1. The Legislative Branch
Chapter 6

2. Congress General Information Bi-cameral, meaning two house.
House of Representatives – lower house
Senate – upper house
Created by Article I of the Constitution
A result of the Great Compromise.

3. House of Representatives
435 Members
Qualifications:
At least 25 years old.
A citizen for at least 7 years.
A resident of the state.
Common characteristics of members:
Most have been and are white men.
Lawyers.
Experience in government (State or local level).
Representatives serve 2 year terms.
All 435 members must be reelected every 2 years.

4. House of Representatives
Every state is guaranteed at least 1 delegate to the House.
Number of representatives is determined by population.
Representatives are elected from districts (in states with more than 1 representative) – see next slide.

5. CO Congressional Districts

6. House of Representatives
Congressional districts are drawn by state legislatures.
Districts are NOT to be drawn in a way that is advantageous for a certain group (political party, etc)
Gerrymandering – drawing an odd-shaped district for political advantage (see next slide).

7. CO’s 5th District

8. The Senate Qualifications: Common characteristics:
At least 30 years old.
Citizen for at least 9 years.
Resident of the state.
Common characteristics:
White, male.
Lawyers.
Experience in government (state, House of Reps., etc).

9. The Senate Terms of Office Senators serve terms that last 6 years.
Approximately 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years.
There are 2 Senators elected from each state for a total of 100 (today).

10. Congressional Sessions
Each Congress meets for two years.
Congresses are divided into two sessions.
1st Session is in odd numbered years following elections.
2nd Session is in even, election years.
Congresses are numbered – the Congress elected in 2006 is the 110th Congress and is currently in its 2nd Session.

11. Congressional Leaders
In both houses, the political party that controls more than half of the seats is known as the majority party.
The other is the minority party.
Gaining control of a house of Congress has many advantages….

12. Congressional Leaders
The majority party provides the leadership of that House.
House of Representatives
Leader is the Speaker of the House, chosen from the majority party.
Speaker is third in line to the Presidency.
Speaker and majority party has significant power over the legislative process.
Majority Leader – leader of the majority party “on the floor.”
Majority Whip – assists the speaker and majority leader in “whipping up” support for legislation.

13. Congressional Leaders
House of Representatives (cont.)
Minority Leader – leader of the minority party “on the floor.”
Minority Whip – assists the minority leader.

14. Congressional Leaders
Senate Leadership
Official President of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.
Only votes in case of a tie.
Rarely is present in the Senate.
Day-to-day leader of the Senate is the President Pro Tempore, normally the most senior member of the majority party.
Does not have as much power as the Speaker.
Majority and Minority Leaders and Whips.

15. The Work of Committees
Congressional work is accomplished primarily through committees.
Bills introduced into a house of Congress are assigned to committee for research, debate and vote.
Both houses of Congress have several different types of committee.

16. The Work of Committees Standing Committees Select Committees (Special)
Permanent committees of a house of Congress.
Deal with regular, recurring issues.
Select Committees (Special)
Temporary committees formed to deal with temporary, specific issues (Y2K).
Joint Committees
Made up of members of both houses.

17. The Work of Committees Standing committees of the House:
Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Energy, Rules, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education, etc. (see page 181)
Standing committees of the Senate:
Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Judiciary, Veterans Affairs, etc. (see page 181)

18. The Work of Committees Special Committee Joint Committees
Ethics, Aging, Y2K (ended).
Joint Committees
Conference Committees, Taxation, Library

19. The Work of Committees Committee Assignments
Certain committee assignments carry greater prestige, media coverage or importance to that Congressperson.
Congresspersons often wish to be assigned to certain committees that will allow them to influence legislation or draw attention to themselves.
Rep. from Iowa or Idaho might desire Agriculture Committee.
Judiciary and Intelligence committees are prominent.

20. The Work of Committees Getting assigned to committees.
Party leaders make party assignments.
Members’ preference, expertise, party loyalty factor in.
Seniority System – members with greatest seniority are given preference.

21. The Work of Committees Party representation on Committees
The majority party in a house of Congress will be in a majority on every committee.
Ex.: If Democrats are a 60%-40% majority in a house of Congress, then they will be a 60%-40% majority on every committee.
Majority party also names the chair of every committee.

