U.S. CongressU.S. Congress

Unit 10Unit 10

The CapitolThe Capitol

HOUSESENAT

E

Congressional ElectionsCongressional ElectionsFinancingFinancing

Candidates need approx. $2 million to Candidates need approx. $2 million to runrun$1.14 billion raised in 2006$1.14 billion raised in 2006

Rules:Rules:Individuals can contribute Individuals can contribute

$2100 to a candidate; $26,700 to a party$2100 to a candidate; $26,700 to a partyPACs can contributePACs can contribute

$5000 to a candidate; $15,000 to a party$5000 to a candidate; $15,000 to a partyPolitical Parties can contributePolitical Parties can contribute

$5000 to house candidates; $37,000 to senate $5000 to house candidates; $37,000 to senate candidatescandidates

Congressional ElectionsCongressional ElectionsIncumbency FactorsIncumbency Factors

Incumbent Candidates use perks of Incumbent Candidates use perks of the office the office Large budget for staff membersLarge budget for staff membersFree Postage (franking privilege)Free Postage (franking privilege)Free traveling expensesFree traveling expensesFree mediaFree mediaOther perks?Other perks?

StructureStructureMembershipMembership::

House of Reps.: 435House of Reps.: 435Senate: 100Senate: 100

Terms:Terms:U.S. House = 2 year termsU.S. House = 2 year terms

All 435 members are elected every two All 435 members are elected every two yearsyears

Senate = 6 year termsSenate = 6 year terms1/3rd of Senate is elected every two years1/3rd of Senate is elected every two years

Every two years begins a new term: Every two years begins a new term: Currently we are in the 111th CongressCurrently we are in the 111th Congress

StructureStructureHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

RepresentationRepresentation 435 members / 428 districts (7 states have one Rep.)435 members / 428 districts (7 states have one Rep.) 1790 - 1929: One representative per 30,000 people1790 - 1929: One representative per 30,000 people

Redistricting processRedistricting process U.S. Census determines population every ten yearsU.S. Census determines population every ten years House then determines House then determines apportionmentapportionment

Redrawing of congressional districts is determined by the Redrawing of congressional districts is determined by the state legislatures…leads to state legislatures…leads to gerrymanderinggerrymandering

Ex: In 2000 PA lost 2 reps. due to a significant loss in Ex: In 2000 PA lost 2 reps. due to a significant loss in populationpopulation

Today there is about 650,000 people per Rep.Today there is about 650,000 people per Rep.

REDISTRICTING

GerrymanderingGerrymanderingPacking and CrackingPacking and Cracking

Gerrymandering in MarylandGerrymandering in MarylandPacking or Cracking?Packing or Cracking?

QualificationsQualifications

HouseHouse SenateSenate

CitizenshipCitizenship 7 years7 years 9 years9 years

ResidencyResidency In stateIn state In stateIn state

AgeAge 2525 3030

TermTerm 2 years2 years 6 years6 years

Removal/VacanciesRemoval/Vacancies

Impeachment of membersImpeachment of members Only the House has the power to remove / Only the House has the power to remove /

punish its own memberspunish its own membersSame for SenateSame for Senate

Vacancies:Vacancies: If a vacancy develops, The Governor of the If a vacancy develops, The Governor of the

state with the vacancy determines a state with the vacancy determines a replacement method:replacement method:

Hold a special electionHold a special electionAppoint someone to serve the remainder of the term Appoint someone to serve the remainder of the term

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Officers:Officers: Speaker: Nancy Speaker: Nancy

Pelosi (D., Cal.)Pelosi (D., Cal.)Elected to House in Elected to House in

1987; Speaker in 1987; Speaker in 20072007

Presides over House Presides over House sessionssessions

Sets the legislative Sets the legislative agendaagenda

Controls debate Controls debate topics and lengthtopics and length

Controls committee Controls committee structurestructure

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Majority Leader:Majority Leader:Steny Hoyer (D. Steny Hoyer (D.

MD)MD)Leads the party with Leads the party with

the majority of the majority of membersmembers

Aids Speaker in Aids Speaker in setting the setting the legislative agendalegislative agenda

Aids Speaker in Aids Speaker in choosing committee choosing committee membershipmembership

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Minority Leader:Minority Leader: John Boehner (R. John Boehner (R.

OH)OH)Leads the party with Leads the party with

the minority of the minority of membersmembers

Aids Speaker in Aids Speaker in setting the setting the legislative agendalegislative agenda

Aids Speaker in Aids Speaker in choosing committee choosing committee membership membership

U.S. SenateU.S. Senate

OfficersOfficers Vice President Vice President

(presiding (presiding officer): Joe Bidenofficer): Joe Biden

Presides over Presides over debate and votes debate and votes only in case of a only in case of a tietie

U.S. SenateU.S. Senate

President pro President pro tempore:tempore: Robert Byrd (first Robert Byrd (first

elected in 1958)elected in 1958) Presides over the Presides over the

Senate in the Senate in the absence of V.P.absence of V.P.

U.S. SenateU.S. Senate

Majority Leader:Majority Leader: Harry Reid (D. Harry Reid (D.

