President If the President vetoesvetoes the Bill, it can the Bill, it can still become a law if:still become a law if:

- - 2/32/3 of both the of both the House & Senate House & Senate vote to override the vote to override the President's vetoPresident's veto

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• If the President If the President pocket vetoespocket vetoes a Bill, after 10 a Bill, after 10 days pass,one of two things happen to the Bill:days pass,one of two things happen to the Bill:

• 1. If Congress is NOT in session, the Bill is 1. If Congress is NOT in session, the Bill is killedkilled

OROR

• 2. If Congress is in session, the Bill 2. If Congress is in session, the Bill automatically becomes law without automatically becomes law without the President's signaturethe President's signature

How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

• However, the Supreme Court has the final say However, the Supreme Court has the final say in whether or not a Bill actually becomes a lawin whether or not a Bill actually becomes a law

• The Supreme Court, using their power of The Supreme Court, using their power of judicial reviewjudicial review, can determine whether or not , can determine whether or not a new law is a new law is unconstitutionalunconstitutional

• If this happens, the law is nullified If this happens, the law is nullified