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: a House of Representatives and a Senate
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

4. ???
Why do we have two houses of Congress?

6. Congressional District 29 Tony Cardenas (D)

7. 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

8. Senators for California: Dianne Feinstein & Barbara Boxer

9. 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 Foreign Relations
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

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

11. House of Representatives
Number of representatives: 435
Head of House of Representatives:
Speaker of the House
Comes from the majority party
Decides the committees each member will serve on
Decides the order in which bills are debated

12. House of Representatives
Special Powers:
All bills about Appropriations – the spending of money, start here
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

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

15. 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”)
Decides who are the members of different committees
Decides the order in which bills are debated

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. The Powers of Congress

22. 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

23. “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

24. Powers denied Congress
Cannot suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus- must show cause in a court for holding a suspect except in wartime
No Ex Post Facto Law- cannot punish a person for an act committed before there was a law against it