Legislative Branch
Thinking Question of the Day Why were Senators given longer terms? How will their behavior differ from members of the House? What does this tell us about their role?
Thinking Question of the Day They are under less immediate pressure from their constituents. They may take a more long term approach. They may take a more national/global view.
Expressed v Implied Powers In Constitution versus Justified by Elastic Clause Strict Constructionists Thomas Jefferson Liberal (loose) Constr. Alexander Hamilton Commerce Clause- power to regulate interstate trade *most used in conjunction with elastic clause
HOUSE
House Chamber
Charlie Dent (R) House of Representatives 15th District
Electronic Voting System (1973)
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) Powers Presiding Officer of House Elected by the House $223,500 Powers Set legislative agenda Control floor debate
House Vacancies "When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies." -- Article I, Section 2, Clause 4 of the U.S. Constitution
Committees in Congress Most work done in committees Bill referred to committees by Speaker Most bills sent to subcommittees Research and Hearings
Types of Committees Standing Committee- permanent Select Committee- temporary/specific Conference- House and Senate resolve differences
Committee Options Report the Bill Favorably Pigeonhole Report an Amended Form Report a Committee Bill Report the Bill Unfavorably
House Debate House Rules Committee Schedules debate Sets rules (time limit, amendments, ) “Traffic Cop”
House Debate cont… Strict Quorum Time Topic Majority of members Required for official business
House Debate cont… Presiding Officer Maintains decorum Has a gavel Speaker of the House “Pro Tempore”
House Debate cont… Voting Voice Vote Record Vote “As many are in favor of the question say ‘Aye’” “As many are opposed say ‘No’” Record Vote Electronic device Roll Call
SUPER TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
House Whips Gauge party support Work to keep party members in line with party Majority Steve Scalise Minority Steny Hoyer
Censure Public reprimand of a member of Congress Approved by majority vote *similar to bill process
Congressional Reapportionment 435 Congressional Districts Decennial Census (every ten years) Seats distributed among states based on census results
Congressional Redistricting Drawing of new district lines Change in # of representatives Change in population density
Gerrymander Drawing of oddly shaped Congressional district designed to give one party an advantage
PA- 13 Republicans and 5 Democrats
President of the Senate Presiding Officer of the Senate Vice President May NOT Debate May vote ONLY to break a tie
Presiding Officers Speaker of the House Elected by House POWERFUL!!!! Paul Ryan President of the Senate Vice President (Biden) Tie Breaker That about all
Pro Tempore HOUSE Random Chosen by Speaker SENATE Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Elected by Senate 3rd in Presidential Succession
Senate Differences S# No RULES Committee Free Debate
Free Debate No time and topic limits Filibuster- talk a bill to death Cloture- 3/5 vote to end filibuster
Election 1948 Democrat Republican State’s Rights Progressive
Filibuster Record Strom Thurmond 24 hours and 18 minutes 8:54pm Aug. 28 to 9:12 pm Aug 29
President’s Options Sign it- bill becomes law Veto it- send it back to Congress with criticisms Congress can override with 2/3 vote Does not sign it- becomes law in 10 days Pocket Veto Does not sign it Congressional session ends before 10 days Bill does not pass
Roles of Members of Congress Legislators Representatives of Constituents Servants of Constituents Committee Members Politicians
Schedule Today Tuesday Wednesday Complete your review guide Complete your bicameral chart Complete your Bill Order Sheet Let me check them Tuesday Weekly Assignment in class Wednesday Open note test Exception: Bill order and application questions