Outline of the Constitution Articles **U.S. Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land. **If a Federal and State law conflict, the Federal law is followed.

Parts of the Constitution 1. *Preamble

2. Articles that give precise details about how the government will operate a. Article I (1) – Legislative Branch Elastic Clause OR Necessary and Proper Clause– Section VIII Jefferson’s decision to purchase the Louisiana Territory

b. Article II (2) – Executive Branch

c. Article III (3) – Judicial Branch

e. Article V (5) – Provisions for Amending (changing) the Constitution Amendments: 1. Additions/changes to the Constitution give it flexibility 2. 27

f. Article VI (6) – National Debts, Supremacy of the National Law and Oaths of Office g. Article VII (7) – Ratification of the Constitution – 9 states are needed to ratify the Constitution

Bill of Rights *First 10 Amendments

Legislative Branch – Article 1 **Legislative Branch (Congress) Makes the Laws **Two Houses – the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house)

Men and Women in the 112th Congress While the partisan composition of the Congress is fairly close to that of the electorate, there are larger disparities between the Congress and the general citizenry in term of sex and race. In the House, there are currently 362 men and 76 women. In the Senate, there are 17 women and 83 men.

House Senate White36196 Black440 Hispanic252 Asian72

What does Congress do? Make laws! Both the House and Senate meet in the same building Each year they hear around 10,000 bills Only about 650 become laws Committees that are organized by topic decide which bills will be voted on by the entire group.

Other Stuff Congressional Pay -Currently - $174,000 They can give themselves raises, but not until the next election – see 27 th Amendment Session – 110 days to about 160 days Decides how we spend our money Deals with foreign affairs

House of Representatives Based on Population after a census

Qualifications 1. *25 years of age 2. Live/reside in the state being elected from (states set their own residency requirements) 3. Citizen of the U.S - 7 years 4. 2 year terms – the length of time that officials serve after an election year 5. No term limits

Speaker of the House – John Boehner – Republican from Ohio 1. Most powerful leader in the House 2. Member of the majority party 3. Presides and keeps order 4. Assigns bills to the proper committees

Apportioned (distributed) based on population per state determined every 10 years *435 Members

Important Stuff about the House All revenue bills start in the House Have the power to impeach officials Decide who is president if there is no majority in the electoral college Called the lower house Arizona now has nine representatives

Senate Equal Representation *2 Per State

A. Senate terms are staggered – only 1/3rd of them expire every two years. This ensures that the Senate is not left empty while Senators are campaigning for another term SO, a term in Congress is EVERY TWO YEARS

Qualifications years of age 2. Citizen of U.S. – 9 years 3. Resident of state elected from 4. *6 year term 5. no term limits 6. framers believed a six year term would make senators less subject to pressure by public opinion or special interest groups

B. Prior (before) the 17th Amendment, Senators were appointed by state legislatures. The 17th Amendment lets citizens vote for their own Congressional Senators

C. *PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE is the Vice President – He votes ONLY in case of a tie

D. President Pro Tempore (pro tem for short) – Patrick Leheay 1. Typically filled by the majority party leader 2. Sits in for the VP 3. Usually acts as the chairperson since the VP rarely attends Senate debates

Important Stuff about the Senate Ratifies treaties Impeachment trials are held in the Senate Approves presidential appointments Called the Upper House

How a Bill Becomes a Law The Journey of a Bill

Congress Makes Federal Laws Follow the bill as it moves through Congress

Introduction of the Bill The bill can come from a variety of sources: Individual citizens, Special interest groups Corporations, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Only a member of Congress can introduce the bill A bill can start in either House.

The Bill is Assigned to Committee Each House has standing committees that consider their bills. Each committee has a chair (from the Majority) and a ranking member (from the minority). They “mark-up” (edit) the bill so it will pass on the floor. They can also “pigeonhole” or kill the bill in committee. The bill must also pass through the House Rules Committee.

The Bill is Reported To the Floor If the bill is passed by the committee, it is sent to the whole House for debate and vote. The committee has “reported the bill favorably to the floor.” The Speaker determines which bills are discussed and for how long. Committee chairs and ranking members give out time to debate to other members.

The Bill is Debated and Voted On in the House Bills can be considered by the whole House at once: called “Committee of the Whole” Votes are done electronically in the House. This is a role call vote. A tote board on the wall shows the tally. Red = oppose. Green = Agree Yellow = Abstain Votes can be taken by voice “yeas and nays” or a “teller vote” where members file past the sergeant at arms.

The Bill Goes to the Senate The bill is sent to the US Senate. A Senate version is written with the letter S. and a number. House bills have HR. As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. Committees hold hearings and make changes to the bill. The committee can ‘report” the bill to the Senate floor.

The Bill is Debated and Voted On in the Senate The Senate Majority Leader determines which bills are scheduled, when and for how long. As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. Debate in the Senate is unlimited. Filibusters can be used by the minority to block bills. 3/5 (60) of the Senate must agree to end debate (this is called “cloture”) The Senate Rules committee is much weaker than the House’s.

Both Houses Must Pass the Bill A simple majority in both houses is needed to pass the bill (51%). In the House: 218 needed to control the House. In the Senate: 51 senators needed to pass the bill (and control the Senate).

Differences Between Houses Must Be Reconciled Each house passes its own bill. Any differences must be ironed out and made into one bill. The bill is considered by a conference committee, made up of both House and Senate members. They negotiate and compromise and send the combined bill back to both houses. A vote on the “conference report” must be taken and passed by both Houses.

The Bill is Sent to the President The president can sign the bill if he wants it to become law. He can include “signing statements” that say how the law should be enforced or if parts will not be enforced. The president can veto or reject the bill. He must include his reasons and recommendations for correction. The president can choose not to act on the bill. If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill dies after 10 days. This is called a “pocket veto.”

The Bill Becomes Law If the president vetoes the bill, both Houses can reconsider the bill. Two-thirds (67%) of both Houses are needed to override the President’s veto. In the House: 369 needed for override. Senate: 67. If president signs the bill, it is a federal law that each state must follow.

Impeachment The President, Vice Presidency and all civil officers of the United States may “be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Impeach – to accuse (power of the House) Try – to judge (power of the Senate)

Step One House JC debates. The vote on whether or not to send articles of impeachment to the full House.

Step Two House (acting like a grand jury), hears witnesses and gathers evidence.

Step Three The House votes on each article. If approved by the majority, the person is impeached (like indicted) Article of impeachment then goes to the Senate.

Step Four Senate tries the case. If it is the President, the Chief Justice presides.

Step Five Senators hear testimony and evidence

Step Six The Senate debates. They can drop the case or censure the official. A 2/3 vote is needed for conviction.

NixonClinton What crime is at the heart of the scandal? How is the President involved? How is the Congress involved? How is the Supreme Court involved?