Government Institutions: Legislative Branch

Congressional Structure

Congress Senate House 100 members 435 members 2 per state 6 year term Serve the constituents of their STATES House 435 members Representatives based on population 2 year term Serve the constituents of their DISTRICTS

House of Representatives Must be 25 years of age (when seated, not when elected). Must have been a citizen of the United States for 7 years. Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected. (NOTE: custom, but not the Constitution, requires that a representative live in the district that he or she represents.) Serve a two year term.

Senate Must be 30 years of age (when seated, not when elected). Must have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years. Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected. Serve a six year term; 1/3 up for re-election at a time

Determining Representatives in the House Census Every 10 years to determine population Reapportionment – Congress divides the 435 House seats between states based on population Redistricting - state legislature draws the new district lines Gerrymandering - drawing district lines based on some characteristic other than just population

Original Gerrymander

Non-gerrymandered district

Terms and Sessions Congressional Term for 2 yrs Session- 2 sessions Jan 3rd – Dec., Jan - July 31st Work day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Working time: Noon to 5 – 6 o’clock. Recess = temporary break Special Session= Outside of regular hours Joint Session= Both House and Senate “State of the Union” Called by president

Congressional Leadership

Leadership in the House of Representatives SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Job: Presiding Officer of the House Power: Decides which committee a bill goes to. Paul Ryan R – Wisconsin

Leadership in the House of Representatives SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Majority Leader Leads the Republican party Job: Support legislation for party and get it passed Minority Leader Leads the Democratic party Job: Leads Opposition to control the majority party Kevin McCarthy R – California Nancy Pelosi D – California

Leadership in the House of Representatives SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Job:Assists the leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of deputy and assistant whips. Minority Whip Job: Assists the leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of deputy and assistant whips. Steny Hoyer D - Maryland Steve Scalise R – Louisiana

Georgia’s Representation Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts. McEachern’s current congressional district is the 13th represented by: Congressman David Scott

Georgia Delegation 114th Buddy Carter, Sanford Bishop, Lynn Westmoreland, Hank Johnson, John Lewis, Tom Price Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen, David Scott, Tom Graves

Leadership in the United States Senate

Leadership in the United States Senate PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the United States Vice President Joseph Biden Job: President of the Senate Power: Breaks tie in legislation. Otherwise does not vote.

Leadership in the United States Senate PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the United States PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Selected by majority party. Usually most senior member of the Senate majority party Job: Presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent. Senator Orrin Hatch R – Utah

Leadership in the United States Senate Majority Leader Leads the Democratic party Job: Guides legislation Minority Leader Leads the Republican party Job: Leads Opposition Mitch McConnell R - Kentucky Harry Reid D - Nevada

Georgia’s Representation Senator Johnny Isakson Senator David Perdue AND

House of Representatives Congress Senate Upper House House of Representatives Lower House President of Senate VP of USA Speaker of House Majority Leader President Pro Tempore Senior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party House Majority Floor Leader House Minority Leader Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader House Majority Whip House Minority Whip Senate Majority Whip Senate Minority Whip 100 Senators 2 from each State 435 Representatives Elected by Population

Other House & Senate Positions Clerk of House does administrative duties. Parliamentarian keeps rule on debate. Chaplain prays before debate. Sergeant at Arms keep order. Official Reporters writes every single word in meeting. Post Master sees that everything is distributed.

Congressional Rules and Benefits

Congressional Expectations Loyalty to chamber – don’t talk about them Civility to each other – Polite, courteous Seniority – the most senior members get more choice of assignments Specialization - become an expert in an area Reciprocity (aka logrolling)-support for each others bill. “I’ll help pass your transportation bill now if you help pass my health care bill when it comes to the floor.”

Congressional Representation Delegate – follows the advice and instruction of constituents Trustee - assume the people put you in, so now you vote your conscience Politico - uses whichever will help politically; become a delegate on pork barrel issues and a trustee on all others

Compensation and Benefits Salaries - $174,000 per year Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority Leader - $193,400

Compensation and Benefits Offices – home state & DC Expense Accounts Stationary and Postage (Franking privilege) Pension Plan and Retirement Income Incumbency – advantage of already holding office – helps in re-election

Congressional Powers

Congressional Powers Enumerated listed in Article I Section 8; most important Implied necessary and proper/elastic clause do what necessary to carry out enumerated allows for today's laws Denied ex post facto bill of attainder suspend writ of habeas corpus grant titles of nobility

Delegated/Enumerated/Expressed Powers are: Specifically Granted in Constitution Legislative Powers 1. Provide common defense 2. Make citizenship rules 3. Run military (armed services) 4. Declare War 5. Supervise Washington DC 6. Raise Money (taxes) 7. Regulate Trade 8. Spend Money (pay bills, fund programs) 9. Coin money (and set value) 10. Run Post Office & Roads 11. Issue Copyrights & Patents 12. Establish Federal Courts 13. Set number of justices on Supreme Court

Non-legislative Powers 1. Advice and Consent (Senate approve treaties & appointments) 2. Impeachment Charges (House) 3. Convict & Remove Impeached Officials (Senate) 4. Admit new states 5. Amend the Constitution 6. Count Electoral Votes (Senate Counts; House votes if not 270 vote) 7. Serve as “watchdog” over government

Prohibited Powers - Limits on Congress writ of habeas corpus Can’t put you in jail without telling you charges bills of attainder Can’t pass law that punishes group without trial ex post facto laws Can’t pass a retroactive law charging you for something that was legal when you did it Implied Powers are: Laws needed to help carry out the enumerated powers (Necessary & Proper/Elastic Clause)

Capitol Tidbits Site chosen in 1791; British burned in 1814 300 feet to top of statue Freedom Statue is 19’ 6” Capitol sits on 3.5 acres; 168 acres around it are designated to the capitol Diameter of Rotunda is 95’ (whisper heard across the room) Original rule was that nothing could be higher than Freedom Statue; exception made for Washington monument

Capitol Building Architecture 360 Tour of Capitol Capitol Grounds Learning Modules

How a Bill Becomes a Law How a Bill Becomes a Law.

