The Legislative Branch Chapter 5

Do Now Answer the following questions… What is the name given to the US legislative branch? What is the name of each house? Which house is based on proportional rep and which house is based on equal rep? Name one power that the US legislative branch has… Do Now

Why do we have a “BICAMERAL” (aka ‘two-house’) legislative branch? Quick Question

Form of checks and balances, allowing each house to make sure that the other house is doing the best job possible The Great Compromise from the Philadelphia Convention settled a dispute between small and large states Two Reasons

House of Representatives # of reps for each state is based on POPULATION Today … 435 Representatives 435 is the LIMIT! Think about it… you don’t want TOO MANY REPS Census is taken every 10 years It determines how the seats are to be APPORTIONED, or distributed. Some states go up, others go down Reps serve for two-year terms House of Representatives

NEW JERSEY – REPRESENT! NJ has 12 representatives West Milford is part of the 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Scott Garrett is our representative in the House of Reps Republican / 2 year terms Serving his 7th term NEW JERSEY – REPRESENT!

The Senate # of reps is based on EQUAL representation 2 reps per state / Total of 100 representatives Senators are elected for 6 year terms NEW JERSEY Sen. Cory Booker (D) Sen. Robert Menendez (D) The Senate

“SHOULD REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS HAVE TERM LIMITS. WHY OR WHY NOT “SHOULD REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS HAVE TERM LIMITS? WHY OR WHY NOT?” ½ page for P. 1, 3 & 7 / Full page for P. 4 TERM LIMITS

Please take out your response to the question regarding term limits for Congressmen and wait for further instruction… Do Now

Requirements of Each House House of Reps Senate At least 25 years old Have US citizenship for at least 7 years Legal resident of the state you represent At least 30 years old US citizenship for at least 9 years Legal resident of the state you represent Requirements of Each House

The Benefits The average congressman makes $174,000 per year (Some make more if they serve in special roles) Offices in the Capitol Building Receive allowance to pay staff Free trips to home state FRANKING PRIVILEGE – Privilege to mail official letters or packages for free IMMUNITY – Members of Congress are protected from being arrested while Congress is in session or while on the way to a congressional meeting. This makes sure that members of Congress are not unnecessarily kept from performing their duties. The Benefits

Members of Congress are expected to be models of good citizenship “Rules of Conduct” are expected to be followed. If not… EXPULSION Member must give up their seat Serious Offenses 2/3rd vote in both houses CENSURE A formal disapproval of a member’s actions Stand alone at front of House or Senate and listen to the charges read allowed against you 2/3rd vote in House of Reps or Senate Rules of Conduct

AS A CLASS, build a four-foot tower out of the available materials AS A CLASS, build a four-foot tower out of the available materials. The tower must be able to stand on its own, without leaning on anything. You have 5 minutes to complete this. Do Now

Organization of Congress Congress is organized in a way that prevents each member from having to do everything. Organization of Congress

114th TERM Terms and Sessions Session 1 Session 2 Each TERM of Congress is divided into TWO sessions Each SESSION is roughly one year Each SESSION begins on Jan. 3 Our current Congress is the 114th Congress 114th TERM Session 1 Session 2 Terms and Sessions

Usually each House works separately… But sometimes the President will call a “joint session” to speak to both houses at the same time “JOINT SESSION”

Organization of Congress US House of Reps US Senate Where is the Vice President?! “Speaker of the House” “Floor Leaders” MAJORITY Leader MAJORITY Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip Committees Sub-Committees “President Pro Tempore” “Floor Leaders” MAJORITY Leader MAJORITY Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip Committees Sub-Committees Organization of Congress

“Speaker of the House” (Reps) and the “President Pro Tempore” (Senate) are in charge of running their respective House. They are the most powerful members. No one can speak unless the Speaker or Pro Temp calls on them. Hold a strong influence on other members Speaker: John Boehner (R) of OH Speaker and Pro Temp Pro Temp: Orrin Hatch (R) of UT

Both the majority party and the minority party have LEADERS in both Houses. Their job is to represent their political party (Dem or Rep) and what they believe about the laws being created. Floor Leaders…

In both Houses, the majority party and minority party have a floor leader known as the “whip.” The Majority/Minority Whip serves as the assistant to the Majority/Minority leader. The “Whip” … Counts votes Encourages Party loyalty Ensures all members are present for votes Seen as the Party “cheer leader” Party Whips

Committees and Sub-Committees Both Houses have committees that gather to study issues and create the best solutions to problems Larger committees are sometimes broken up into Sub-Committees Committees and Sub-Committees

Sit quietly and wait for instructions… Do Now

RECAP QUIZ What is the purpose of the Legislative Branch? How many senators are there? How many representatives are there? What is the name of the position that leads the House of Representatives? What is the name of the position that leads the Senate? Who should TECHNICALLY lead the Senate? What position leads the political party that has the most seats? What position leads the political party that has the least seats? What position works behind the scene to encourage party loyalty? How long is a term for a Senator? For a Representative? RECAP QUIZ

Congress has the power to make laws in FIVE important areas… POWERS OF CONGRESS

1. Financing the Government Raise and collect taxes Borrow money Print and coin money Pay debts Provide for common good 1. Financing the Government

2. Regulating and Promoting US Trade and Industry Regulate trade with foreign nations Regulate trade among the states Protects rights of inventors Establishes Roads and Post Offices Laws against piracy 2. Regulating and Promoting US Trade and Industry

3. Defending the Nation Congress has the power to declare war Regulates the army and navy Can call citizens to fight if needed 3. Defending the Nation

Congress has the power to establish federal courts to make sure that laws are followed. 4. Supporting Laws

5. Providing For Growth Power to govern the nation’s territories Adding states to the country Setting up immigration laws 5. Providing For Growth

Power of Impeachment Only the House accuses! Only the Senate “The power to accuse high federal officials of serious crimes against the nation and to bring them to trial” Steps of Impeachment House of Reps. accuses the official Majority in favor = Impeachment Trial is held in the Senate 2/3rds of Senate in favor = Dismissed from Office Only the House accuses! Only the Senate holds trial! Power of Impeachment

Congress has the power… “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution [carrying out] the foregoing powers.” The “Elastic Clause”

The “Elastic Clause” Think “RUBBER BAND” … It STRETCHES If Congress thinks that something is “necessary and proper” for the country, they can pass a law for it. This really “STRETCHES” the power of Congress The “Elastic Clause”

LIMITS… Congress CANNOT… Pass “Ex Post Facto” Laws Pass Bills of Attainder (aka right to trial) Suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus (aka can’t be stuck in jail waiting forever for a crime) Tax Exports Pass Laws that Violate the Bill of Rights Favor Trade of a State Grant Titles of Nobility Withdraw Money Without a Cause LIMITS…

HOW DO WE GET LAWS??? THE BIG QUESTION

IDEAS… Usually, laws start as ideas People share their ideas with their representatives Representatives right down these ideas Known as a “Bill” IDEAS…

I’m Just A Bill… A Bill is a proposed law “Rough Draft” It’s a long process to become a law… I’m Just A Bill…

The Process… THE SENATE (same process) The House votes on the final copy of the bill The Committee debates and revises the bill The Speaker of the House sends the bill to the proper committee The Process… A representative introduces the bill to the House

But remember, Congress can overturn the veto with 2/3 vote After both houses approve, it goes to the President Approve or “Veto” Pocket Veto -President lets the Bill sit for 10 days while Congress is not in session The Process But remember, Congress can overturn the veto with 2/3 vote

BILLOPOLY Slide to the Senate! SPEAKER Senator Pro Temp Representative The game where Bills become Laws START PRESIDENT