1. National Government

2. Federalism State and National Government share power 3 Levels of Government National State Local

3. State vs. National Government

5. National Government 3 branches of government – Legislative: makes laws – Executive: enforce laws – Judicial: interprets laws – (Congress: Legislative) – (President: Executive) – (Supreme Court: Judicial)

6. Congress

7. Quick Question: Which Article of the Constitution deals with the Congress (Legislative Branch)?

10. How Congress is Organized

11. Bicameral Legislature 2 houses House of Representatives Senate

12. House of Representatives 435 representatives 2 year terms Organized by state – Each state by population (more people more representatives) Census: every 10 years, we take a population count

13. House of Representatives: Census Each state divided into Congressional Districts Each District must have about the same number of constituents Constituents: people represented

15. Gerrymandering Oddly shaped district designed to increase voting strength of a particular political party

17. Senate 100 members 2 per state Six year terms

18. Whoever is in charge Majority Party- The political party with the most members in Congress Minority Party- the party with less members in Congress House of Representatives Senate

19. House of Representatives Speaker of the House: – Leader of the House of Reps. – Most experienced member of Majority Party Paul Ryan: – Republican – Speaker of the House

20. Senate Vice President: – President of the Senate – Votes in case of a tie President Pro tempore: – Chairperson – Not really a leader Orrin Hatch – Republican – President Pro Tempore

21. Committees: Little Legislatures

22. Standing Committees Permanent Committees – House of Representatives: 19 committees – Senate: 16 committees

23. Select Committees Set up for a special reason and limited time 9/11 commission: set up to find out who was responsible for 9/11 attacks

24. Joint Committees Has members of both House and Senate – Economic – Printing – Taxation – Library

25. Conference Committees This type of committee is also temporary -members of both the House and the Senate agree on details of a proposed law

26. Powers of Congress

27. Powers in Constitution Article I, Section 8: lists specific powers Congress has expressed powers given in Constitution Expressed Powers- specific powers given by Constitution Implied Powers- powers not expressly given in the Constitution – Elastic Clause: allows Congress “stretch” its powers when necessary

28. Powers of Congress Legislative Powers 1. Taxing and Spending 2. Regulating Commerce 3. Foreign Relations and Treaties Non-Legislative Powers 1. Adding Amendments 2. Power of Approval and Removal 3. Oversight and Investigation

29. Legislative Powers

30. Legislative Powers of Congress: 1. Taxing and Spending 2. Regulating Commerce 3. Foreign Relations and Treaties

31. 1. Taxing and Spending All taxes start in House of Representatives – 2 steps: Authorization Bills: create projects to spend money on Appropriations Bills: provide the money for each program

32. 2. Regulating Commerce Article I, Section 8, Clause 3- gives Congress power to regulate commerce Commerce: trade Air traffic, railroads, trucking, radio, TV, air pollution, stock market

33. 3. Foreign Relations and Treaties Declaring War Senate Approves treaties by President

34. Non Legislative Powers

35. 1. Adding Amendments Power to change Constitution 2/3 vote in both Houses

36. 2. Approval and Removal Power to approve or reject people the President proposes Also has power to remove any official from office Impeach: to accuse a public official of misconduct

37. 3. Oversight and Investigation Power to watch what the other branches are doing

38. Limits on Power

39. Writ of Habeas Corpus Cannot suspend Habeas Corpus Latin for “produce the body” Prisoners are in court when they are accused

40. Bills of Attainder Not allowed Laws that punish a person “Mr. Temeyer is guilty” – (That’s the law)

41. Ex Post Facto Laws Not allowed Laws that make an act a crime after the act has been committed

42. People of Congress

43. Requirements of Congress Senate: – 30 years old – Live in state – US citizen for 9 years House of Representatives: – 25 years old – Live in state – US citizen for 7 years

44. Congress Pay $158,100 Franking Privilege: legal protection in certain situations

45. Personal Staff Helpers of all Congress members Secretaries, Researchers, etc.

46. Lobbyists Lobbyists: people hired by private groups to influence government

47. Casework People requesting help from the government (Congress gets 80,000 emails a day)

48. How a Bill Becomes a law

49. Types of Bills: Private Bills: concern individual people or places Public Bill: applies to entire nation like taxation, Civil Rights, and terrorism Joint Resolutions: bills made by both Houses of Congress

50. Bills Step 1, Bill: idea in Congress not voted on yet Floor Debate: Congress discusses law President: sign the bill, or veto it Veto: refuse to sign the bill Congress can override a veto with 2/3 vote in each house