The Legislative Branch US Government: Mrs. Lacks

The Legislative Branch The “first branch” (J. Madison) or Peoples’ Branch Article 1 Comprised of Bicameral Congress Called the “first branch” (J. Madison) or Peoples’ Branch Article 1 deals with the structure, powers, and operation of Congress - The Constitution is both highly specific (enumerated powers) and extremely vague (implied/elastic) about the powers that Congress may exercise. Comprised of Bicameral Congress Senate: based on equality (2 reps from each state) House of Representatives: based on population (from 1 to 53 from each state) 535 total legislators + 6 non-voting members

US House of Representatives Structure: 435 voting members + 6 non-voting members Very hierarchal (definite chain of command) MCs develop specialization of knowledge from working on their specific committees Non-voting members: a delegate representing the federal district of Washington D.C., a resident commissioner representing Puerto Rico, and one delegate for each of the other four permanently inhabited US Territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.

US House of Representatives Number of Reps per state varies based on population Powers granted only to H of Reps: Have the power to impeach the President Have the authority to initiate all tax and revenue bills Elects the President if no one gets 270 electoral votes Confirms VP if vacant

US House of Representatives Constitutional requirements for Members: 2 year terms Candidate must be 25 years old, have lived in the US for at least 7 yrs, and have lived in the district their representing for at least one year

House of Representatives Speaker of the House 2nd in Presidential line of succession behind VP Head of majority party Actively works to set his or her party’s legislative agenda Technically doesn’t have to be an elected member of the House, but it always has been Elected on the first day of each new session of Congress (he who receives a majority of votes wins; sworn in by Dean of the House, House’s longest-serving member)

House of Representatives House Majority & Minority Leaders Floor leaders of their parties Don’t typically use these titles although the media does… instead call themselves Republican Leader and Democratic Leader

House of Representatives Majority & Minority Whip Manages his party’s legislative program on the floor Keeps track of potential # of votes

House Standing Committees Committee on Agriculture Committee on Appropriations Committee on Armed Services Committee on the Budget Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Ethics Committee on Financial Services Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Homeland Security Committee on House Administration Committee on the Judiciary Committee on Natural Resources Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Rules Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee on Small Business Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Veterans' Affairs Committee on Ways and Means Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Taxation House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

House Rules Time limits on debate (1hour per member) Usually more partisan bills Use of discharge petitions (after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, any House member may petition to have it brought to the floor) Any amendment added to a bill must be similar in nature

House of Representatives 116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019 – Jan 3, 2021) 199 Republicans, 235 Democrats

US Senate Structure: 100 voting members (2 per state) Loosely structured No strict chain of command Majority and minority parties must share power Each member is on multiple committees (less development of knowledge specialization)

Senate Created to guard against the “tyranny of the masses” originally appointed by state legislatures; 17th Amendment changed this during the Progressive Era Powers granted only to the Senate: Foreign policy; ratifies treaties Confirms presidential nominations (ambassadors, judges – Federal & Supreme Court, cabinet members & leaders within bureaucracy – ex. Head of National Park Service)

Senate Constitutional requirements for Senators: Six year terms Candidate must be at least 30 yrs old; US citizen for 14 yrs; live in state for 1 year

Senate Vice President is the President of the Senate Highest ranking member Only votes when there’s a tie Certifies votes of the Electoral College Presides over all joint sessions of Congress

Senate President Pro-tempore – highest ranking member of the Senate besides the Vice President Next in line, behind the Speaker of the House, for the Presidency Rules on points of order, appoints senators to committees, etc. Elected by Senate (typically most senior member of the party in the majority)

Senate Senate Majority & Minority Leaders Elected by their parties to be chief spokesperson Manage the legislative and executive business of the Senate Has priority to speak on the floor

Senate Senate Majority & Minority Whips Gather votes on major issues Aka Assistant Majority & Minority Leaders

Senate Committees Standing Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans' Affairs Joint Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Joint Economic Committee Special Impeachment Trial Committee (Porteous) Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging

Senate Rules Offer any amendments to any bill Unanimous consent agreements (with no objections a bill can be passed without debate or vote) Filibuster To hold the floor (talk as long as possible) Purpose? Delay or block a vote on a bill Rules? End? Cloture (at least 60 out of 100 members vote to end) he record for the longest individual speech goes to South Carolina's J. Strom Thurmond who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957

US Senate 116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019 – Jan 3, 2021) 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 Independents

The Legislative Branch