Legislative Branch The House of Representatives &The Senate

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9 th District Representative: Sandy Levin

VII. Gerrymandering ◦Definition: to divide (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group ◦

I. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ◦A. Qualifications  1. must be at least 25 years old  2. must be a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years  3. must live in the state they represent ◦B. Real Life Jobs  1. Law or business careers  2. Experience in state or local governments ◦ Ex. Mayor, Township Board Member, Governor and so on …….

◦C. Terms  1. Terms are 2 years in length  2. All elected officials get 2 full years  3. All can be replaced at every new 2 year election  4. Usually ¾ of the representatives are reelected  5. No limit on terms ◦D. Number of Representatives  Total number of Representatives = 435  Census decides number of representatives from each state  The total number of 435 never changes, just the amount from each state

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAP

Debbie Stabenow Carl Levin II. THE SENATE

◦A. Qualifications  1. Must be at least 30 Years of age  2. Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years  3. Must be a resident of the state they represent ◦B. Real Life Jobs  1. Law or business careers  2. Government Experience ◦ Ex. Some are former members of the House of Representatives

◦C. Terms  1. Term length is 6 years  2. 1/3 are elected every 2 years  3. Not all senators are up for election every 2 years  4. No limit on terms ◦D. Number of Senators  1. Total number of senators = 100  2. Each state has 2 senators no matter the size of the state

III. Salary, benefits, Privileges ◦$174,000 ◦Health Care for Life ◦Free office space ◦Free parking ◦Free trips to home state ◦Budget  Assistants  Office staff  Supplies  CONTINUED ON NEXT SLIDE

III. Salary, benefits, Privileges …cONT’D ◦Discounts  Haircuts and many more ◦Franking Privilege  Job related mail can be mailed for free ◦Immunity in some cases  Article I, section 6 “shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses and in going to and returning from the same.” ◦Can be expelled  Need a 2/3 vote from either house

IV. Congressional Leaders ◦A. Speaker of the House  1. In-charge of almost everything  2. Member of the majority party ◦B. President of the Senate  1. President of the Senate is the V.P.  2. V.P. can only vote in a tie  3. V.P. is usually to busy to attend Senate  4. Pres Pro Tempore “for the time being”  5. Majority party person

IV. Congressional Leaders ◦C. Floor Leaders  1. Make sure what their party wants happens  2. Majority party’s floor leader is called the Majority Leader. The other party’s leader is called the Minority Leader ◦D. Party Whips  1. Helps the floor leader  2. Keeps track of how party members vote

VI. Congressional Committees ◦Committees research, discuss and revise bills ◦Too many bills for all of Congress to hear them ◦Five types of committees  1. Standing Committees  2. Select/Special Committees  3. Joint Committees  4. Sub Committees  5. Conference Committees ◦Some committees considered better to be on than others ◦Chairperson (tradition) member of majority party ◦Use the seniority system to place people

VII. Congressional pOWERS ◦Congress has only those powers given to it and not specifically denied by the constitution ◦Congress has 3 Types Powers  Expressed  Implied  Inherent

VII. Congressional pOWERS ◦A. Expressed Powers  1. Power to Tax  2. Power to Borrow  3. Currency Power  4. Bankruptcy ◦ (these 4 also known as Power of the Purse)  5. The Commerce Power  6. Foreign Relations and War Powers  7. Addition Powers

VII. Congressional pOWERS ◦B. Implied Powers  1. The Necessary and Proper Clause ◦ This clause is the source of the implied powers ◦ States that Congress has the power :“to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing [expressed] powers.” ◦ THE ELASTIC CLAUSE: This N&P Clause has been called the Elastic Clause because it has allowed Congress to stretch its powers

VII. Congressional pOWERS ◦N◦Non-Legislative Powers 11. Constitutional Amendments 22. Electoral Duties 33. Impeachment ◦H◦House has sole power to vote for impeachment ◦S◦Senate has sole power to conduct a trial on those impeached by the House

review ◦How old do you have to be to run for House of Rep? ◦How long is the term for H of R? ◦How many Representatives are in the House? ◦How old do you have to be to run for Senate? ◦How long is the term for a Senator? ◦How many terms can someone be a Senator? ◦What are the 3 Types of Power Congress has? ◦ What is the slang term for the Power of the use of money?