Congress: The Legislative Branch AP Version

Bicameral Congress House of Representatives and Senate Founding fathers were familiar with House of Lords + House of Commons system in Britain Most colonial and state governments were bicameral Fulfills Connecticut (Great Compromise) which solved representation arguments House represents people, Senate represents state Fragments power, helps minority party been heard Slows legislative power, encouraging debate

House of Reps… our Rep is Jerry Lewis (R)

Qualifications and Terms 25 years old Lives in state in which elected 7 year citizen of US 435 members 2 year terms

Senate… California’s are Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein (Both Democrats)

Qualifications and Terms 30 years old Resident in the state in which elected 9 year US citizen 100 members 6 years

Election House of Representatives have always been voted in directly by the people Senators were originally selected by state legislatures, but after the 17 th Amendment (1913) people voted them in

House of Representatives Powers Initiates revenue bills Brings impeachment charges Chooses the president when the electoral college is deadlocked

Senate Powers Ratifies treaties negotiated by the president Possesses the soul power to try or impeach judges Confirms judicial appointments including US attorneys Confirms executive appointments including cabinet heads and the director of the FBI

House of Representatives Specific Information Constitution does not set the exact size Does have to proportionate to states population Constitution guarantees that every state shall have at least one (7 states only have 1) The Constitution directs Congress to reapportion or reallocate seats every 10 years after the census The Reapportionment Act of 1929 set the members at 435 Each seat represents an average of 700,000 people

Reapportionment increases one states representation, but also decreases another Constitution does not describe or define congressional districts In 1842 Congress made a law saying that state legislatures would draw there own boundary lines

Gerrymandering Legislative process by which the majority party in each legislature draws district lines to ensure that they receive the maximum number of seats

Consequences of Gerrymandering It protects incumbents and discourages challengers It strengthens the majority party while weakening the opposition party

Supreme Court Restrictions on Redistricting Baker v. Carr Wesberry v. Sander “One Person, One Vote” determined that districts needed to even population wise Lines must be contiguous or connected Cannot be based on race

Congressional Elections Incumbents usually win ▫Over 90% of incumbents seeking reelection in the House win ▫Over 75% of incumbents seeking reelection in Senate win

Why do incumbents win? Money ▫PACs contribute more to incumbents ▫Incumbents outspend challengers by a ratio of 2:1 Visibility -Incumbents are better known -Incumbents have attended highly visible public events

Constituent Service ▫By doing casework for constituents and bringing home money and jobs “pork.” The franking privilege ▫Members of congress can mail newsletters at the governments expense ▫Now s and recorded voic s

Consequences of the Incumbency Advantage Continuity in leadership, people do not need to relearn policies No incentive for congressmen to create radical change Close relationships with interest groups

The Role of Political Parties in Congress Political parties play a key role in the organization of both houses of Congress The majority party holds the following advantages: ▫It holds committee chairs ▫Chooses Speaker of the House ▫It assigns bill to committees ▫It holds the majority on each committee ▫Controls the House Rules Committee ▫It sets legislative agenda

The House of Representatives More member, so more structure and more formal rules Debate is much stricter than in Senate Speaker of the House ▫Presides over the House ▫Overseas House business ▫2 nd in line for Presidency

John Boehner: Current Speaker of the House (R)

Other House Leaders Eric Cantor: Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy: Majority Whip

Nancy Pelosi: Minority LeaderSteny Hoyer: Minority Whip

The Senate Senate is smaller and less formally organized than House Operates on several informal understandings Vice President of the US is President of the Senate Only votes in a tie Joe Biden (D)

President Pro Tempore Serves in the President’s (Vice President’s) absence Member of the majority party who has served the longest Daniel Inouye (D)

Majority Leader True leader of the Senate Elected Harry Reid (D) Whip-Richard Durbin

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) Whip- John Kyl

Standing Committees Permanent committees Focus on legislation in a particular area such as agriculture or foreign relations All bills are referred to standing committees where they can be killed, passed, or amended Standing committees are divided into subcommittees where details are worked out

The Committee System Both the House and Senate are divided into committees Committees play an important role in policymaking

Other Types of Committees Select Committees- short amount of time for something specific like an investigation Joint Committees- Act like select committees. Include members of both houses. Major Issues Conference Committees- resolve conflicts between 2 groups. Includes members of both

House Rules Committee Controlled by Speaker of the House Called “Traffic Cop” or “Speakers Right Arm” Sets Guidelines for floor debate including time limits, legislative calendar, types of amendments Decides whether debates will be closed rule (strict time limit) or open rule (less strict)

Committee Chairs Call meeting, schedule hearings, hire staff, recommend majority members to sit on conference committees and subcommittee chairs Chairs elected, usually majority party, seniority plays a role

Write the basic outline of the legislative process With a partner fill in 5details per step Share out

Other Powers of Congress Other powers: Declare War, Taxes, Commerce and Trade, Borrow Money, Create a Monetary System, Weights and Measures, Copyrights and Patents, Propose Amendments, Impeach President Some checks: President is Commander and Chief of the army, President can veto bills (laws)

Congress and the Executive Branch

Oversight Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office Senate executes power to approve the president’s judicial appointment Methods of Congressional Oversight: ▫Setting guidelines to new agencies ▫Holding hearings and conducting investigations ▫Approving budget ▫Reorganizing and evaluating executive agencies

War Powers Resolution Passed by Congress in 1973 Reaction to Vietnam (President had too much power) President has to notify Congress within 48 if he is deploying troops Must bring troops back within days unless Congress declares war, or extends time

Top 10 Acts of Congress 1. Civil Rights Act of Voting Rights Act of Clean Air Act of War Powers Resolution 5. Budget and Impoundment Control Act of Federal Election Campaign Act of Americans with Disabilities Act Welfare Reform Act No Child Left Behind Act USA Patriot Act