1. Chapter- 11 The Congress
By Go Vung

2. Congress Dominant institution of the federal government
A branch of government for check and balance
Bicameral legislature
Senators
2 senators from each state
Representatives
Vary based on the population
Dominant institution of the federal government

3. House of Representative
435 Representatives
Selected to represent the will of the people by popular election
Requirements
Age 25 or older
Must represent the state where they are representing
Must be citizen of U.S. for at least 7 years

4. House of Representative
The Speaker of the House,
Second in line for the presidency
Powers are formidable
The Majority Leader
The Minority Leader
Party whips; voting on key issue

5. Committee organization
Committees
consider bills,
Discuss specific areas of policy
maintain oversight of executive agencies, and
conduct investigations.
“nearly all real business is done in the committee” Borgan

6. Committee Organization
House Rules Committee;
Review bills
House Ways and Means Committee;
Draft tax legislation
House Appropriate Committee;

7. Senator 100 Senators- 2 from each state
Elected by the state legislatures
17th amendment; elected by popular election
Requirements
Age 30 or older
Must represent the state where they were representing
Must be citizen for at least 9 years

8. Committee organization
Standing committee; discuss proposed laws, add amendments, oversee committee issues
Joint committee; handle policy in economy and tax
Conference committee; gain consensus on both houses
Select committee; appointed for specific purposes

9. Senator
The President Pro Tempore, Vice President; leader of the Senate
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Party whips

10. Senator Fundamental differences Authority by the Constitution
Superior to the House of Representatives
Authority by the Constitution
Confirmation authority; can confirm presidential appointment
Supreme court justices
Top advisors from Executive office

11. Senators and their constituents
1st group of constituent
Wealthy white men, in law or business
Not descriptive; may not share common interest with their constituent

12. Senators in passing bill
16 Standing committee
Impacting their home state
Open and unrestricted debate
Cause the filibuster; block legislation, defeating presidential appointment
Motion for cloture; vote to limit on a bill, require 3/5 majority vote to pass

13. Check and Balance President power over the Congress
Approve and sign the bill
Veto the bill which can be override by the Congress by 2/3 majority vote
Allow the bill to become law without signature; can lead to long gridlocking debate
Pocket veto; refuse to sign the bill which can’t re-rounded it to the house

14. Check and Balance The Supreme Court has the last power
Can declare unconstitutional
Direct input into how legislation is crafted
“if two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each” Chief Justice John Marshall

15. Power, and Ethics in Congress
Incumbency; hold a great electoral advantage
media coverage is higher, and greater name recognition (franking)
Lobbyist; have a great impact on legislation (showing their point of view),
Pork barrel legislation; a law which will benefit the small portion rather than the large percent of the nation