Chapter Menu Chapter Introduction Section 1:Section 1:How Congress Is Organized Section 2:Section 2:Powers of Congress Section 3:Section 3:Representing the People Section 4:Section 4:How a Bill Becomes a Law Visual Summary

Chapter Intro 1 Our nation’s Constitution gives the power to make laws to the legislative branch. Citizens participate in the lawmaking process by expressing their views to Congress. Find out what legislation is pending in Congress and your representatives’ positions on the issues.

Chapter Intro 2 Section 1: How Congress Is Organized The Constitution gives the legislative branch— Congress—the power to make laws. In Congress, members of each party select their own leaders and work mainly in committees to carry out their duties.

Chapter Intro 2 Section 2: Powers of Congress The Constitution gives the legislative branch— Congress—the power to make laws. While the Constitution limits the powers of Congress, it also gives Congress the powers it needs to conduct its business and to accomplish its goals.

Chapter Intro 2 Section 3: Representing the People The Constitution gives the legislative branch— Congress—the power to make laws. Congress employs many staffers who help with the workload.

Chapter Intro 2 Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law The Constitution gives the legislative branch— Congress—the power to make laws. Several complex steps are involved in taking an idea and turning it into a law.

Section 1-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea The Constitution gives the legislative branch—Congress—the power to make laws.

Section 1-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary bicameral census constituent gerrymander majority party minority party standing committeestanding committee seniority

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature Congress is the legislative, or lawmaking, branch of government.

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature (cont.) Congress is a bicameral legislative body.bicameral We are currently in the 112 th Congress, 2nd session Two-year terms for each Congress

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature (cont.) The House of Representatives: –Voting members according to population –Representation based on each 10-year census (US government link) census(US government link) –At least one congressional district per state

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature (cont.) –District size based on number of constituents constituents –Gerrymander shapes districts to help a particular groupGerrymander –Wayland’s 6th district representative:Wayland’s 6th district representative: Congressional Apportionment, Selected Years

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature (cont.) The Senate: –Six-year terms –No more than one-third up for re-election at one time –Michigan’s two senators are:Michigan’s two senators

Section 1 A Bicameral Legislature (cont.) Both the House and the Senate have majority and minority parties.minority parties –House: –Republicans are the majority party; Democrats are the minority party.

Leader of majority party in the House is the Speaker.majority partyHouse is the Speaker

HouseSenate Democrats19351 Independents02 Republicans24247

Senate cont… Democrats are the majority party; Republicans are the minority party.

Leader of the Senate is the vice president of the United States.Leader of the Senate is the vice president of the United States.

Section 1 Committee Work Much of the actual work of legislating is performed by committees and subcommittees within Congress.

Section 1 Committee Work (cont.) Each house of Congress has a system of committees to handle the bills proposed to become laws. Standing committees for specific areasStanding committees –Agriculture –Budget –Veterans’ Affairs Standing Committees

Section 1 Committee Work (cont.) Temporary committees for special issues Both House and Senate members on joint committees Committee assignments based on seniority seniority

Section 2-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea The Constitution gives the legislative branch—Congress—the power to make laws.

Section 2-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary expressed powersexpressed powers implied powersimplied powers elastic clause impeach writ of habeas corpuswrit of habeas corpus bill of attainder ex post facto lawex post facto law

Section 2 Legislative Powers The Constitution provides that all powers to make laws for the United States government shall be given to Congress.

Section 2 Legislative Powers (cont.) Most of Congress’s powers are related to making laws.

Section 2 Legislative Powers (cont.) Expressed powers are written in the ConstitutionExpressed powers –Coin money –Support troops –Regulate commerceRegulate –Dealing with foreign countries –Collect taxes Powers of Congress

Section 2 Legislative Powers (cont.) Implied powers not clearly stated in ConstitutionImplied powers –Allow “necessary and proper” actions by Congress –Clause 18 is often called the elastic clause.elastic clause Powers of Congress

Section 2 Nonlegislative Powers The Constitution gives Congress a number of nonlegislative duties.

Section 2 Nonlegislative Powers (cont.) Most nonlegislative powers of Congress are used to check the other branches of government. 1.Sole authority to impeach:impeach Two presidents impeached by house, A. Johnson, B. Clinton

2. Propose constitutional amendments 3. Approve or reject the president’s nominees for various offices Non-legislative Powers (cont.)

