1. Government Institutions: Legislative Branch

2. SSCG8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government.
a. Cite the formal qualifications for representatives and senators listed in the Constitution.
b. Describe the election process for representatives & senators and how the 17th Amendment impacted the election of senators.
c. Compare the terms of office for each chamber of Congress and explain the Founders’ intent.

3. Congress = House + Senate

4. House of Representatives
Total Membership in House
 435
# of Reps for each state
 based on population
Length of terms
 2 years
Constituents (who do they represent?)
 District
Age Requirement
 25
Citizenship requirement
Citizen for 7 years
Residency requirement
Live in the state you represent (voters want you to live in district too)
Term Limits?
 NO
Elections?
Every 2 years; all members every election. Off year elections are held in between Presidential elections (aka Midterm Elections)

5. Senate 100 2 per state 6 years State 30 Citizen for 9 years
Total Membership in Senate
 100
# of Reps for each state
 2 per state
Length of terms
 6 years
Constituents (who do they represent?)
 State
Age Requirement
 30
Citizenship requirement
Citizen for 9 years
Residency requirement
Live in the state you represent
Term Limits?
 NO
17th Amendment
Election Changes
Originally selected by state legislatures
Now, as a continuous body, 1/3 of Senators are up for election every 2 years.

6. Founders were fans of the British Parliament
Bicameral Legislature - two chamber legislature
Founders were fans of the British Parliament
Settled the dispute between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
Allows for a system of checks and balances between the houses

7. Determining Representatives in the House
Census Every 10 years to determine population
Reapportionment – Congress divides the 435 House seats between states based on population
Redistricting - state legislature draws the new district lines
Gerrymandering - drawing district lines based on some characteristic other than just population

8. Original Gerrymander

9. Washingto
n Post: Gerrymandering Explained

10. Non-gerrymandered district

13. Congressional Leadership

14. Leadership in the House of Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Selected by the majority party
Most important job in Congress
Presides over House & maintains order in House
Recognizes members that want to speak on the House floor, interprets and enforces rules of the House
Refers (sends) bill to standing committees
Appoints members to committees
Can vote, but often does only in a tie
Paul Ryan
R – Wisconsin

15. Leadership in the House
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Selected by the majority party
Majority Leader Leads the Republican party
Carry out decisions of party
Direct floor action and votes to party’s advantage
Spokesperson for party
Minority Leader
Leads the Democratic party
Carry out decisions of party
Direct floor action and votes to party’s advantage
Spokesperson for party
Kevin McCarthy
R – California
Nancy Pelosi
D – California

16. Leadership in the House
Party Whips
Assistant Floor Leaders
Liason (go-between) – deliver info between leadership & members
Keep track of how party members are voting
Be sure members are present for votes
House
Majority Whip
House
Minority Whip
Steve Scalise
R – Louisiana
Steny Hoyer
D - Maryland

17. Georgia’s Representation
Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts.
McEachern’s current congressional district is the 13th represented by:
Congressman
David Scott

18. Georgia Delegation 115th
Buddy Carter, Sanford Bishop, Drew Ferguson, Hank Johnson, John Lewis, Karen Handel
Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen, David Scott, Tom Graves

19. Leadership in the Senate
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
The Vice President of the United States
Vice President
Mike Pence
Not an elected member
May not be a member of majority party
Can recognize members to speak in floor debate
Call for vote on bill
Votes in a tie
Can NOT debate bill

20. Leadership in the Senate
President Pro-Tempore
Orrin Hatch
R-Utah
Presides in VP’s absence
Elected member of Senate
Member of Majority Party
Typically longest serving member

21. Leadership in the Senate
Majority Leader Leads the Majority party
Minority Leader Leads the minority party
Mitch McConnell
R - Kentucky
Chuck Schumer
D – New York

22. Leadership in the Senate
Party Whips
Assistant Floor Leaders
Liason (go-between) – deliver info between leadership & members
Keep track of how party members are voting
Be sure members are present for votes
Senate
Minority Whip
Senate
Majority Whip
Dick Durbin
D - Illinois
John Cornyn
R – Texas

23. Georgia’s Representation
Senator
Johnny Isakson
Senator
David Perdue
AND

24. Committees in Congress
Standing Committee
Permanent
Content specific
Select Committee
Aka Special Committee
Specific purpose
Limited Time
Investigate current matters
Joint
Permanent & Select
Members of House & Senate
Conference Committee
Temporary, Joint Committee
Works out differences between bills
Once compromise reached they disband

26. House of Representatives
Congress
Senate
Upper House
House of Representatives
Lower House
President of Senate
VP of USA
Speaker of House
Majority Leader
President Pro Tempore
Senior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party
House Majority
Floor Leader
House Minority
Leader
Senate Majority
Leader
Senate Minority
Leader
House Majority
Whip
House Minority
Whip
Senate Majority
Whip
Senate Minority
Whip
100 Senators
2 from each State
435 Representatives
Elected by Population

27. Interesting…. Salaries - $174,000 per year
Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400
House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority Leader - $193,400

28. Congressional Powers

29. SSCG8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government.
d. Compare and contrast the powers of each chamber of Congress (e.g., power of the purse, 16th Amendment, treaties, etc.)

