The Legislative Branch Chapter 8: The Legislative Branch Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Chapter Links Section 1 “The Members of Congress” Section 2 “The Powers of Congress” Section 3 “How Congress is Organized” Section 4 “Following a Bill in Congress Civics: Government and Economics in Action

“The Members of Congress” Section 1 “The Members of Congress” Section Outline: The Responsibilities of Lawmaking Members of Congress at Work III. Representatives and Senators IV. Requirements, Salary, and Benefits Main Idea: The legislative branch of the United States government is called the Congress. Laws are made by 100 Senators and 435 representatives. Key Terms: Constituents Bill Interest Group Lobbyists Congressional District Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Article I Using your section of Article one, create a short presentation (1-3 min) which explains how your section relates to our every day lives. Finish today!!! Presentations are tomorrow! Civics: Government and Economics in Action

The Responsibilities of Lawmaking Local vs. National Needs Members of Congress are responsible to The nation Their constituents or the people a member of congress represents. Their political party Political Parties Groups that work to get their members elected to office. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

The Responsibilities of Lawmaking (cont.) Interest Groups Groups of people who work together to reach a common political goal. Interest groups provide money and votes. Lobbyists People represent interest groups Lobbyists try to influence way members of congress vote. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Journal On the back of your work sheet, write in 1 paragraph whether you think interest groups are a good or bad component of the political system. Explain your answer. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Members of Congress at Work What Do Members of Congress Do? Learn about issues which they must vote on. Be present on the floor of the House or Senate chamber as much as possible. Listen to or give speeches Prepare bills and vote on bills Go to many meetings Study reports and read letters from constituents. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Representatives Representatives The area that a member of the House represents is called a congressional district. The state’s population determines the number of congressional districts and subsequent representatives. There are 435 representatives; each serves a two-year term. Representatives must be 25 years old and have a minimum of seven years citizenship. Must live in the states in which they are elected. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Representatives for 2012 Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Georgia Reps Create a graph which shows the following: Population of Georgia from 1900-2010 Amount of representatives in the house during the same period Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Senators Senators There are 100 senators (two for each state); each serves a six-year term. Requirements: Senators must be 30 years old and have a minimum of nine years citizenship. Must live in the states in which they are elected. The Seventeenth Amendment, 1913 States directly elect members of Senate Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Salary Average salary 1789 – 1854 $6.00/day while in session 1855 $3,000/yr 2011 $174,000/yr for regular Congress people $193,400/yr for party leaders $223,500/yr for Speaker of the House Civics: Government and Economics in Action

“The Powers of Congress” Section 2 “The Powers of Congress” Section Outline: Powers Given to Congress Limits on the Powers of Congress Main Idea: The Constitution grants Congress the specific and general powers to make laws. The Constitution also specifies limits to those powers. Key Terms: Budget Bill of Attainder Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Powers Given to Congress Promoting General Welfare Regulation of trade and business Example: Minimum Wage Approval of government’s budget or plan to raise and spend money. Providing for Defense Establish and maintain an army and navy To declare war War Powers Act, 1973 Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Powers Given to Congress (cont.) Establishing Justice Power to create federal courts below the Supreme Court The Power to impeach government officials Unlisted Powers (implied powers) Congress may make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out listed power. Example: process of coining money Non-legislative Powers Power to conduct investigations Example: Watergate (1972-1974) Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Limits on the Powers of Congress Executive and Judicial “Checks and Balance” The Presidents may veto any law passed “The Supreme Court may declare a law unconstitutional Congress may not pass a Bill of Attainder or deprive a citizen of a Writ of Habeas Corpus Citizens may not be convicted without a trial. Citizens may not be held in jail unless there is some reasonable evidence against them. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Powers Project Using Article I Section 8, create a poem, rap, song, story, cheer, political cartoon, or advertisement poster (and explanation) which presents any of the powers of Congress. This should be at least 1 page in length. You can work with 1 partner. p. 140 and 220 will help you! Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action

“How Congress is Organized” Section 3 “How Congress is Organized” Section Outline: Leadership in Congress Working in a Committee The President’s Role Main Idea: Both houses of Congress choose leaders and assign members to committees. The committees work on bills before they are voted on. The President can sign or veto a bill. Key Terms: Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Floor Leaders Pocket Veto Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Leadership in Congress House: Speaker of the House Presiding officer in the House of representatives John Boehner (R-OH) Senate: President of Senate V.P. of U.S. (Joe Biden D-DE) Floor Leaders The Chief officers of the majority and minority parties in each house Sen Majority Leader – Harry Reid (D-NV) Sen Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell (R-KY) House Majority Leader – Eric Cantor (R-VA) House Minority Leader – Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Working in a Committee Only Congress can introduce bills Given a title and number “S” for Senate, “H.R.” for House of Reps Committees and Bills When introduced, bills go to a committee for analysis. The committee decides whether or not the bill is to be voted on in House or Senate. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

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

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Senate Committees Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Joint Economic Committee Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging 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 Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action The President’s Role “Every bill which shall have passed the House Representatives and the Senate…[and] Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives, may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President…” –Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 and 3. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action The President’s Role If the President signs a bill, it becomes law The President may veto or reject a bill by not-signing it and sending it back to Congress Congress can override the President’s veto with 2/3 majority votes in both houses The President may use a “pocket veto” by holding a bill while Congress ends its session. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action

“Following a Bill Through Congress” Section 4 “Following a Bill Through Congress” Section Outline: Stopping a Bill Compromise Bills A Bill Dies in Committee Main Idea: Either party can use rules of order and procedure on the House or Senate floor to prevent a bill from being passed. Members of Congress try to compromise on controversial legislation so that they can agree to pass bills. Some bills don’t survive committee study. Key Terms: Filibuster Cloture Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Stopping a Bill Filibuster Use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill in Senate. Opponents to a bill may use this method to stop a bill from being passed, even if they are in the minority. Cloture Agreement to end the debate on a bill. Requires a three-fifths vote Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Compromise Bills Sometimes legislature shave to make concessions in order to get a bill passed Especially when a similar bill has previously been vetoed or blocked by filibuster. The ability of different political parties and special interest groups to compromise is essential in American government. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

Civics: Government and Economics in Action Journal Entry Explain the following in 1 paragraph When could using a filibuster be a good thing? When could using a filibuster be a bad thing? Think of a time when using a filibuster in your life might benefit you. Civics: Government and Economics in Action

A Bill Dies in Committee If a bill does not receive a majority of support Committee, it “dies;” meaning that House and Senate never vote on it. Civics: Government and Economics in Action