1. The Legislative Branch

2. Organization of Congress
Congress is bicameral – two houses!!

3. House of Representatives
Size
Based on population, States must have at least 1, fixed at 435 members
Elections
Elected by districts within States
Term
2 year terms, whole House is elected every 2 years
Qualifications
25 years old, citizen for 7 years, inhabit the state they are elected in

4. Senate Size: 2 Senators per State = 100 Senators total Elections:
Elected at-large, by the entire state they are from
Term:
6 year terms, with staggered elections every 2 years
Qualifications:
30 years old, citizen for 9 years, inhabit the state they are elected in

5. Presiding Officers House Senate
Speaker of the House = most influential member – John Boehner (R) Ohio
Preside over sessions
Keep order
Allowed to debate and vote on any matter
If he/she chooses to vote, a Speaker pro tempore must be appointed
Rarely votes, but is required to in a tie
Senate
Per the Constitution, Vice President = President of Senate -Joe Biden (D)
Recognizes members
Puts ?’s to vote
CANNOT VOTE except to break a tie
In the V.P’s absence, a president pro tempore, elected by Senate and a member of majority party, presides

6. Other Important Members
Floor Leaders
Both House and Senate = majority and minority floor leader chosen by party colleagues
Their assistants = whips
The Party Caucus
Closed meetings of each party in each house
Party organization
Selection of floor leaders
Committee membership

7. How our Representatives Represent
How should an elected official represent his/her constituents?
Trustee--representatives use their own best judgment
Delegate--representatives vote the way their constituents want them to
Partisan – representatives vote with their party leadership
Politico--representatives try to balance roles of trustee delegate, and partisans depending on the issue

8. Representation… In general...
The House of Representatives is seen as closer to the people due to smaller number of constituents and frequent elections
The Senate is seen as more prestigious and more focused on the problems of the nation as a whole

9. Apportionment and Redistricting
The Constitution requires census which determines the representation in the House of Representatives.
Reapportionment = re assignment of seats in the house based on population shifts reflected in the census.
Redistricting (the redrawing of congressional districts to reflect changes in seats allocated to the states from population shifts).
Gerrymandering – an illegal form of redistricting that tends to be politically motivated.

10. Gerrymandering

12. Expressed Powers of Congress

13. What are the powers of Congress?

14. Congressional Power Expressed Powers
Found in Article I of the Constitution
Power to Tax How does this look in society??
Borrowing Power
Commerce Power
Currency Power
War Powers
Postal Power
Copyrights
Weights and Measures

15. Implied Powers Necessary and Proper Clause
“The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof”

16. Power to Tax Article 1, Section 8, Clause I of the
Constitution = power to tax to meet public needs, protect domestic industry, protect public health and safety
4 limitations
Only for public good, not private gain
May not tax exports
Direct taxes must be divided among the States according to population
Indirect taxes must be levied at the same rate in all parts of the country

17. Tax Definitions! Thanks dictionary.com !
Direct Tax = A tax paid by the individual or organization on which it is levied.
For example, the personal income tax is levied on individuals, who end up bearing the entire burden of the tax.
A direct tax cannot be shifted from the entity on which it is levied
Indirect Tax = A tax, such as a sales tax or value-added tax, that is levied on goods or services rather than individuals and is ultimately paid by consumers in the form of higher prices.
A tax that increases the price of a good so that consumers are actually paying the tax by paying more for the products.
Fuel, liquor, and cigarette taxes are just a few examples of this.
Thanks dictionary.com !

18. Powers Cont. Currency Power
Congress has the power to issue money and regulate its value
paper money was a legal tender
Bankruptcy
Power to establish uniform bankruptcy laws

19. Powers Cont. The Power to Borrow
Congress may borrow to finance its business
The Federal Government spends more than it collects
The Commerce Power
Congress may regulate interstate and foreign trade

20. More Powers Judicial Powers
Weights and Measures
Congress has the power to fix the standards of weights and measures in the country
Power over Territories and Other Areas
Congress has the power to acquire, manage, and dispose of federal areas
Judicial Powers
Congress has the authority to create federal courts below the supreme court

21. Guess the most important power of the legislative branch!
Legislation….duh :)
Creating and approving laws!

22. Lawmaking Overview: You Do NOT have to write this down!
Only a member of the House or Senate may introduce a bill but anyone can write a bill.
Over 9,000 bills are proposed and fewer than 5 to 10% are enacted.
Most bills originate in the executive branch.
A bill must survive three stages to become a law: committees, the floor, and the conference committee. A bill can die at any stage.

23. Bills - Proposed laws presented to Congress

24. I’m Just Bill…
Schoolhouse Rock!

25. Copy this next chart down in your notebook…
Just Kidding :)

27. Special Senate Rules for Debate
Floor debate is almost unlimited
The Filibuster
Tactic used by a minority to “talk a bill to death” on the Senate floor
The Cloture Rule
The Senate’s check on the filibuster and limits debate
Requires petition signed by at least 16 senators and approval by at least 3/5ths of the full Senate

28. Makeup and Characteristics of Congress
Congress is older, better educated, whiter, and richer than most of us.
Minorities and Women in the 109th Congress
42 African Americans in the House/1 in the Senate (all Democrats)
24 Hispanics in the House/2 in the Senate (20 Democrats/6 Republicans)
4 Asian-Americans in the House/2 in the Senate (5 Democrats/1 Republican)
1 American Indian in the Senate (Republican)
68 women in the House/15 in the Senate (54 Democrats/28 Republicans)