FYI: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CHAPTER 6/SECTION 1 CONT’

DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Makes and passes laws Collect Taxes Declare War

OFFICE: Senate OFFICE: House of Representatives # of Members: 100  Based on members from each state  Represent entire state Requirements:  30 years old  US citizen for 9 years  Live in the state they serve Term Length: 6 years Leader: Vice President (Joe Biden) # of Members: 435  Based on --- population of each state  Focus on concerns in their districts Requirements:  25 years old  US citizen for 7 years  Live in the state they serve Term Length: 2 years Leader: Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi) CONGRESS (Bicameral body) = 535 members

Majority Party: political party to which more than half the members belong Minority party: Political party to which less than half the members belong

Senate Cont’ Leadership in the Senate Vice President – presides in the Senate but can only break a tie President pro tempore (“for the time being”) usually acts as the Senate Chairperson From the majority party Usually the most senior member

House of Representative s cont’ Role of the Speaker of the House: Presiding officer of the House and leader of the majority party Steers legislation through the house Leads floor debates 3 rd inline to become president if anything happens to the President or Vice President

OTHER LEADERS: Minority and Majority floor leaders in each house speak for their parties on issues; push bills along and try to sway votes Party “whips” – help floor leaders  Make sure legislatures are present for key votes

COMMITTEE WORK Actual work of legislating performed by committees and sub committees within Congress PURPOSE: to make it possible to handle so many bills at one time (1000’s)

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 3 TYPES OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES: 1. Standing Committees  Permanent committees  House of Reps committees: Agriculture, Armed Services, Small Business, Education and the Workforce  Senate Committees: Armed Services, finance, Health Education, Labor and Pensions 2. Select Committees and Special Committees  Temporary and meet until they complete their assigned task  Examples: Intelligence, Homeland, Indian Affairs 3. Joint Committees  Include members of both houses  Meet to consider specific issues  Examples: Economics, Taxation, Library

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Members try to get assigned to important committees that affect the people who elected them What is the Seniority System?  Committee assignments made by party leaders  Qualifications when being considered for a committee  Preferences  Expertise  Loyalty  Seniority (yrs of service)

COMMITTEES ASSIGNMENTS CONT’ Longest serving committee member from the majority party becomes the Chairperson of the committee Chairperson:  Decides meeting time  Decides what bills will be studied  Decides who will serve on subcommittees.