1. Unit 2
The “First” Branch:
Congress

2. 1. Creation and Function of Congress

3. Function?
Create laws and pass budget
Legislate: to pass laws

4. Bicameral: two chambers
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE

5. A Bicameral Branch: Why?
Historical---we stole the idea from British Parliament (House of Commons, House of Lords)
Practical---compromise between big states (Virginia) & small states (NJ)
Theoretical---each will check each other’s power

6. 2. The Senate

7. “The Upper House”
100 Senators, two from each state, serve a 6 year term (no term limits)
Only 1/3 of Senate up for re-election every 2 years

8. Senate cont.
Qualifications: 30 years old, citizen for 9 years and live in the state you represent
Senate: More publicity than House of Rep., more prestige, more power.
Very civil debate, no limits on how long a senator can speakfilibuster….

9. The Filibuster
The Filibuster: Talking until majority of Senate agrees to abandon or modify a bill.
OLD STROM: Record filibuster 24 h, 18 min
Filibusters have included corn bread recipes, phone book readings, fishing stories, etc
Cloture: 60 senator vote to limit debate to 30 hours
Strom Thurmond
(AKA Phil A. Buster)

10. Filibuster: Often used by minority party to stall judicial appointments

12. 3. The House of Representatives

13. The House Currently 435 members, elected every 2 years.
Qualifications for House members:
25 years old
citizen for 7 years
live in the district you represent.
Because of large numbers, House must limit debate
Youngest Rep:
Aaron Schock

14. 53 2 Apportionment Idaho
House: 435 seats divided up based on a state’s population
Senate: 2 Senators per state
53
Idaho 2

15. The House of Representatives
Distribution of seats determined by census. Trend: Rural and NE losing seats to West and South.

17. Gerrymandering
practice of drawing House district boundaries to benefit a certain party or group-shame, shame, shame!
Go to:
Then Now

18. D R R R R R D R R D D D D D D D D R Pack’em and Crack’ em R D R
1 STATE of 3 DISTRICTS
21 VOTERS TOTAL
D R R R R
R D R R
D D
D D D
D D D R
R D R
Pack’em and Crack’ em

19. Redistricting Game

20. 4. Powers of Congress

21. Powers of Congress (Law making)
Expressed- specifically mentioned Constitution
Tax and Spend
2.  Borrow
3.  Coin Money
4.  Regulate Commerce
5.  Foreign Relations (approve treaties, declare war, etc.)
6.  Create courts, post offices, copyrights, & patents
Manage and rule territories
Implied- not specifically mentioned but implied
Too many to name---is this right?

22. Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Recent Expenditures
$1 Trillion
Total Cost of
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
$819 Billion
Stimulus Package
$3.7 Trillion
FY 2012 Budget
($1.1 deficit)
$700 Billion
Bank Bailout

24. B-2 Bomber:
1 billion dollars

25. Newest US Carrier:
6 billion dollars

26. Powers of Congress (Non law making)
1.  Impeachment
2.  Propose Amendments
3.  Choose a President
RARE

27. Powers of Congress (Non law making)
4.  Give Advise & Consent
5.  Investigate
6. Oversight
COMMON

28. 5. Who is in Congress?

29. DIVERSITY

30. DIVERSITY

31. Leadership of Congress
Split Leadership
Senate
Democrats 51
Republicans 47
Independents 2
House
Republicans 241
Democrats 192

32. Leadership of Congress
Speaker of the House: Presiding officer in the House--- assigns bills to committees, plans schedule, presides over sessions
John Boehner R- OH

33. Leadership of Congress
Majority Leaders (House and Senate): Spokesmen for dominant party
Senate-Harry Reid (D-NV) Eric Cantor (R-VA)

34. Leadership of Congress
Minority Leaders (House and Senate): Spokesmen for opposition party
Senate- Mitch McConnell (R-KY) House- Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
               

35. Leadership of Congress
Whips: vote counters in House, assist M&M leaders
Vice President of US: President of Senate: breaks ties
President pro tem of Senate: Presiding officer in Senate in VPs absence

36. 6. Making Laws

37. THE BILL TO LAW PROCESS (Simplified)
1. Bill introduced in H/S
2. Sent to committee
3. Voted on by H/S
4. Follows 1-3 in other chamber or sent to Conference Committee
5. Sent to President
6. Signed or Vetoed (if vetoed, override possible with 2/3s vote)
See page 345