30. Power of the Purse
Revenue (tax) bills must start in the House of Representatives
The majority of the U.S. revenue comes through TAXATION.
A TAX is a charge levied by a government on income or property
The 16th Amendment allows Congress to levy INCOME TAXES on individuals

31. Capitol Tidbits Site chosen in 1791; British burned in 1814
300 feet to top of statue
Freedom Statue is 19’ 6”
Capitol sits on 3.5 acres; 168 acres around it are designated to the capitol
Diameter of Rotunda is 95’ (whisper heard across the room)
Original rule was that nothing could be higher than Freedom Statue; exception made for Washington monument

36. Interest Groups in Politics

37. What is an Interest Group?
A group of people with common views who work to get legislation and regulations passed that will help their group.

38. Lobbyists
Lobbyists work for the interest group to get elected officials to pass policies that will be good for their group

39. Lobbyists POSITIVES NEGATIVES
Knowledgeable on the issue they represent and can inform legislators about the issues they support/oppose
Spokesperson for a larger group of people (special interest group members)
Can help write (draft) legislation with up-to-date information
Larger interest groups with more money tend to get more legislation passed in their favor.
Grassroots (local) efforts often go unnoticed at the state and national level

40. How a Bill Becomes a Law
SSCG8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government.
e. Explain the steps in the legislative process.
A bill, which is a proposed law, must originate in the House of Representatives or the Senate, except for revenue bills which MUST originate in the House.

41. I’m Just a Bill

42. 1. The bill is drafted (written)
Anyone can draft a bill – members of Congress, the President, outside groups
2. The bill is introduced in the House or Senate by a member
Only members of the House or Senate can introduce bills.
3. The bill is sent to a standing committee
In the House, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee.
4. Committee Action – bills are reviewed, debated, edited and voted on.
Most bills die here, but if the bill is passed, it moves forward.
Senate Majority Leader decides what order bills will be reviewed on floor.
In House, the Rules Committee decides order of the bills & time limit for debate.

43. 5. Bill is sent to the Rules Committee in the House and assigned a
*5. Bill is sent to the Rules Committee in the House and assigned a time for debate.
Only the House of Representatives has a Rules Committee.
6. Floor Action – the bill is debated, and amended, if necessary.
If a majority of the members approve the bill, it goes to the other chamber.
7. Bill is sent to and introduced in other chamber…
Starts in House, goes to Senate; starts in Senate, goes to House
Introduction by Member
Committee Action – Review, debate, hearings, edits, votes
Floor Action – Debate, edit, amendments, vote

44. 8. Conference Committee
If the 1st chamber rejects any changes made by the 2nd, conference must meet.
Members of both chambers (House and Senate) work toward compromise.
Only one version of bill can be sent to President.
9. Vote on Compromise Bill
Both the House and the Senate must approve the bill as amended by the conference committee.
If approved by a majority vote in both houses of Congress, the bill is sent to the President.
10. Presidential Action - sign, or approve, the bill or veto (reject)
If the President signs the bill (approves it), the bill becomes a law.
If the President vetoes (rejects) the bill, can be sent back for override vote.
11. Override Vote
If the President vetoes the bill, it can still be approved by a 2/3vote in each chamber (House & Senate) and still become law.

45. In the Legislative Process….
RIDER – a provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to a bill that is certain to pass. Can only happen in the SENATE.
DISCHARGE PETITION – enables members of either house to force a bill that has been pigeonholed (remained in committee for 30 days or longer) onto the floor for consideration.
QUORUM – a majority of the membership that must be present in chambers to conduct business.

46. In the Legislative Process….
ENGROSSED– the bill is printed in its’ final form.
FILIBUSTER – essentially this is the attempt to ‘talk a bill to death’. It is a stalling tactic that is used by a minority of senators seeks to delay or prevent action on a matter. Can ONLY be used in the SENATE.
CLOTURE – a rule used to limit debate in the SENATE.
At least 3/5 of the senate, or 60 members, must vote to invoke cloture.
Not needed in the House – Rules Committee sets time limits.

47. In the Legislative Process….
VETO – when the President refuses to sign a bill into law.
POCKET VETO – if Congress adjourns its’ session within ten days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the bill dies.

48. Members of Congress think about
FOUR FACTORS
when deciding whether to vote for a law.

49. Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?
FACTOR #1
FACTOR #2
Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?
What is my personal opinion?
FACTOR #3
FACTOR #4
What are the views of my political party?
What do my voters think?

50. How a Bill Becomes a Law Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules
House
Floor
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Law
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
House
Floor
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Senate
Floor
Sub Committee

51. House and Senate pass same version of law.
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
President
Law
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
Standing
Committee
House and Senate pass same version of law.
Majority Vote in each house needed.
Passed to President.
Sub Committee

52. House & Senate pass different versions.
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
Standing
Committee
Sub Committee
House & Senate pass different versions.
Conference Committee comes up with compromise.

53. The compromise bill must be passed on each floor with no changes.
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House
Floor
The
compromise bill
must be
passed on each
floor with no
changes.
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Sub Committee

54. Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House
Floor
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Sub Committee

55. If the President signs the bill
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House
Floor
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Law
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
If the President signs the bill
then it becomes law.
Sub Committee

56. If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses.
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House
Floor
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
House
Floor
2/3 vote
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Senate
Floor
2/3 vote
If the President vetoes the bill
then it goes back to both houses.
Sub Committee

57. This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override.
Sub Committee
Standing
Committee
Rules
Committee
House
Floor
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Law
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
House
Floor
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Senate
Floor
This time the bill must be passed
by 2/3 of majority to override.
Sub Committee

58. How a Bill Becomes a Law Subcommittee House Floor Standing Committee
Rules
Committee
House of
Representatives
House Floor
Debate
Conference
Committee
President
Law
Senate
Senate Floor
Debate
House
Floor
Senate
Floor
Standing
Committee
Senate
Floor
Subcommittee