Ch.10 The Legislative Branch

10.1 – The National Legislature A Bicameral Congress – 2 House Legislature A Bicameral Congress – 2 House Legislature 1.Historical: Most of the Framers of the Constitution were already familiar with the British Parliament (2 Houses: House of Lords & House of Commons) 2.Practical: fair and equal representation in both houses of Congress 3.Theoretical: in hopes that one house might act as a check on the other

Terms & Sessions Terms of Congress – 2 years Terms of Congress – 2 years –Start Date: January 3rd of odd-numbered years Sessions – period of time in which congress assembles and conducts business Sessions – period of time in which congress assembles and conducts business –2 Sessions for every term –Adjourning a session can be done by both houses or the president –Special Sessions: called in case of an emergency

10.2 & 10.3 – The House & The Senate 1.Larger bodySmaller body 2.Shorter termLonger term 3.Smaller Larger constituencies constituencies 4.Younger Older membership membership The House of Representatives The Senate

5.Less prestige More prestige 6.Lower visibility Higher visibility in in the news mediathe news media 7.Strict rules, Flexible rules, limited debatenearly unlimited debate 8.Most work is done Work is split more in committees, Not on evenly between the floor committees and the floor The House of Representatives The Senate

9.No power over Approves or rejects treaties and treaties and presidential appointments 10.Single-member At-large elections district elections The House of Representatives The Senate

Warm-Up (11/16) Name one of the first steps a bill must go through to become law. Name one of the first steps a bill must go through to become law. Can a bill become law w/o the President Can a bill become law w/o the Presidentsignature?

10.4 – Members of Congress Characteristics of Members of Congress Characteristics of Members of Congress –NOT a cross section of the American people White, male, mid-50’s White, male, mid-50’s 89/538 – Women 89/538 – Women 42/538 – African American 42/538 – African American 27/538 – Hispanic 27/538 – Hispanic 7/538 – Asian 7/538 – Asian Most are lawyers; 80% have college degrees Most are lawyers; 80% have college degrees Upper-middle class hard-working Americans Upper-middle class hard-working Americans

Major Roles 1.Representatives: of their constituents (people) –Trustee: votes by conscience & judgment –Delegate: votes by what the people want –Partisan: votes by party –Politico: uses all of the above to vote 2.Committee Members: screen proposed laws 3.Servants to their constituency

Compensation $165,200/yr.House & Senate $215,700/yr.Speaker & V.P. $180,100/yr.President Pro Tem/ Majority & Minority Non-Salary: “Fringe Benefits” Non-Salary: “Fringe Benefits” –Tax deductions –Travel allowances –Health & Life insurance –Retirement plan –Allowances for offices and staff –Franking privilege – mail postage-free –Free printing –Free from arrest while in session (Excluding cases of treason and felony)

24.2 – The Texas State Legislature Structure & Size Structure & Size –Bicameral: Senate (31 members) & House (150 members) Qualifications Qualifications –Senate – Age: 26; Residency: 5 yrs. Before election and last year within the district of representation –House – Age: 21; Residency: 2 yrs. Before election and last year within the district of representation

The State Legislature Election: Popular vote; November of even-numbered years Election: Popular vote; November of even-numbered years Terms Terms –Senate: 4 years –House: 2 years Compensation Compensation –Salary: $600/month; $10,000-25,000/month for office expenses; Pensions Legislative Sessions Legislative Sessions –meets every other year –special sessions