NV)NV)Leads the party with Leads the party with

the majority of the majority of membersmembers

Sets the legislative Sets the legislative agendaagenda

Controls committee Controls committee membershipmembership

U.S. SenateU.S. Senate

Minority Leader:Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell Mitch McConnell

(R. KY)(R. KY)Leads the party with Leads the party with

the minority of the minority of membersmembers

Assists in setting the Assists in setting the legislative agendalegislative agenda

Assists in choosing Assists in choosing committee committee membership membership

U.S. CongressU.S. Congress

Personalities: Personalities: Avg. age is 52Avg. age is 52 60% are Christian60% are Christian 29% are Catholic29% are Catholic 8% are Jewish8% are Jewish 83% male83% male Over 92% have College degrees or higherOver 92% have College degrees or higher Almost 100% have prior political experienceAlmost 100% have prior political experience

The job:The job: Legislator; Representative; Committee Legislator; Representative; Committee

member; Politician; Public Servantmember; Politician; Public Servant

U.S. CongressU.S. CongressSalary:Salary: House members: $174,200House members: $174,200 Senate members: $174,200 Senate members: $174,200 Speaker and V.P.: $223,500Speaker and V.P.: $223,500 Maj. & Min. leaders: $193,400 Maj. & Min. leaders: $193,400

Perks:Perks: Large budget for staff membersLarge budget for staff members Free office space & suppliesFree office space & supplies Free Postage (franking privilege)Free Postage (franking privilege) Congressional Research ServiceCongressional Research Service Free traveling expensesFree traveling expenses Free parkingFree parking Free use of health facilities / gymFree use of health facilities / gym Immunity from driving laws when on “official” businessImmunity from driving laws when on “official” business

U.S. Congress CommitteesU.S. Congress Committees

Committee assignments:Committee assignments:Assignments are determined by need, Assignments are determined by need,

interest, background of member, etc.interest, background of member, etc.Every House member sits on either 1 or 2 Every House member sits on either 1 or 2

committeescommitteesEvery Senate member sits on either 3 or 4 Every Senate member sits on either 3 or 4

committeescommittees

U.S. Congress CommitteesU.S. Congress Committees

Standing committees: permanent committeesStanding committees: permanent committees House has 20 and Senate has 17House has 20 and Senate has 17

Select Committees: Select Committees: Established to handle a specific issue (Not Established to handle a specific issue (Not

permanent)permanent) Joint Committees:Joint Committees:

Comprised of members of both houses Comprised of members of both houses Conference Committees:Conference Committees:

When the two houses disagree on changes made When the two houses disagree on changes made to a bill, members of both houses come together to to a bill, members of both houses come together to settle all differencessettle all differences

Congressional PowerCongressional Power

Unit 10Unit 10

Expressed PowersExpressed Powers

Congress has 17 expressed powers in the Constitution

They include:1. Declare war

• Provide funding for the military & military actions

2. Tax3. Borrowing money4. Regulate Commerce 5. Coin money

Expressed PowersExpressed Powers

2. TaxEx: Fed. Income tax; Medicare tax; Social Security tax

Limits on Federal taxesNo tax on religion

Only tax to help the public

No tax on exported goods

Implied PowersImplied Powers

Derived from the necessary & proper clause

Examples:

- Power to borrow money =

Power to establish a bank

- Power to regulate commerce =

Power to set a minimum wage; ban discrimination in the work place

Non-legislative PowersNon-legislative Powers

• Election of the Executive

• Impeach and remove government officials

• Approve of Executive appointments

• Approve treaties

• Investigate any issue covered by law

Impeachment of a PresidentImpeachment of a President

• Step one: House Judiciary Committee writes the charges against the president

• Step two: The whole House votes on the charges• Step three: Senate holds a trial

– House members act as prosecutors– Chief Justice acts as judge– Senate acts as jury

• Step four: Senate debates & votes to acquit or remove

How a bill becomes a lawUnit 10

Step one: writing legislation

– All legislation begins with a desired change or advancement within society

– Thousands of bills are introduced every term, less than 1,000 become law

– Types:• Government revenue (taxes, etc.) bills must start

in the House• All other types of bills can begin in either the

House or the Senate

Step Two: Introduction to the House

– Given to the House Clerk (dropped in the hopper)

– Recorded as H.R.: H.R. 25 is the 25th measure introduced in the House

– Read on the floor of the House– Entered into the Congressional Record

Step Three: Bill in the House Committee

Bills are given to subcommittees for researchSubcommittees research through:– Public hearings where interested persons and

lobbyists testify on the issue– Trips (called junkets) to areas affected by the issue Subcommittees report back to the whole committee for:– Approval or disapproval– Approval with changes– Approval of a committee bill (many bills made into

one)

Step four: Bill on the House floor

All bills are assigned a scheduled date for debate and vote by the Speaker

Debate:– Majority and Minority leaders decide how they will split

time on debate– NO ONE person can hold the floor for more than one

hourVoting: The House will vote in one of three ways– Voice vote (Speaker determines result)– Standing vote (Clerk must count heads)– Roll call vote (Clerk calls the roll)

• Now done by electronic voting

Step five: Introduction to the Senate

• Same as step 2

Step six: Bill in the Senate Committee

• Same as step 3

Step seven: Bill on the Senate floor

Debate: NO limitations on speeches– Filibuster: When a senator disagrees with a

bill so much that he is forced to take the floor until the bill dies or is changed

• LONGEST Filibuster: Sen. Strom Thurmond spoke for 24 hrs and 18 min against the Civil Rights Act of 1957… he failed

Voting: The votes by roll call

Step eight: (if needed) Bill in the conference committee

If the two houses disagree on changes to a bill, members of both houses come together to settle all differences

– If this occurs, both houses revote on the bill

Step nine: President’s decision

– If signed, the bill becomes law • If it is not signed within 10 days it still becomes law

– If vetoed, the bill dies or Congress can override it by a 2/3 vote of each house

• Pocket Veto: If Congress ends a session within 10 days of giving the bill to the president, and he does not act, it dies