Legislative Branch US Government Mr. W.

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” A. Bicameral Division members 2. New Jersey Plan (small states wanting equal representation) 3. Virginia Plan (large states wanting representation based on size)

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” 4. Great Compromise: accept both plans; the House (size) and Senate (equal) 5. Each “House” controls the power of the other

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” B. Senate (Upper house) members 2. Equal representation for states / 2 Senators per state 3. 6 year term

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” 4. 1/3 elected every 2 years 5. Vice President is the presiding officer 6. Member is known as a Senator / represent their entire state

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” C. Qualifications for the Senate years old 2. Citizen for 9 years 3. Resident of the state he/she is elected

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” D. Major Powers of the Senate 1. Ratifies (approves) treaties 2. Approves Presidential appointments 3. Conducts impeachment trials

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” E. House of Representatives (Lower house) members 2. Number of Representatives per state is based on a state’s population / Each state has at least one Representative 3. 2 year term

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” 4. All 435 members are elected every 2 years 5. Speaker of the house is the presiding officer 6. Member is known as a Representative/ represent a Congressional District in their state

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” F. Qualifications for the House years old 2. Citizen for 7 years 3. Resident of the state he/she is elected

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” G. Major Powers of the House of Representatives 1. All revenue (tax) bills must start in the House 2. Establish impeachment trials

I. Legislative Branch: “Makes the Laws” H. Misc. 1. Senate and House of Reps must meet once a year (Jan. 3) 2. Both the House of Reps and Senate together is called the Congress.

II. Legislative Process A. Ideas for Bills originate: 1. American people / voters 2. Special Interest groups 3. Members of Congress 4. President

II. Legislative Process B. How a bill becomes a law 1. Introduced in either the House or Senate 1. Introduced in either the House or Senate 2. Titled and numbered 3. Sent to a committee, voted on 4. If passed, sent to the floor for debate, and voted on

II. Legislative Process 5. Must have majority vote to pass, or it will “die” 6. If passed, bill is sent to the other house 7. Bill is titled and numbered, again 8. Sent to a committee, voted on

II. Legislative Process 9. If passed, sent to the floor for debate, and voted on 10. Must have a majority vote to pass, or it will “die” 11. If the bill passes through both the House and Senate, it is then sent to the President (sign/veto/pocket veto)

II. Legislative Process 12. Congress may override the President’s veto by a 2/3 vote Note: The Senate has unlimited debate (filibuster), while the House has a limit on debate

Committees 1. Membership is based on seniority 2. Most of the work on a bill takes place in the committee

Committees 3. Standing Committees – permanent a. House – 22 b. Senate – 16 a. House – 22 b. Senate – Joint Committee – House and Senate working together

IV. Powers and Limitations of Congress A. Delegated Powers (Article I, Section 8, Clauses 1-18) 1. Finance the government (taxes) 2. Coin money 3. Declare war 4. Establish Post Offices 5. Borrow money 6. Military 7. “Elastic Clause”

IV. Powers and Limitations of Congress B. Limits 1. Tax exports 2. Ex Post Facto Laws: Makes an action a crime even though it was not a crime when it was committed, or increases the penalty for a crime after it was committed

IV. Powers and Limitations of Congress 3. Bill of Attainder: Cannot inflict punishment to a person/group without a trial 4. Suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus: An agency cannot hold a person without a charge 5. Pass laws that violate the Constitution

V. The ways you (citizens) can influence Congress 1. Write your Congress (petition) 2. Support special interest groups 3. Get involved in local politics 4. VOTE!!!