1. Legislative Branch: U.S. CONGRESS Duty of the Legislative Branch is to make laws. We call our national legislature CONGRESS Congress is located in Washington D.C. Our current Congress is the 111 th Congress (We started numbering them from the first Congress in 1790!) Congress is BI-CAMERAL: meaning 2 houses The two houses are: The House of Representatives and The Senate

2. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: House of Representatives ► Referred to as the “Lower House” ► 435 Members ► 2 year terms ► Elections: First Tuesday following the first Monday in November every even numbered year ► Qualifications: At least 25 years old, U.S. Citizen for 7 years, Resident of state

3. Legislative Branch: Senate Referred to as the “upper house” 100 Senators 6 year terms—1/3 of the Senate elected every two years Elections: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November every even numbered year Qualifications: 30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, resident of state

4. Duties of the Legislative Branch TO MAKE LAWS Specific Duties: House: Impeachment duty: bring the charges Electoral College: If candidate does not get 271 electoral college votes needed, it goes to a vote in the House Senate: Impeachment duty: try the charges Appointment power: approve appointments of the President (Supreme Court, Cabinet)

6. Profile of the 111 th Congress Party: House: 233 Democrat, 202 Republican Senate: 57 Democrats, 2 Independents, 41 Republicans Senate: 57 Democrats, 2 Independents, 41 Republicans Race: House: 369 Caucasian, 66 minority (42 AA, 24 Hispanic) Senate: 97 Caucasian, 3 minority (1 AA) Senate: 97 Caucasian, 3 minority (1 AA) Gender: House: 77 women, 362 men Senate: 17 women, 84 men Senate: 17 women, 84 men http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/c ommon/briefing/minority_senators.htm http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/c ommon/briefing/minority_senators.htm

7. House of Representatives Number per state: depends on population 100% elected every two years Direct Vote of the people: single member districts Presiding officer: Speaker of the House—Nancy Pelosi Size of Constituency: (Constituents are the people represented): district of the state Salary: $165,200 Established in Article I of the U.S. Constitution

8. Chicago/Suburbs: Chicago/Suburbs:

9. Melissa Bean—D Mark Kirk—R 8 th Congressional District 10 th Congressional District http://www.house.gov www.firstgov.gov http://www.house.gov www.firstgov.gov http://www.house.gov www.firstgov.gov

10. The Senate 2 per state 33% elected every two years Direct vote by the people Presiding Officer: Vice-President of the United States—Joe Biden Size of Constituency: entire state Salary: $165, 200 Established in Article I of U.S. Constitution

11. IL Senators: Dick Durbin—D Roland Burris—D

12. Roles a congressperson plays: Trustees: Believe that each question and decision they face must be decided on its merit. They use their own conscience and judgement to make their decision. Delegate: See themselves as agents of those who elected them (their constituents) They need to vote on how “the folks back home” would want Partisans: Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party Politicos: Combine all three: vote on what they think is right, what their constituents want, and considering where their party stands

13. Review basics: U.S. National Legislature is called? It is a _________________ legislature We are currently in the _______Congress Congress convenes: TOTAL members of Congress: IL has how many representative? Senators? Who are YOUR reps and senators?

14. Review of Terms: Constituents: Gerrymandering: See Cartoon Strict Constructionists: Interpret the U.S. Constitution very literally—Congress should only be able to use expressed powers (things specifically listed in Constitution) Tend to be more Republicans Liberal Constructionists: a broad construction of the powers given to Congress—utilize implied powers. Tend to be Democrats

16. Powers of Congress EXPRESSED: power to tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, declare war IMPLIED: Necessary and Proper Clause: minimum wage laws, interstate highways, Social Security, discrimination laws NONLEGISLATIVE duties: proposing amendments, electoral duties (House— electoral college) impeachment, appointments, investigatory power (baseball-steroids) Things Congress CANNOT do: violate Bill of Rights, ex post facto law, suspend habeas corpus,

17. How does Congress Work? It is organized! See leadership handout. Bulk work of Congress is done in: COMMITTEES! Standing committees and joint committees. Ex’s: Agriculture, Budget, Education, Health, Homeland Security, Science, Veterans Affairs Joint: Taxation, Economic Chairman and membership of committees is based on the seniority rule custom.

19. Main Role of Congress: To Make Laws