1. TEST #3
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

2. CONGRESS Bicameral – 2 houses (Senate & House of Representatives)
Session – when they conduct business
At least one a year lasting 4 or 5 months
Adjourn – when the session has ended
Special Session
Can be called by the President or either house

3. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
435 members
Determined by state population
Minimum of 1representative
2 year terms, but no limit on # of terms
Reapportionment – redistributed every 10 yrs.
U.S. Population: 313,900,000
Vermont Population: 626,000
Vermont only has .19% of the total U.S. population, BUT they still get 1 representative in the House!

4. Wesberry v. Sanders – “one person, one vote”
Gerrymandering – division of voting districts to favor one political party over another
Wesberry v. Sanders – “one person, one vote”
First printed in March 1812, this political cartoon was drawn in reaction to the state senate electoral districts drawn by the Massachusetts legislature to favor the Democratic-Republican Party candidates of Governor Elbridge Gerry over the Federalists. The caricature satirizes the bizarre shape of a district in Essex County, Massachusetts as a dragon-like "monster." Federalist newspapers editors and others at the time likened the district shape to a salamander, and the word gerrymander was a blend of that word and Governor Gerry's last name.

5. Gerrymandering at Work

6. Qualifications for House
25 yrs. old
US citizenship for 7 years
Must live in the state they represent

7. SENATE 100 Members 2 per state Represent the entire state
6 year term – gives some security
Terms staggered so that 1/3 are elected every 2 years
17th Amendment – voted on directly by the people – before they were chosen by state legislature
Filibuster

8. Qualifications 30 yrs. Old Citizen for 9 years
Live in the state they serve

9. Franking privilege
To be able to mail letters postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage. If you’re an incumbent, you can send campaign ads for free! You have an advantage over your competitor.

10. Reform efforts during the past 20 years have reduced overall franking expenditures by almost 70%, to $34.3 million in FY2006 from $113.4 million in FY1988.

11. 4 Factors Our Legislators Consider:
Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?
What is my personal opinion?
What are the views of my political party?
What do my voters think?

12. Congressional Powers Limited by the Constitution
Constitution says Congress can…
Collect taxes to raise money to pay debts, to defend the country, & to provide for the general welfare of the U.S.
Control commerce (business) that happens across state lines, with foreign countries, and with Indian tribes.

13. Taxes
Direct tax – paid by the person it’s imposed on
Indirect tax – paid by one person but passed along to another (cigarette tax)
Borrowing
Deficit financing – spend more than you take in/borrow the difference
Public Debt – money not paid over time plus interest
Commerce
Regulation of interstate & foreign trade
Ogden v. Gibbons

14. Establish Post Offices
Currency power
Coin money
War powers
Declare war
Raise an army
1973 War Powers Act – President must notify Congress within 48 hrs. of sending troops to an area; if Congress doesn’t declare war or extension, must pull troops out within 90 days
Copyright & Patents
Eminent Domain
Immigration Law
Establish Post Offices

15. Implied Powers
Education
National Bank
Make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for executing any of these powers
(This means Congress CAN do something that is NOT on the list of powers if it’s related to something that IS on the list.)

16. Non Legislative Powers
Amendments
25th – Congress approves V.P. selection if V.P. must vacate office to take over as Pres.
Elections – if there is a tie or no one has 51% of the electoral votes, House of Representatives decides the election
Jefferson & Burr tie – Jefferson agrees to keep the National Bank if Federalists in the House will vote for him
1824 – Andrew Jackson won more of the popular vote, but John Quincy Adams makes “Corrupt Bargain” with Speaker of the House Henry Clay (Clay gets to be Sec. of State if he gets the House members to vote for J.Q. Adams as Pres.)
Impeachment
1868 – Andrew Johnson
1998 – Bill Clinton
1974 – Nixon resigned when he knew he would likely be impeached
Executive Powers
Senate approves appointments & treaties

17. Congress in Action Speaker of the House Duties – Preside & keep order
Allows representatives to speak
Next in succession after President & V.P.
President of the Senate – Vice President
Presides
Votes to break a tie
President Pro-tempore
Majority leader, presides if VP is absent
Next in succession after the Speaker
Party Officers – “caucus” – meeting to decide leaders & stands
Floor leaders from each party
Whips – assistants to the floor leaders

18. How a Bill Becomes Law: Introduced in one house Sent to committee
Released by committee to floor where it’s debated and voted on
If it passes that house with majority (218/435 in House, 51/100 in Senate), sent to the other house where they go through same process
If it passes both house with majority, sent to conference committee (made up of members of both houses) where they resolve differences between 2 bills
Revised bill reintroduced for vote in both houses
If it passes both, sent to President for signature