1. House of Representatives
Legislative Branch
AKA:
Congress
The Peoples’ House
Legislature
House of Representatives
Senate
House Trivia

2. Bicameral Bi
(prefix)
Cameral
(root word)

3. Camera (Latin) = room or chamber

5. Background & Basics Where Laws and Policies are made
Two Houses (Bicameral) – Why?
Conflict over representation during ratification of the Constitution.
House of Representatives (435 members)
the Senate (100 members)
Serve the people (constituents)

6. Qualifications House (Salary) Senate = (Salary) 25 citizen for 7 years
inhabitant of the state (district).
Senate = (Salary) 30
Citizen for 9 years
Inhabitant of the state elected

7. Responsibilities Make laws Serve local districts and states
Serve interests of nation
Support political party
Serve the People

8. Powers Article 1, Section 8 (Delegated/Enumerated Powers)
“Power of the purse” – Budget
Collect Taxes and Borrow $
Declare War
Create courts
Regulate Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Implied Powers (“Necessary and Proper”)
Non-legislative Powers - Checks and Balances

9. Non-Legislative Powers
Confirm appointments and treaties
Propose amendments
Admit new states
Impeach (house)
Hold impeachment trial (senate)

12. Limits to Congress Checks and Balances Presidential Veto
Judicial Review
Cannot deny habeas corpus
No bill of attainder
No ex post facto

13. The Federal Budget Mandatory Spending: Discretionary Spending
Social Security
Medicare and Medicaid
Interest on National Debt
Discretionary Spending
National Defense
Dept. of Homeland Security
Dept. of Agriculture
Deficits = when government spending exceeds revenues.
Public Debt = accumulation of years of deficits

14. House of Representatives
Article I, Section 2
Currently the 113th Congress, First Congress in 1789.
Two Year Terms, unlimited number of terms
Elected on the basis of population
435 seats total in the House
Each state is divided into as many congressional districts as it has representatives in the House.
PA is now has 18 districts, we are district 4.
District 4 is now Represented by Scott Perry.

16. Senate Article I, Section 3 Each state has 2 senators How many total?
Senators focus on the state as a whole, not each district.
6 year terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years.
Expected to prevent hasty unwise laws.

17. Leadership in Congress
House Leader = Speaker of the House
Senate Leader = Vice President
president pro tempore (in VPs absence)
Majority Party, Minority Party
Majority Party selects Speaker
Minority Leaders
Floor leaders, whips.
House Leadership
Senate Leadership

20. Lawmaking Bill = Proposed Law
Anyone can propose a bill, but most by sponsored by member of Congress.
About 10,000 bills are introduced each term of Congress. About 2% actually become law.
Standing Committees recommend or “kill” the bill before it “hits the floor”
Committees for diff. areas (edu, banking)
Committee Chairpersons are from the Maj. Party
Filibuster (Staling) and Cloture (3/5s = 60 votes)

21. Bills… Bills must be same from both Houses.
Conference Committee
To President who can sign, hold or veto.
Override Veto with 2/3s vote
Examples of Bills
Senate Committees

24.
usatoday least productive Congress