22. The Powers of Congress

23. Powers of Congress
The Powers of Congress can be divided into several categories:
Legislative Powers
Non-legislative Powers
Special Powers

24. Legislative Powers Involve passing bills into laws.
Laws include federal criminal laws, taxation laws, appropriations laws, commerce laws, military and foreign policy laws, etc.
Certain powers are clearly expressed in the Constitution, and are known as expressed powers (sometimes called enumerated).
Article I, Section 8
See page 186
Some powers are not stated.
Implied Powers – Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 is known as the elastic clause because it allows Congress to “stretch” its powers.
Necessary and Proper Clause

25. Non-Legislative Powers
Powers not dealing with passing bills into laws.
Powers to check the other branches of government.
Approving Presidential Appointments
Impeaching government officials.
Investigative powers

26. Special Powers
Powers given to one house of Congress, but not the other.
Special Powers of the House of Reps.
Initiate all taxing and spending bills.
Begin impeachment proceedings by bringing formal charges (to “impeach”).
Choose a President if no one wins a majority of Electoral College votes.
Special Powers of the Senate
Remove officials in impeachment proceedings.
Choose a Vice President if no one wins.
Approve Presidential appointments.
Ratify treaties signed by the President.

27. Limits to the Powers of Congress
Congressional Powers are limited in several ways:
By the Constitution-
No ex post facto laws
No bills of attainder
Cannot suspend writ of habeus corpus
Bill of Rights
Checks and Balances (Courts can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional).
Reserved powers of the states
Financial Limitations

28. Representing the People
Ch. 6, Section 3

29. Representing the People
Salaries and Benefits of Congresspersons.
Salary = $169,300
Free office space, trips to home state/district.
Budget for staff.
Government insurance.
Franking Privilege – ability to send job-related mail for free.
Immunity from prosecution in certain instances.

30. Representing the People
Congresspersons’ Staff
Help to research and write bills.
Deal with lobbyists, people hired by special interest groups to influence legislation.
Help constituents, the people represented by a Congressperson.
Work for reelection.

31. Representing the People
Certain institutions also exist to support congresspersons.
Library of Congress – source of information.
Committee Staffs – every committee has its own hired staff.
GAO (General Accounting Office) – accounts for government spending.
Congressional Budget Office – researches budget related information.

32. Representing the People
Casework – help given to constituents in dealing with the federal government.
Congresspersons may receive thousands of requests for help each year.
Could relate to Social Security or tax issues, veterans benefits, dealing with other federal agencies.

33. Representing the People
Spending Programs
Congresspersons also try to get federal monies spent in their districts.
Public Works – Transportation, military bases, dams, hospitals, etc.
Grants – money given to an area or institution.

34. Representing the People
Spending Programs (cont.)
Pork-barrel programs – government projects and grants given primarily to benefit a state or district.
An attempt to influence reelection?

35. The Legislative Process
Ch. 6, Section 4
(see chart on page 201)

36. How a Bill Becomes a Law Every law starts as an idea.
Ideas for laws can come from government officials, special interest groups or private citizens.
Bills must be introduced into a house of Congress by a member of that house.
Bills are titled and numbered:
S.1
H.R. 1

37. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills are assigned to the appropriate committee.
Committees can do several things:
Assign the bill to subcommittee for research and public hearings.
Change or even replace the bill.
“Pigeonhole” the bill – set it aside and not do anything – killed)
Vote on the bill (approve or kill)
If the bill passes the committee vote, it is returned to the full house for debate and vote.

38. How a Bill Becomes a Law Debating a Bill
Rules for debating and voting on bills differ in each house:
In the House, rules are more strict (larger house).
Rules committee sets the terms for debate on each bill (majority party).
Members are limited as to how long they can speak.
In the Senate, there are fewer rules (smaller house).
Senators can speak for as long as they want, allowing for a filibuster.
Cloture – vote to end a filibuster; requires 3/5 vote.

39. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bill is sent to the other house of Congress where the process is repeated.
Often times, the same bill is submitted at the same time in both houses.
Often, one house changes a bill in a way that the other house does not.
A bill must be passed by both houses in identical form, so….

40. How a Bill Becomes a Law Work of conference committees.
Conference committees are joint committees that produce one version of a bill.
Bill is then returned to both houses for a final vote.
If passed, the bill is sent to the President.

41. How a Bill Becomes a Law Presidential Actions
President can do several things with a bill:
Sign it into law.
Veto the bill
Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress.
Can do nothing for 10 days.
If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law without the President’s signature.
If Congress adjourns within 10 days, the bill dies (pocket veto).

42. How a Bill Becomes a Law