Congress Translates PUBLIC WILL into PUBLIC POLICY in the form of LAW

Two House (Bicameral) House of Representatives –435 members Senate –100 members

House of Representatives 435 members 2 year terms State split into districts according to population – one rep. per district Must be at least 25 years of age Must be a citizen for at least 7 years Must inhabit the state for which they represent Custom: live in the district for which they represent

Senate 100 members Directly elected Voted for at-large 6 year term 1/3 of membership is elected every 2 years – “continuous body” Must be at least 30 years of age Must be a citizen for at least 9 years Must inhabit the state for which you represent

Duties Legislators Committee members Representatives of Constitution Servants to the Constitution Politicians

4 Ways to Vote Trustee –Vote the way their personal inclination leads them Delegate –Vote as an agent of the Constitution; the majority of their constituency makes the decision Partisan –Vote the way the party wants Politico –Combines all; applies the most prudent way to vote in each situation

Leaders Senate –President of the Senate Floor Leaders –Majority Leader –Majority Whip –Minority Leader –Minority Whip House –Speaker of the House Floor Leaders –Majority Leader –Majority Whip –Minority Leader –Minority Whip

Homework – Congressional Leadership –Parts A and B – Who Has the Power? –Parts A and B

Committees Standing Committees –Bills are referred to the appropriate committee Select Committees –Convened for a specific purpose Joint Committees –Committee comprised of members from both houses Conference Committee –Convened to compromise on bills

Bills Resolution –Matter in one house Joint Resolution –Unusual or temporary matters Concurrent Resolution –House and Senate acting jointly Bills are then “thrown into the hopper” and given their first reading

Bill in Committee “Do Pass” “pigeon hole” Amend It Report with an unfavorable recommendation Report with a Committee Bill

Bill on the Floor Second Reading –Need a quorum or can be a Committee of the Whole Debate –Rules in the House to limit time –No restrictions in the Senate Filibuster Voting –Voice, standing, teller, roll-call Approval? –Moves to the next house or to the President

President’s Options Sign into law Veto –Keeps a bill from becoming law –Can be overridden by Congress Wait 10 days –After 10 days passes the bill automatically becomes law Pocket Veto –If Congress sends a bill to the President with less than 10 days left in their session and the President does not sign it into law – it does not become law

Expressed Powers

Implied Powers

Inherent Powers