Representative Government MAKES DECISIONS OR LAWS REPRESENTATIVES PEOPLE/CITIZENS VOTE FOR OR ELECT PEOPLE/CITIZENS VOTE FOR OR ELECT

What is the main duty of the legislative branch? To Make, Write, or Pass Laws. To Make, Write, or Pass Laws.

A Bill is simply… A proposal for a law introduced in the Legislature for consideration A proposal for a law introduced in the Legislature for consideration

What is the major body of the legislative branch? The U.S. Congress The U.S. Congress

What are the two houses of the U.S. Congress? The U.S. House of Representatives The U.S. House of Representatives The U.S. Senate The U.S. Senate

How many members in the U.S. Senate? 100 U.S. Senators 100 U.S. Senators

How many members in the U.S. House of Representatives? 435 U.S. Representatives 435 U.S. Representatives

How long are the terms of office for a the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives? U.S. Senate = 6 years U.S. Senate = 6 years U.S. House of Representatives = 2 years U.S. House of Representatives = 2 years

How many members are in the U.S. Congress? 100 U.S. Senators U.S. Senators U.S. Representatives = 435 U.S. Representatives = 535 U.S. Congresspersons 535 U.S. Congresspersons

U.S. Congressional Districts from Michigan

How many members in the U.S. Congress are from Michigan ? 2 U.S. Senators + 2 U.S. Senators + 14 U.S. Representatives = 14 U.S. Representatives = 16 U.S. Congresspersons from Michigan 16 U.S. Congresspersons from Michigan

Incumbents

U.S. Senators from Michigan Senior Seat - Senator Carl Levin Senior Seat - Senator Carl Levin Junior Seat - Senator Debbie Stabenow Junior Seat - Senator Debbie Stabenow

U.S. Representatives from Michigan Representative Dan Benishek (R - 01) Representative Dan Benishek (R - 01) Representative Bill Huizenga (R - 02) Representative Bill Huizenga (R - 02) Representative Justin Amash (R - 03) Representative Justin Amash (R - 03) Representative Dave Camp (R - 04) Representative Dave Camp (R - 04) Representative Dan Kildee (D - 05) Representative Dan Kildee (D - 05) Representative Fred Upton (R - 06) Representative Fred Upton (R - 06) Representative Tim Walberg (R - 07) Representative Tim Walberg (R - 07) Representative Mike Rogers (R - 08) Representative Mike Rogers (R - 08) Representative Sandy Levin (D - 09) Representative Sandy Levin (D - 09) Representative Candice Miller (R - 10) Representative Candice Miller (R - 10) Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R - 11) Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R - 11) Representative John D. Dingell (D - 12) Representative John D. Dingell (D - 12) Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D - 13) Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D - 13) Representative Gary Peters (D - 14) Representative Gary Peters (D - 14)

Senority Rep. John Dingell, who is serving his 30th term in the House of Representatives, was honored today as the longest serving member in the history of the U.S. Congress He has served with 2,419 lawmakers in the House, worked with 11 U.S. presidents and cast more than 25,000 votes during more than 21,000 days in Congress.

60 years in US Congress

U.S. House Committees Committee on Agriculture Committee on Agriculture Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations Committee on Armed Services Committee on Armed Services Committee on the Budget Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee on the Budget Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Financial Services Committee on Financial Services Committee on Government Reform Committee on Government Reform Committee on House Administration Committee on House Administration House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Committee on International Relations Committee on International Relations Committee on the Judiciary Committee on the Judiciary Committee on Resources Committee on Rules Committee on Science Committee on Small Business Committee on Standards of Official Conduct Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Veterans Affairs Committee on Ways and Means Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation

U.S. Senate Committees Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry Committee Appropriations Committee Armed Services Committee Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs Budget Committee Budget Committee Commerce, Science, And Transportation Committee Commerce, Science, And Transportation Committee Energy And Natural Resources Committee Environment And Public Works Committee Environment And Public Works Committee Finance Committee Foreign Relations Committee Foreign Relations Committee Governmental Affairs Committee Governmental Affairs Committee Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee Health, Education, Labor And Pensions Committee Rules And Administration Committee Rules And Administration Committee Small Business Committee Small Business Committee Veterans' Affairs Committee Veterans' Affairs Committee Special, Select, and Other Senate Select Committee On Intelligence Senate Select Committee On Ethics Senate Select Committee On Indian Affairs Senate Special Committee On Aging Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee On Taxation

Filibuster Filibuster: Any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other issue by an elongated debate, by offering many different motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions. Filibuster: Any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other issue by an elongated debate, by offering many different motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

Longest Filibuster in U.S. History Record: Strom Thurmond holds the longest filibuster in US history (24 hours and 18 minutes) as he argued against the Civil Rights Act of Record: Strom Thurmond holds the longest filibuster in US history (24 hours and 18 minutes) as he argued against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Cloture Cloture: The only way the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter (defeating a filibuster). Under the cloture rule, the Senate may limit consideration of a bill or other issue to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate (normally 60 votes). Cloture: The only way the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter (defeating a filibuster). Under the cloture rule, the Senate may limit consideration of a bill or other issue to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate (normally 60 votes).

Pork Barrel Legislation or Pork? Pork Barrel Legislation: spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support. Pork Barrel Legislation: spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support.

Example of Good Pork Barrel Spending Began in 1974: $25 million by 30 House members for the National Writing Project which is a nationwide network of educators working together to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools, a useful educational goal. Began in 1974: $25 million by 30 House members for the National Writing Project which is a nationwide network of educators working together to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools, a useful educational goal.

Example of Bad Pork Barrel Spending Proposed in October 2005: $320 million for a bridge in Alaska dubbed "The Bridge To Nowhere" (a bridge which would replace the current ferry system from Alaska to the Gravina Island). This is viewed as a waste of money considering the populations of both Alaska and Gravina Island, which are both very small. Proposed in October 2005: $320 million for a bridge in Alaska dubbed "The Bridge To Nowhere" (a bridge which would replace the current ferry system from Alaska to the Gravina Island). This is viewed as a waste of money considering the populations of both Alaska and Gravina Island, which are both very small.

Gerrymandering What is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections. What is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections. Where did gerrymandering come from? The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander. Where did gerrymandering come from? The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander. What is the purpose of gerrymandering? The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution). What is the purpose of gerrymandering? The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution).

Original Gerrymandering

Lobbyists The largest, comprehensive database of 22,000 registered lobbyists. The largest, comprehensive database of 22,000 registered lobbyists. 22,000/536=41 lobbyists per member of congress and the president 22,000/536=41 lobbyists per member of congress and the president

Congress Who?