The Legislative Branch Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School

The United States Capitol Building houses our Congress House of Representatives Senate

Introduction The legislative branch is the law making body of our government It is bicameral - two houses: a House of Representatives and a Senate The two houses together are referred to as Congress Members of the House of Representatives are called Representative or Congressman/woman Members of the Senate are called Senator The job of a Representative or Senator is: to represent their constituents – the people they serve Debate, research and write bills (bill: an idea for a law) The structure and powers are explained in Article I of the Constitution

??? Why do we have two houses of Congress?

Congressional District 29 Tony Cardenas (D)

Committees served on (committee: a group formed from a larger whole Committees served on (committee: a group formed from a larger whole. Meet for a specific purpose) Representative Cardenas serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Bills that have to do with business are debated in this committee Bills that cover energy policy also pass through this committee

Senators for California: Dianne Feinstein & Barbara Boxer

Committees served on Senator Feinstein serves on: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (covers the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc) Senate Committee on Appropriations Senate Committee on the Judiciary Senator Boxer serves on: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

House of Representatives Term: 2 years Qualifications 25 years old 7 years as a U.S. citizen Resident of represented state

House of Representatives Number of representatives: 435 Head of House of Representatives: Speaker of the House Comes from the majority party Decides the committees each member will serve on Decides the order in which bills are debated

House of Representatives Special Powers: All bills about Appropriations – the spending of money, start here Select the President if there is a tie in the Electoral College (a body that chooses the President and Vice President) Write the Articles of Impeachment against high ranking officials: a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing

Senate Term of office: 6 years Qualifications: 30 years old 9 years a citizen of the U.S. Resident of the represented state

Senate Number of Senators: 100 U.S. Vice President: Head of the Senate Day to day head of Senate: President Pro Tempore (means: “President for a Time”) Decides who are the members of different committees Decides the order in which bills are debated

Senate Special Powers: Approves all treaties Approves all appointments Chooses the Vice President if there is a tie in the Electoral College Acts as the jury in all impeachment trials

Congress Both houses: Must keep a Congressional Record: a journal of all their business Must hold sessions at the same time: Sessions begin January 3rd each year Must have a quorum to do business: 51% of members present on the floor

Congress Both houses make their own rules for behavior and punishments Censure: formally reprimand, written in the record Fines and penalties may be set for some offenses Expulsion: members with gross misconduct may be thrown out of office

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members: Salary $174,000 per year (higher for leaders) Medical and dental benefits Free office, parking, and trips to home state Staff budget Tax break on second home Mail and printing expenses Dining expenses Access to special restaurants and gyms

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members: Immunity or legal protection: Cannot be sued for anything they say or write while carrying out their duties Cannot be arrested for minor offenses while Congress is in session

The Powers of Congress

Powers of Congress Raise and collect taxes Declare war Borrow money Regulate commerce Set laws for Naturalization and Bankruptcy Coin Money Punish counterfeiting Set up the Post Office Copyrights and patents Set up courts Declare war Establish the military and National Guard Make rules and allot funds for the military and National guard Punish pirates Run Washington D.C. and all federal property Elastic clause- implied power

“Necessary and Proper Clause” The “Necessary and Proper Clause” gives Congress the power to make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out their delegated duties Also known as the “Elastic Clause” it stretches the power given Congress

Powers denied Congress Cannot suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus- must show cause in a court for holding a suspect except in wartime No Ex Post Facto Law- cannot punish a person for an act committed before there was a law against it