1. Legislative Branch United States Congress

2. Legislative Branch  Outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution  Consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate (BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE)  House is made up of 435 members Number of representatives per state is dependent upon the state’s population  More population = more representatives  Decided upon at the Constitutional Convention to settled the issue of representation in Congress (Great Compromise)  Senate is made up of 100 members 2 senators per state  Equal representation was also part of the Great Compromise

3. House of Representatives  Every 10 years a census, or population count, is taken to determine if changes in the number of representative needs to be adjusted  Congressional Districts The boundaries which determines the geographic area that a representative is responsible for If changes are needed, this is called redistricting  The abuse of redistricting power is called gerrymandering  Gerrymandering is the drawing of an oddly shaped district to increase the voting strength of a particular group  Gerrymandering is ILLEGAL

4. House of Represenatives Cont’d  Qualifications and Privileges Must be at least 25 years of age Must live in the state that you would represent Must have been a US citizens for at least 7 years prior to election Salary of $165,200 per year Free office space, parking, and trips to their home states Low cost insurance, private gym, special resturants, and a medical clinic Franking Privileges  Ability to send job-related mail without paying postage (purpose: to keep constituents informed on issues, positions, and votes)

5. Senate  Qualifications and Privileges Must be at least 30 years old Must live in the state you plan to represent Must have been a US citizen for at least 9 years prior to the election Same privileges as members of the House

6. Congressional Leadership  Minority and Majority Leaders The party with the most members in the House or Senate is called the majority party A person is chosen from that party, in each house, to direct their activities (MAJORITY LEADER) The party with fewer members than the majority party is called the minority party A person is chosen from that party, in each house, to direct their activities (MINORITY LEADER)  Minority and Majority Floor Leaders Job is to speak for their parties on issues, push bills along, and try to sway votes  Minority and Majority Whips Job is to help floor leaders and to make sure that legislators are present for key votes

7. Congressional Leadership Cont’d  Speaker of the House Overall leader of the House Has great power Steers legislation through the House Leads floor debates Third in line to the presidency  President of the Senate Filled by the Vice President of the United States Largely ceremonial Only votes in a tie  President Pro Tempore Chairperson of the Senate Runs day to day operations of the Senate

8. Congressional Committees  Committee System is used to help make it possible to consider thousand of proposed laws, or bills, at a time  Types of Committees Standing Committees  Permanent committees (ex. Agriculture, Education, Rules) Joint Committees  Contains members of both Houses to consider specific issues (Ex. Taxation, Economics, Printing) Conference Committees  A special joint committee that is used to settled disputes over conflicting forms of a bill  Committee assignments are based upon seniority, or years of service in Congress

9. Powers of Congress Expressed Powers  Powers clearly given to Congress in the Constitution  Examples: taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, declare war, govern DC, etc. Implied Powers  Powers given to Congress that are not specifically listed in the Constitution, but also not denied  Powers derived for the Elastic Clause  Examples: support public schools, institute military draft, limit immigration, etc.

10. Non-Legislative Powers of Congress  The most important job of Congress is to make laws, but they do have the power to do other things, such as:  Approve or reject presidential nominations (ONLY SENATE HAS AUTHORITY)  Remove federal officials who have committed wrongdoings  Impeach officials (ONLY HOUSE HAS AUTHOTITY)

11. Limitations of Congressional Power  Limits from the Bill of Rights  Can not favor one state over another  Can not tax exports  Con not tax interstate commerce  Can not suspend the writ of habeas corpus  You must bring a prisoner to court and tell them why they are holding that person  Can not pass bills of attainder  You can not punish a person without a jury trial  Can not pass ex post facto laws  You can not make an act a crime after the act has been committed

12. How a Bill becomes a Law  Idea is proposed By a citizen, the President, or a special interest group ( org. of people with common interests)  Congressperson must introduce the bill for congress to consider  Bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee for review  Can do several things  1. pass the bill  2. kill the bill  3. change the bill and suggest passing  4. replace original bill with a new bill  5. ignore the bill and let it die (pigeonholed)

13. How a Bill becomes a Law Cont’d  Debating a Bill Members of Congress argue the pros and cons and discuss possible amendments to the bill Senators can filibuster, or talk a bill to death, if they do not like a bill Senate can end s filibuster if 3/5 of the members vote for cloture  Vote After debate the bill is brought to a vote Majority rule More than half votes for = passes More than half votes against= dies

14. How a Bill becomes a Law Cont’  Presidential Action Sign the bill and declare it a new law Veto the bill, refuse to sign Congress can override with a 2/3 vote in each house Do nothing for 10 days If Congress is in session it becomes a law automatically If Congress has adjourned, the bill dies (pocket veto)