A Bill is a proposed law The Sponsor is the person who proposes the bill Types of Bills Public Bills-applies to general public Private Bills –concern individuals

How a Bill Becomes a Law Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Sub Committee

A Bill Can Start in Either the House or Senate House of Representatives Senate

Senate - a motion from the floor A Bill Can Start in Either the House or Senate Introducing a Bill Senate - a motion from the floor House - placed in a box called the Hopper

Assign Bills to Committees Each bill is sent to a standing (permanent) committee by either the: Speaker of the House Majority Leader of the Senate (with help of the Steering Committee)

Types of Committees Standing Committees (Permanent) Specialized committee: bills fall under their jurisdiction Select Committees Temporary committees set up for investigative purposes Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses of Congress

Standing Committee House of Representatives

Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives

Standing Committee research the bill to see if it will work hear testimony from the public, interest group lobbyists and experts in the field look for loopholes (ways people can get around the new law)

Committee Choices Pigeon hole - Set aside to discuss later (usually kills the bill because it never gets discussed later) Clean bill – Get rid of bill and write a new one to replace it “Mark Up” - Make changes to the bill in committee or subcommittee Report bill favorably to floor (Pass the bill as it is) Report bill unfavorably to floor (so the committee isn’t responsible for killing it by pigeonhole…This is done if the law is controversial and known by general public)

Saving a Bill from Committee When any bill has been in a “House Committee” for more than 30 days, a representative can ask the Bypass Committee to use a Discharge Petition (which requires a majority vote) to send the bill to the House floor.

Calendars Once passed by committee the bill is put on a calendar. Each bill must be voted on in the order it is placed on the calendar. House Revenue ($$) bills Union All other public bills Private Private Bills Consent No discussion needed, just a vote

Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate

The HOUSE Rules Committee (VERY POWERFUL) Places all House bills on the calendar Set rules for debate (length of total debate and individual speaker time) Set rules for amendments Open Rule – no limit on # of changes Closed Rule – no changes allowed Modified Rule – limited # of changes Committee of the Whole can be used to continue debate (requires 100 reps to be in chamber) but all actions must be approved by the entire House.

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate

House Debate Rules Only one bill at a time can be debated Debate must be germane (related to topic) Debate time is limited Senate Debate Rules 2 or 3 bills can be debated at a time Debate does not have to be germane Debate time is NOT limited Filibusters - unlimited speaking on any issue Cloture Motion by 16 senators PRIOR TO a filibuster 3/5 vote of Senate will limit debate to 1 hour

Floor Action on Bills Pass the bill as written Table the bill on floor while voting for it. Send bill back to the committee for further study Amending the Bill Senate Only: Riders (non-germane amendments) are allowed

Voting in Congress Voice vote: “All in favor”, “All opposed”. Standing vote: Stand up when vote is called. Roll call vote: names called & you tell your vote. Mandatory method for overriding President’s veto. Electronic Vote

Senate Standing Committee

Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee

Senate Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Sub Committee

Bill Passes Both Houses If bill passes in exact same version from both Bill goes directly to President If it is passed in two versions conference committee is formed conference must reach agreement the revised bill is voted on in both chambers majority vote in each House will pass bill to the President

Majority vote in each house Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Majority vote in each house for passage. Sub Committee

up the Conference Committee. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee Senate Senate Floor Debate Members from both Senate and House make up the Conference Committee. Standing Committee Sub Committee

The bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate The bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Conference Committee Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub Committee

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub Committee

If the President signs the bill Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee If the President signs the bill then it becomes law. Sub Committee

Bill Becomes a Law When the President signs it, the bill becomes law If the president does not sign in 10 days and --Congress is still in session, bill becomes law --Congress has adjourned, pocket veto occurs If the President vetoes the bill it can still be passed with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. If the 2/3 of House & 2/3 of Senate override the veto, the bill becomes law

If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. Sub Committee

This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. Sub Committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law Subcommittee House Floor Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Subcommittee

Interest Groups in Politics

What is an Interest Group? A group of people who hold common views and who work together to influence what the government does about those things they have in common.

Goal: Lobbying for the Cause Lobbyists work for the interest group to get elected officials to pass policies that will be good for their group Provide public opinion information Provide data and statistics to support the cause Find experts to testify in favor of laws

Goal: Help get people elected that will support the cause Form Political Action Committees (PACs) A part of the interest group that uses money from interest groups membership fees and donations to educate lawmakers and to support political candidates that support their groups' policy choices Most money goes to incumbents (those in office and running for re-election)

Types of Interest Groups Economic establish standards, better working conditions Determined by the way people earn a living Business & professional, labor, agricultural NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) American Bankers Association AFL-CIO General Motors AMA (American Medical Association) ABA (American Bar Association) NEA (National Education Association)

Types of Interest Groups Social Action Membership is determined by birth Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Age Single Issue Focus on one policy area MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) NRA (National Rifle Association) NOW National Organization of Women NAACP National Association for Advancement of Colored Persons National Council of Senior Citizens

Types of Interest Groups Public Interest Environment, Voter Registration, Consumer Protection, Historic preservation Sierra Club Common Cause Religious support or oppose laws morally U.S. Catholic Conference Christian Coalition