1. CONGRESS, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Learning Objectives
Name and describe the two houses of Congress.
Explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Explain the duties and responsibilities of committees of Congress.
List and describe the powers of Congress.

2. WORDS TO KNOW
Sessions – the meetings of Congress that begin in January each year.
Committee – a group of representatives and senators in Congress; it meets to study bills, learn about problems in the country, and find ways to solve them
Majority – more than half
Bill – an idea for new laws that is written and voted on
Standing committee – House and Senate study group that studies the same problems from year to year
Constituents – the people who elect a person to public office

3. The People’s Branch of Government
Only one branch of the federal government can decide if there should be a law
It is the Congress. Often called the Peoples Branch of government.
All members of the Congress are elected by the people of their home state.
Their main job is to make our country’s laws.

4. Meetings of Congress
Each year in January Congress begins a new session.
The meetings take place in the Capitol Building
It sits on Capitol Hill in the center of Washington D.C.
It has 2 large rooms where each house of Congress meets . There are smaller rooms for committees.

5. The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the larger house of Congress.
It has 435 members.
The House of Representatives is called the lower house of Congress.
Representatives serve short terms of only 2 years.
Representatives usually follow what the voters want so they can be re- elected.

6. Speaker of the House
At the start of each two-year term of Congress, they elect a leader.
The leader is called Speaker of the House.
The speaker must be elected by a majority of House members
The majority party (the one with most members) is normally elected Speaker
The Speaker is very powerful. He/she runs the sessions of the House and keeps order. No one can speak unless recognized by the Speaker.

7. The Speaker applies all the rules of the House.
Sends bills to committees.
Appoints members to committees.
Once elected, the Speaker can hold that position through many sessions of Congress. As long as his party has majority.

8. The Senate
The Senate only has 100 members. Two from each of the 50 states.
Senators serve for 6 years.
They have more freedom to decide what is good for the whole Country.

9. President of the Senate
The Senate Leader is call “president of the Senate”
The Constitution give this position to the Vice President
The Vice President has a lot less power than the Speaker.
a. He cannot speak for or against a bill.
b. Can only vote to break a tie.
c. Does not have to vote.
When Vice President is away on business the president pro tempore (for the time being) takes over his duties.
Usually it is the leading member of the majority party.

10. Committees of Congress
The House and Senate leaders help Congress get a lot of work done.
The day-to-day work in both houses is done by committees.
Every member of Congress serves on at least one committee.
They study bills that could help solve problems of the country.
a. What can Government do to help homeless people
b. How can people be kept safe from street drugs
c. How to repay money government owes

11. The Standing Committees
The most important committee in Congress is the standing committees.
Committees gather as many facts as possible before deciding on a bill.
They listen to people speak for and against the bill.
Then committee members talk about bill among themselves.

12. The House has 19 standing committees
The Senate has 21 standing committees.
The representatives and senators on standing committees have much power.
They decide which bills will have a chance of becoming law.
If they decide “no” many times the bill
will not even reach the full
House or Senate for a vote.

13. The Powers of Congress
Article I Section 8 of the Constitution lists the powers of Congress.
a. Congress can raise and collect taxes to pauy for the work of the federal government
b. Congress can make rules for trade and business between the US and other countries.
c. They can make rules for the postal system. They also run the national highways, national parks and the federal buildings
d. Congress protects the nation against enemies. It declares war. It can raise and support armies and navies
e. Congress can establish all federal courts below the Supreme Court and set their rules.

14. Limits on Congress The Constitution also puts limits on Congress.
a. Does not grant them power to
1. create a national school system
2. set rules for marriage and divorce
3. set a minimum age for drivers’ licenses
4. set rules for units of local governments
b. Constitution forbids them to
1. order that people be held in prison without their rights
except when public safety is threatened
2. take money from federal government unless first passing a law
to do so.
3. grant titles of nobility – like king, queen, or prince – to any person

15. The Elastic Clause
Congress has other powers that are not named in the Constitution.
They can make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties