1. The Legislative Branch
Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School

2. The United States Capitol Building houses our Congress
House of Representatives
Senate

3. Introduction
The legislative branch is the law making body of our government
It is bicameral - two houses: it has a House of Representatives (based on population) and a Senate (two per each state)
The two houses together are referred to as Congress
Members of the House of Representatives are called Representative or Congressman/woman
Members of the Senate are called Senator
The job of a Representative or Senator is:
To represent their constituents – the people they serve
Debate, research and write bills (bill: an idea for a law)
The structure and powers are explained in Article I of the Constitution

5. Congressional District 29 Tony Cardenas (D)

6. Committees served on (committee: a group formed from a larger whole
Committees served on (committee: a group formed from a larger whole. Meet for a specific purpose)
Representative Cardenas serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Bills that have to do with business are debated in this committee
Bills that cover energy policy also pass through this committee

7. Senators for California: Dianne Feinstein & Kamala Harris

8. Committees served on Senator Feinstein serves on:
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (covers the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc)
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Senator Boxer serves on:
Senate Committee on the Budget
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs
Select Committee on Intelligence

9. House of Representatives
Term: 2 years
Qualifications
25 years old
7 years as a U.S. citizen
Resident of represented state
Resident of represented district

10. House of Representatives
Number of representatives: 435
Head of House of Representatives:
Speaker of the House
Comes from the majority party – Paul Ryan (R)
Decides the committees each member will serve on
Decides the order in which bills are debated

11. House of Representatives
Special Powers:
All bills about Appropriations – the spending of money, traditionally start here
Money that goes to federal agencies (like: FBI, CIA, etc)
Money used for federal programs (like SNAP, the Farm Bill)
Select the President if there is a tie in the Electoral College (a body that chooses the President and Vice President)
Write the Articles of Impeachment against high ranking officials: a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing

13. Senate Term of office: 6 years Qualifications: 30 years old
9 years a citizen of the U.S.
Resident of the represented state

14. Senate Number of Senators: 100 U.S. Vice President: Head of the Senate
Day to day head of Senate:
President Pro Tempore (means: “President for a Time”) – Orrin Hatch (R)
Decides who are the members of different committees
Decides the order in which bills are debated

15. Senate Special Powers: Approves all treaties Approves all appointments
Chooses the Vice President if there is a tie in the Electoral College
Acts as the jury in all impeachment trials

16. Congress
Both houses:
Must keep a Congressional Record: a journal of all their business
Must hold sessions at the same time:
Sessions begin January 3rd each year
Must have a quorum to do business:
51% of members present on the floor

17. Congress Both houses make their own rules for behavior and punishments
Censure: formally reprimand, written in the record
Fines and penalties may be set for some offenses
Expulsion: members with gross misconduct may be thrown out of office

18. Privileges and Compensation of Congress members:
Salary $174,000 per year (higher for leaders) Medical and dental benefits Free office, parking, and trips to home state Staff budget Tax break on second home Mail and printing expenses Dining expenses Access to special restaurants and gyms

19. Privileges and Compensation of Congress members:
Immunity or legal protection:
Cannot be sued for anything they say or write while carrying out their duties
Cannot be arrested for minor offenses while Congress is in session

20. The Powers of Congress

21. Powers of Congress Raise and collect taxes Declare war Borrow money
Regulate commerce
Set laws for Naturalization and Bankruptcy
Coin Money
Punish counterfeiting
Set up the Post Office
Copyrights and patents
Set up courts
Declare war
Establish the military and National Guard
Make rules and allot funds for the military and National guard
Punish pirates
Run Washington D.C. and all federal property
Elastic clause- implied power

22. “Necessary and Proper Clause”
The “Necessary and Proper Clause” gives Congress the power to make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out their delegated duties
Also known as the “Elastic Clause” it stretches the power given Congress

23. Powers denied Congress
Cannot suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus- must show cause in a court for holding a suspect except in wartime (Habeas Corpus = to present the body. Courts determine whether a person was arrested for good reason. If so, there is a trial)
No Ex Post Facto Law- cannot punish a person for an act committed before there was a law against it