1. Legislative Branch
Law Making Branch

2. House of Representatives
Qualifications
House of Representatives
25 Years old
US citizen for 7 years
Live in represented state (district).
Senate
30 Years old
US citizen for 9 years
Live in represented state.
Thom Tillis
Richard Burr
Ted Budd

3. House of Representatives
Terms and Membership
House of Representatives
Two year terms
435 Members
North Carolina has 13
California has 53
Each state has at least 1
Senate
Six year terms
100 members
Each state has two.

4. House of Representatives
Special Powers
House of Representatives
Introduces appropriations bills
Elects the President if no majority.
Impeaches officials
Senate
Ratify treaties (2/3 vote)
Elects VP if no majority.
Impeachment trials.
Confirms Presidential appointments.

5. Benefits of Congress Salary: Approximately $174,000 a year.
Trips to home state are paid for.
Given discounts on many services.
Franking Privilege: Send job related mail without postage.
Given immunity for minor crimes.

6. Punishments Expulsion: Forced to leave. 2/3 vote by either house.
Censure: Wrongdoings are made public. (Very embarrassing).

7. Congressional Districts
If a state has more than one representative, district lines are drawn.
Gerrymandering: Drawing of odd shaped districts for political reasons.
All districts must have the same number of constituents (voters).

8. Sessions
Regular: Two regular sessions, one for each year beginning on Jan. 3.
Special: Called by the President. Used normally in times of crisis.
Joint: House and Senate meet together. (State of the Union).

9. Congressional Leaders
The party with the most members is the majority party. The party with the least members is the minority party.
Floor leaders: Make sure that upcoming bills are in the best interest of the party. (Majority and minority).
Party whip: Keeps track of voting intentions. Works with floor leader to ensure members vote on party lines. (Majority and minority).
Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives.
According to the constitution, the vice-president is the leader of the Senate.
President pro tempore: Day to day leader of the Senate.

10. House of Representative Leaders
Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Majority Whip
Minority Whip
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Steve Scalise (R-LA)
James Clyburn
(D-SC)

11. Senate Leaders President Pro Tempore
Vice-President of the United States
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Mike Pence
Minority Leader
Majority Leader
Minority Whip
Majority Whip
Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Richard Durbin
(D-Il)
John Thune (R-SD)

12. Congressional Committees
Discuss, research, and revise bills. “Congress at work”.
Standing: Permanent committees specializing in a certain area. Divided into subcommittees.
Select: Temporary committees formed to complete a task.
Joint: Members of both houses meet together.
Conference: Both houses meet together to discuss different versions of a bill.

13. Committee Membership
Majority party has the majority on all committees. Party leadership determines membership.
Seniority system: Desirable positions are given to those members who have served the longest.

14. Expressed or Implied Power
Expressed powers are those listed in Article I of the Constitution.
Implied powers come from the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) allowing Congress to stretch its power.

15. Non-Legislative Power
Powers that make the government run more effectively.
Congress has the power to propose amendments, investigate legislation, investigate crimes committed by others, and impeachment.

16. Limits on Power
Congress can not favor a state, tax trade between states, or tax exports.
Can not pass laws that interfere with the legal rights of individuals.
Can not interfere with powers reserved to the states.
Checks and balances interfere with Congressional power.
Economics will not allow congress to pass every law.

17. How a Bill Becomes a Law

18. Introduction
In the House of Reps., a bill is dropped into the “hopper” box and assigned to a committee.
In the Senate, a senator submits a bill to the clerk for a reading and committee assignment.

19. Committee Action They can reject the bill immediately.
They can pigeonhole a bill. (Set it aside).
They can research and approve the bill.
They can change any and all aspects of a bill.

20. Floor Debates Representatives in the house have a time limitation.
Senators can filibuster a bill. (Talk it to death).
Cloture: Limit the time senators may talk. Requires a 3/5 vote.

21. Voting Roll call: Opinion given after name is called.
Voice vote: Used on procedural issues.
Standing vote: Person stands until counted.

22. Presidential Action Sign a bill into law. Veto a bill (reject).
Pocket veto: Take no action for ten days. If congress is in session after ten days, the bill becomes a law. If Congress is not in session after ten days, the bill is rejected.