House of Representatives Legislative Branch AKA: Congress The Peoples’ House Legislature House of Representatives Senate House Trivia

Bicameral Bi (prefix) Cameral (root word)

Camera (Latin) = room or chamber

Background & Basics Where Laws and Policies are made Two Houses (Bicameral) – Why? Conflict over representation during ratification of the Constitution. House of Representatives (435 members) the Senate (100 members) Serve the people (constituents)

Qualifications House (Salary) Senate = (Salary) 25 citizen for 7 years inhabitant of the state (district). Senate = (Salary) 30 Citizen for 9 years Inhabitant of the state elected

Responsibilities Make laws Serve local districts and states Serve interests of nation Support political party Serve the People

Powers Article 1, Section 8 (Delegated/Enumerated Powers) “Power of the purse” – Budget Collect Taxes and Borrow $ Declare War Create courts Regulate Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Implied Powers (“Necessary and Proper”) Non-legislative Powers - Checks and Balances

Non-Legislative Powers Confirm appointments and treaties Propose amendments Admit new states Impeach (house) Hold impeachment trial (senate)

Limits to Congress Checks and Balances Presidential Veto Judicial Review Cannot deny habeas corpus No bill of attainder No ex post facto

The Federal Budget Mandatory Spending: Discretionary Spending Social Security Medicare and Medicaid Interest on National Debt Discretionary Spending National Defense Dept. of Homeland Security Dept. of Agriculture Deficits = when government spending exceeds revenues. Public Debt = accumulation of years of deficits

House of Representatives Article I, Section 2 Currently the 113th Congress, First Congress in 1789. Two Year Terms, unlimited number of terms Elected on the basis of population 435 seats total in the House Each state is divided into as many congressional districts as it has representatives in the House. PA is now has 18 districts, we are district 4. District 4 is now Represented by Scott Perry.

Senate Article I, Section 3 Each state has 2 senators How many total? Senators focus on the state as a whole, not each district. 6 year terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years. Expected to prevent hasty unwise laws.

Leadership in Congress House Leader = Speaker of the House Senate Leader = Vice President president pro tempore (in VPs absence) Majority Party, Minority Party Majority Party selects Speaker Minority Leaders Floor leaders, whips. House Leadership Senate Leadership

Lawmaking Bill = Proposed Law Anyone can propose a bill, but most by sponsored by member of Congress. About 10,000 bills are introduced each term of Congress. About 2% actually become law. Standing Committees recommend or “kill” the bill before it “hits the floor” Committees for diff. areas (edu, banking) Committee Chairpersons are from the Maj. Party Filibuster (Staling) and Cloture (3/5s = 60 votes)

Bills… Bills must be same from both Houses. Conference Committee To President who can sign, hold or veto. Override Veto with 2/3s vote Examples of Bills Senate Committees

http://www.house.gov/ http://www.senate.gov/ http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/21/AR2010032100943.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503742.html http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55320.html usatoday least productive Congress