Legislative Branch

Introduction Main Purpose: To make laws Bicameral (two houses) House of Representatives number of members based on state population 435 Members Senate two members per state 100 Members

1. How do interest groups try to influence members of Congress? Interest groups supply votes and money Tries to convince members of Congress to support or oppose bills according to their needs Problems: Congress may choose to represent lobbyists’ interests instead of constituents Bribery and corruption

2. How do home offices help keep members of Congress in touch with their constituents? Set up neighborhood meetings Spending time in local offices Talking with constituents Living in the area represented Problems: Members often pulled in many different directions Difficult to live in two places at once Experiential/socio-economic barriers

3. What are some differences between the jobs of senators and the jobs of representatives? Represent interests of Congressional Districts Letters, casework, visit constituents Work hard to please constituents Senators Represent interests of the whole state Longer, over-lapping terms allow more consistency Not as susceptible to changing moods of constituents

4. What are some of the benefits received by members of Congress? High annual salary Multiple offices Travel Free use of postal service

5. Describe two powers that help Congress “promote the general welfare General Welfare- needs of all the people of a nation Regulate commerce Collect taxes Approve budget

6. For what purposes does Congress conduct investigations? If an official has violated the Constitution If an official has lied under oath If an official has abused their power Two presidents impeached Andrew Johnson, 1868 Bill Clinton, 1998

7. Why are bills of attainder and ex post facto laws unfair? Bills of Attainder- laws that convicts a person of a crime without a trial Violates the Sixth Amendment (rights a fair and speedy trial) Ex post facto- laws passed making an act a crime, then punish the person for committing the crime before the law was passed

8. What powers and responsibilities does the Speaker of the House have? Most powerful member of the House Presides over sessions Decides what will be discussed and who will speak Appoints members of committees Sends bills to committees

9. What is the difference between standing committees and conference committees? Deal with specific areas Ex. Education, Banking Conference committees Tries to resolve issues between House and Senate so a bill can move on

10. Describe the President’s role in the lawmaking process. President signs bills into law Vetoes bills Holds bill for ten days, making it a law (pocket veto)

11. Explain how opponents of S 11. Explain how opponents of S.837 were able to block its passage in 1988. Filibuster- use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill

12. How did the passage of a minimum wage bill in 1991 represent a compromise between Congress and the President? The bill was re-written, combining both original bills Bush vetoed it Bill re-written to satisfy the president. Signed into law

13. Explain why the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 1998 was never voted on by the entire Senate. It was sent to a standing committee Never gained majority support of committee members

14. Why did the framers set up so many hurdles in the lawmaking process? Wanted Congress to study and debate every bill carefully Avoid rash decisions Make sure a majority party can’t oppress the minority Better chance that it will be a good law