1. Congress Leaders and Powers

2. Key People in Congress Speaker of the House President of the Senate
Presiding officer in the House of Representatives
President of the Senate
Vice President of the United States
President Pro Tempore
a high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the US Senate in the absence of the vice president.
Paul Ryan; Mike Pence; Orrin Hatch

3. Key People in Congress Majority Leader Minority Leader
Head of the majority party in House
Head of the majority party in Senate
Minority Leader
Head of the minority party in House
Head of the minority party in Senate
House Majority leader: Kevin McCarthy; House Minority leader: Nancy Pelosi; Senate Majority leader: Mitch McConnel; Senate minority leader: Charles Schumer

4. People who try to influence Congress
Lobbyists
People employed to help a special interest group “campaign” Congress to support legislation in their favor
Interest Groups
private organization whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy

6. Congressional Powers Expressed powers Implied powers
Power of the Purse
Power legislatures have over policies because they control the money
16th amendment
Power of Congress to levy taxes

7. Congress and the President
Congress counts the electoral college votes for President
If no majority found, House chooses a President from the top 3 and the Senate chooses the Vice President from the two candidates
25th Amendment
if the Vice President position become vacant, the President selects a new one and the House and Senate must confirm

8. Removal of a Federal official from office
Impeachment
House of Representatives can issue a formal accusation of misconduct
If a majority vote to impeach a public official, the Senate conducts the trial
2/3 vote of Senate is required for conviction and removal
When the trial involved the US President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial

9. Congress and the President continued
Examples:
Andrew Johnson in 1868 – House voted to impeach but Senate voted to acquit by 1 vote
Richard Nixon in 1974 – House was going to impeach but he resigned first
Bill Clinton in 1998 – House voted to impeach but Senate could not obtain the 2/3 majority to convict
Perjury of Grand jury testimony and obstruction of justice