Unit 4: The Legislative Branch The Structure and Function of our Law-making Body

Is this how you feel about Congress?

Why don’t people like elections?

Basics of Congress Bicameral (535 members in Congress) ◦ House of Representatives (“lower chamber”)  435 members elected every 2 years  Based on population ◦ Senate (“upper chamber”)  100 members elected/2 per state  Elected every 6 years (1/3 every 2 years) Congressional Terms begin every 2 years ◦ A term is called a “Congress” ◦ January 2015  114 th Congress ◦ Each term has two sessions ◦ President can call “special sessions”

Characteristics of Congress Qualifications (in worksheets) Salary and Benefits ◦ $174,000/year – current Congress may set the salary of next Congress (next election) ◦ Funding for office set-up and office staff ◦ Allowances for travel, telephones  Insurance/pension – mostly same as all federal employees Common Characteristics ◦ White middle-aged males – 80% ◦ Mostly Christian – 92% ◦ Lawyer is most common background – 43%

By Race

By Gender

By Race

By Religion

House Representation - Districts States are apportioned their # of representatives based on population – called Congressional DistrictsCongressional Districts ◦ One person/One vote in each district Reapportionment ◦ occurs with census  every 10 years ◦ Reassigns # of reps to states based on changes in the population ◦ # set at 435 by Reapportionment Act of 1929

House Redistricting Redistricting – changing how district lines within states are drawn ◦ State legislatures set up districts ◦ Very political – districts can favor one party ◦ Gerrymandering – party in control of state legislature sets up districts to increase the power of their party Gerrymandering  In House and Electoral College

Election & Re-election “All members of Congress have one primary interest – to be re-elected.” Federal Elections ◦ Every 2 years (even # years) ◦ Held the Tuesday after 1 st Monday in November ◦ Non-presidential elections are called “off-year” Power of Incumbents (those in office seeking re-election) ◦ 85-90% are re-elected…why?

The Power of Incumbents Familiarity makes it easier to raise funds Districts set up to favor their political party Better known to voters & provided support  People may dislike Congress, but they like their reps.

Election & Re-election House members – elected from their district Senate members – elected from whole state Role of Media ◦ Television & Radio – dominant ◦ Internet is a new tool – election websites Role of Politics ◦ Representing needs of constituents (people from district or state) ◦ Power of Lobbyists/Interest Groups – represent issues  Use funding ($) to help elect or defeat

The Legislative Process Follow the flow chart Importance of committees Importance of debate and discussion Agreement between House and Senate

Congress at Work Leadership positions influence by majority party – ex. Floor leaders Seniority important for leadership “Standing” Committees & Subcommittees Require quorum (minimum # present) for doing business ◦ Senate is 51; House is 218

Procedural Differences House Rules Committee ◦ Determines how they conduct business ◦ Time limits for debate, etc. Senate has… ◦ Filibuster Power  No time limit when debating a bill – used by members to delay/avoid a vote ◦ Rule of Cloture  Called vote to end filibuster/requires 60 votes

Differences HOUSESENATE Led by Speaker of the House Officially led by Vice- President, typically by President pro tem More strict rulesMore informal Has power of filibuster Has 19 Standing Committees Has 16 Standing Committees

The President in the Legislative Process Congress NEEDS the President to help advance their legislative agenda President’s Veto Power impacts the bill sent to him

President’s Options President has 3 choices: ◦ Sign the bill – it becomes law ◦ Veto the bill ◦ Do nothing…  Failure to sign within 10 days – bill becomes law without his signature  “Pocket Veto”- bill will automatically killed if it is sent to him during last 10 days of Congress’ session

Types of Committees Standing Committees – continue from one Congress to the next ◦ Divided by area of responsibility ◦ Ex. Agriculture, Budget, Judiciary ◦ Some are more influential than others Subcommittees – further specialization within a larger committee

Committees Select Committees – temporary & formed for one specific issue Joint Committees – both houses work to study/handle issues common to both Conference Committee – formed when there are differences in bills ◦ Goal is to resolve differences so it can be sent to President

Congressional Powers Congress has wide-ranging powers that fall into one of several categories ◦ Expressed Powers  18 enumerated powers ◦ Implied Powers  Expanded powers through “necessary & proper clause” (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18)

Categories of Powers Legislative Powers (law-making) ◦ Require law-making powers ◦ Include both expressed and implied powers Non-Legislative Powers ◦ Actions that don’t involve creating laws

Legislative Powers Money Powers ◦ Taxing & spending  Revenue/$ bills must start in House Commerce Powers ◦ Trade Military/Foreign Policy Powers ◦ Declaring war Other ◦ Post offices, copyrights, etc.

Non-Legislative Powers Impeachment Power Confirmation Power Ratification Power Investigation Powers ◦ Can call witnesses to testify under oath Oversight Powers ◦ Can make sure that the executive branch is carrying out the laws they passed in the prescribed manner

Checks and Balances Congress can check the power of the other branches… Executive BranchJudicial Branch Override the President’ veto with a 2/3 vote Power to create Federal courts Power of Impeachment Senate ratifies treatiesSenate must approve appointments of Federal judges Senate confirms Presidential appointments

Influences on Congress Political ideology – set of beliefs ◦ Liberal or Conservative? ◦ Reflected in political parties Role of special interest groups – group that tries to advance beliefs by influencing members of Congress ◦ $814 billion spent on 2014 Congressional elections