US GOVERNMENT Friday, June 5

Schedule Collect Homework Who’s Who Political Topic Reflection Finish Amendments Legislative Branch Due Monday, June 8 Who’s Who (on website)

National Legislature Two Houses Congress House of Rep Senate Sessions

Five Major Roles of Congress 1. Legislators 2. Representatives 3. Committee members 4. Public servants 5. Politicians Do you see any conflict of interests in these roles?

House of Representatives Represents the people proportionally (based on population) 435 representatives, each state with at least one Two year terms with no limit on terms served Reapportion Districts Speaker of the House

So You Want to Be in Politics? RepresentativesSenate 25+ years old Citizen for 7+ years Inhabit the state you are elected from Customarily living in the district you represent What qualifications do you think are important? 30+ years old Citizen of US for 9+ years Lives in the state they are elected from What informal qualifications would you look for in a representative?

Benefits (Mostly “Fringe”) Paid average $174,000/yr (as determined by members of congress) Tax deductions Travel allowances Low cost of insurance with full medical care Pension for retirement ($150,000/yr) Offices with hired staff Free mail, free printing Gyms, Access to Library of Congress, free parking, free meals Why are members of Congress reluctant to pass laws that give them additional benefits or higher pay?

Senate Represents people equally (2 per state) Framers hoped it would have a higher quality of people More concerned with larger issues, national political leaders 6 year terms, no limit Senators can be punished or even expelled with a 2/3 vote of other senate members Why do you think the Constitution sets such a high requirement of 2/3 vote of senators to expel a senator?

Think-Share-Pair How important do you think the identity or demographics are of a person serving in congress? Do you think the people elected into congress are a good representation of the demographics of the United States? Why should we care about these things?

Race of the United States

Race of Congress

Gender of the United States

Gender of Congress

Think-Pair-Share We looked at race and gender. Are there other demographics that you think are important? What are they? Why do you think these are important

Powers of Congress Expressed Powers – Explicit wording Implied Powers – By Reasonable deduction from expressed powers Inherent powers – From creating a national government for the US Strict constructionists (Jefferson) – Expressed, Implied Liberal constructionists (Hamilton) – Expressed, Implied, Inherent Do you believe liberal constructionists would be happy with the way today’s government functions?

Expressed Powers of Congress Power to Tax Commerce Power Currency Regulate Bankruptcy Foreign Relations Power (shared with President) War Powers (shared with President) Naturalization Postal Power Copyrights Weights and Measures Power over territories Judicial powers

Implied Powers of Congress from Expressed Power Naturalization Regulate and limit immigration War Powers Draft Americans Regulate Commerce Establish min. wage Ban discrimination Regulate banking Tax Punish evaders Regulate sales of commodities (alcohol) Outlaw commodities (narcotics) Requirements on states for federal funding Borrowing Establish Federal Reserve Postal Prohibit mail fraud Ban some items from shipment

Inherent Powers Control borders Defend state from revolution Anything powers the government has, just because it’s the government!

Presiding Officers and Leadership Speaker of the House Elected from majority party Presides and keeps order President of the Senate Vice President Committee Chairmen

Party Officers Party Caucus Floor Leaders Selected by party colleagues Whips Assistants to the floor leaders Selected at caucus usually with floor leader recommendation Liaison between leadership and members

How a Bills Become Laws /watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0 /watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0 What the video doesn’t show: Senate floors involve more debate. Filibusters