1. The Legislative Branch Chapter 7

2. Structure of Congress Lesson 1
Essential Questions:
Why do people create, structure and change governments
It Matters Because:
Congress makes the federal laws that affect all Americans
Guiding Question
Why is Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate

3. Bicameral Congress
Smaller states- wanted each state to have equal representation
Larger states- wanted representation based on population
Compromise – Create a bicameral (two parts) body
Senate- each state would have two representatives
House of Representatives- members from each state would be based on population

4. House of Representatives
Census- population count every ten years
This determines how many representatives each state is allowed
States are divided into districts
Each district gets one House member
435 members with 2 year terms
Constituents- people who live in a district
Gerrymander- an oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group

6. The Senate The Senate has 100 members 2 from each state Six year terms
Every two years one third is up for reelection
Filling seats that become vacant depends on state law
The Governor can appoint a replacement
Special elections could be held

7. House and Senate Compare and Contrast

8. Congressional Leadership
Majority Party- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party that has more than half of the members
Minority Party- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party that has less than half of the members

9. Top Leadership in the House
Speaker of the House- chosen by members of the majority party
The Speaker has great power
Guides legislation through the House, and leads the debates on the floor of the House
If anything happens to the President and Vice President the Speaker of the House is next in line to become President

10. Top Leadership in the Senate
Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
Joe Biden
Vice President-presiding officer in the Senate
The Vice President only gets to vote in the Senate in case of a tie
President Pro Tempore- President of the senate when the Vice President is not there.
Pro tempore means “for the time being”
After the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore is next in line to the presidency
Patrick Leahy

11. The Committee System Each house is set up of many different committees
These committees help in handling the thousands of bills that are considered each session and there are three types
Standing Committees
They are permanent committees (used each term)
Focus on specific area of government such as agriculture, defense, and foreign affairs
Select Committee
Temporary committees that deal with special issues
Joint Committees
Committees that include members of both houses, they consider specific issues

12. Getting on a Committee
Senators and representatives try to get placed on committees that affect the people who elected them
Members from a farming areas such as Iowa, or Kansas try to serve on agriculture committees
Your interests, experience, and party loyalty help to determine which committee you are placed in
Seniority- years of service, also determines the committee you are placed in.
Committee Chairperson
Decides when the committee meets
Decides which bill will be considered

13. Lesson 2 Powers of Congress
It Matters Because
The framers of the Constitution gave Congress many powers and also placed some limits on those powers
Guiding Question
What kinds of lawmaking powers were given to Congress by the Constitution
Understanding what powers Congress has, and how those powers are limited is vital knowledge for every American citizen.

14. Legislative Powers
Expressed Powers- powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the Constitution
Most powers are listed in Article 1, Section 8
Also referred to as enumerated powers
18 clauses that lists powers given to Congress
i.e. Print money, declare war, borrow money, collect taxes
Implied Powers- powers that Congress has that are not explicitly listed in the Constitution
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 states that- Congress has the power to do whatever is “necessary and proper”.
Clause 18 is also known as the “elastic clause”

15. Lawmaking Powers Three Major Categories Other Powers and Limits
Money powers-raise and spend money, tax, print money
Commerce- regulate, manage trade and business between states
Military / Foreign Policy- laws about defense, war, and foreign policy
Other Powers and Limits
Non Legislative Powers- duty Congress holds besides making laws
Keep check on other branches
Reject Presidents nominees
Impeach-to accuse government officials of misconduct in office

16. Limits on Congressional Power
The Bill of Rights- limits government powers
Writ of habeas corpus- a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding a person
Bills of attainder- a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
Ex post facto law- a law that allows a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
Other powers are denied to the federal government by setting them aside only for the states

17. Lesson 3 How Congress works
It Matters Because
In making laws, Congress makes decisions that affect all Americans
Guiding Question
What are the qualifications for becoming a member of congress?