Section 2 Non-legislative Powers (cont.) Limits to powers: –Cannot suspend the writ of habeas corpuswrit of habeas corpus –Banned from passing bills of attainderbills of attainder –Cannot pass ex post facto lawsex post facto laws

Section 2 Nonlegislative Powers (cont.) Checks and balances from other branches of government: –Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional. –President can veto bills. –Two-thirds majority needed to override veto

Section 3-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea The Constitution gives the legislative branch—Congress—the power to make laws.

Section 3-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary franking privilegefranking privilege lobbyist casework pork-barrel projectpork-barrel project

A.A B.B Section 3-Polling Question Should members of Congress be allowed to spend federal funds on projects that only help their home district or state? A.Yes B.No

Section 3 Qualifications and Privileges The Constitution sets forth the qualifications for election to the House and to the Senate.

Section 3 Qualifications and Privileges (cont.) The work of Congress requires many people in addition to the representatives and senators.

Section 3 Qualifications and Privileges (cont.) Different qualifications for serving as congressperson or senator –Age: US Rep-25; US Senate- 30 –Citizenship: US Rep-7years; US Senator-9 years –Residency: US Rep-live in the district that you represent; US Senator- live in the state you represent

Section 3 Qualifications and Privileges (cont.) Privileges and benefits: –$162,500 annual salary –Franking privilege for sending work- related mail freeFranking privilege –Legal protection in certain situations –Low-cost life/health insurance

Section 3 Qualifications and Privileges (cont.) Staff to help Congress: –Personal staff to handle press and lobbyists lobbyists –Committee staff to draft bills and gather informationdraft –Agencies and resources to help Congress make decisions

Section 3 Congress at Work The 535 members of Congress have several different but closely related roles.

Section 3 Congress at Work (cont.) While in session, Congress performs three important functions: lawmaking, casework, and helping the district or state.

Section 3 Congress at Work (cont.) Making laws: –Write and introduce bills –Listen to input of people for and against a bill –Vote on the floor of the House or Senate

Section 3 Congress at Work (cont.) Casework to address requests from constituentsCasework Pork-barrel projects to provide federal funding for home districts and statesPork-barrel projects

Section 4-Main Idea Guide to Reading Big Idea The Constitution gives the legislative branch—Congress—the power to make laws.

Section 4-Key Terms Guide to Reading Content Vocabulary joint resolutionjoint resolution special- interest groupspecial- interest group filibuster cloture voice vote standing vote roll-call vote veto pocket veto

Section 4 Bills Congress Considers Congress considers several different kinds of legislation each year. Most pieces of legislation are in the form of bills. I’m Just a BillI’m Just a Bill- School House Rock

Section 4 Bills Congress Considers (cont.) Only about one percent of all bills proposed during a Congressional session become laws.

Section 4 Bills Congress Considers (cont.) Private and public bills: –Private concerns of people or places –Public apply to entire nation and are more general

Section 4 Bills Congress Considers (cont.) Joint resolutions become law if signed by presidentJoint resolutions

Section 4 From Bill to Law To become a law, a bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers of Congress. Clip from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Section 4 From Bill to Law (cont.) A bill must be introduced by a representative or senator before it can be considered by Congress. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- Bill Introduction click hereMr. Smith Goes to Washington- Bill Introduction The idea for the bill can come from private citizens, the White House, or from special- interest groups.special- interest groups

Section 4 From Bill to Law (cont.) Bills that are introduced are sent to standing committees: –Can pass the bill –Can mark up the bill with changes –Can replace the original bill –Can ignore the bill –Can kill the bill outright by majority vote

Section 4 From Bill to Law (cont.) If passed in committee, bill is sent to floor for debate Senate filibusterfilibuster Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- filibuster clip click hereMr. Smith Goes to Washington- filibuster clip click here Filibuster can end if three-fifths of the members vote for cloture.cloture Profile of the 109 th Congress

Section 4 From Bill to Law (cont.) Voting on a bill: –Voice voteVoice vote –Standing voteStanding vote –Roll-call voteRoll-call vote Presidential vetoveto Pocket veto How a Bill Becomes Law