18. Requirements and Benefits
Who are members of Congress
2 out of 5 are lawyers, others are farmers, doctors, homemakers, former armed forces members, entertainers and athletes
Senators- average age is 62
House Representatives- average age is 56
Salary- in 2010 was $174,000 a year
Free office space, parking, trips home
Franking privilege- free job related mail service
Free life and health insurance
Free gym, special restaurants and clinic
Legal protection in certain situations

19. Congressional Staff To help do their jobs the Congressmen hire:
A staff of clerks, secretaries, and special assistants
They have offices near the Capitol
They deal with reporters and lobbyists- people who represent interest groups
They draft, or outline bills

20. Agencies of Congress
Congress has also created agencies to support its work
The Library of Congress
Largest library in the world
It’s an important source of information for Congress and their staff
At least one copy of every book published in the United States is found there

21. Agencies of Congress The Government Accountability Office (GOA)
Examines financial matters for Congress
Reviews spending by federal agencies
Studies federal programs
Suggests how to improve spending
Helps in considering new laws
Studies problems and analyzes actions that can be taken
Also advises executive departments

22. Agencies of Congress The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Provides information needed by Congress to develop the governments budget
Advises Congress on cost and benefits of actions being considered
It does not suggest policies,
It estimates the costs of programs

23. Congress at Work
Making laws – is one of the main functions of Congress
They act as investigators, thinkers, and they study issues in order to understand them
Casework- the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
Some receive as many as 10,000 requests per year
This helps with their reelection

24. Congress at Work (cont.)
Pork-barrel projects- government project grant that primarily benefits a congressman’s home district or state
Bring federal money (the fat)to their district or state
Money used to build bridges, dams, military bases, veterans hospitals, highways
Earmarks- wording that is added to bills to provide funds for specific projects they favor

25. Lesson 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law
It Matters Because
The process Congress follows to make laws is complex
Guiding Question
What kinds of bills come before Congress?

26. Types of Bills
The process of making laws is designed to be long and complicated
This makes sure that bills are considered carefully
Two types
Private bills- concern individual people or places
Deals with claims against the government
Public bills- apply to the entire nation
Deals with matters such as taxation, farm policy, or highway building.

27. Resolutions In addition to bills
Resolutions- statement expressing lawmakers opinions or decisions
They usually wont become laws
Joint resolutions- a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress
They become law if the President signs them

28. From Bill to Law A bill starts with an idea from:
Private citizens
The President
Special-interest groups- an organization made up of people with common interests who try to influence gov. decisions
Sponsor- the member who introduces a bill
Every bill is given a number
Senate- S.1
House- H.R.- 2

29. Committee Action Pass the bill, which sends it to the full chamber
Make changes to the bill and then pass it and sent it to the full House or Senate
Replace the original bill with a new bill on the same subject
“pigeonhole” the bill- which means to ignore the bill and let it die in committee
Kill the bill out right by having a majority vote against it.

30. Debating the Bill
Bills approved in committee are then considered by the full House or Senate (floor debate)
The House accepts only amendments relevant to the bill
Senate-allows riders- a completely unrelated amendment added to a bill
House- has many members, so there is a time limit on discussions
Senate- has fewer member, no time limit
Filibuster- a tactic used for defeating a bill (talking the bill to death)
Cloture- a procedure in the Senate to limit debate on a the bill

31. Voting and Vetoes House Senate
After the bill is debated it is brought to a vote (3 ways)
Voice vote (Aye=Yes, Nay=No)
Standing vote- members stand to be counted for a vote
Recorded vote- votes are recorded electronically
Senate
Also has 3 methods of voting
Roll-call vote- Aye or Nay vote when the senators name is called
Voice vote
Standing vote
A simple majority is necessary, must pass both houses, if either house rejects it, the bill is dead.

32. Different Versions of Bills Conference Committee
Sometimes each house passes a different version of a bill
If there are differences the bill goes to a conference committee
In conference they make compromises and come out with one version of the bill
The bill then goes to the President to sign (approve) or veto (reject)
Pocket Veto- is the president’s power to kill a bill, if Congress in not in session, by not signing the bill for 10 daysw