1. The Legislative Branch
Civics Today, Chapter 6
Ms. Dunn

2. Branches of Government = Separation of Powers

3. Back to Chapter 1 for a sec…
What kind of democracy do we live in?
So the people rule, but they don’t make public policy
Who does make it?
We live in a representative democracy
People rule by electing officials to public offices
Elected officials make policy/law

4. Bicameral Congress
Our Congress is bicameral, meaning it has two houses
The larger house, which is supposedly the “common man’s house,” is the House of Representatives
The smaller house, which is for “the elite” of America is the Senate

5. The Legislative Branch: The US Congress
Bicameral legislature: having 2 houses in Congress

6. The House of Representatives
THINK- VIRGINIA PLAN

7. Members of the House of Representatives
Official title is “Representative So and So…”
Also called “congressman or congresswoman”
There are 435 congressmen
Congressmen are elected to a term of 2 years

8. The House of Representatives
House of Reps.

9. The Senate
THINK- NEW JERSEY PLAN

10. Members of the Senate Official title is “Senator So and So”
There are 100 Senators (2 from each state)
Senators are elected to a term of 6 years

11. The Senate
The Senate

12. Basic Information We call each 2 year period a “term” of Congress
Terms are numbered consecutively… the one that ended December 2014 was the 113th Congress
The one that is in session now is called the 114th Congress (Jan Jan 2017)

13. So how many sessions are there in a term of Congress?
A session of Congress is all the time it takes to finish their business for the year
So how many sessions are there in a term of Congress?
Two!

14. Seats in the House
Seats are apportioned (given out) to each state based on population
A Census is taken every 10 years to reapportion seats.
Ever since 1929, the number has been 435 (Reapportionment Act)

15. Seats in the House
Every state divides itself into districts based on the number of seats apportioned to the state
For example, North Carolina is given 13 seats based on our population.

17. What Does it Take to be in the House?
25 years old
U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
Must live in the state you are elected in
Abraham Lincoln started his political career as a member of the House of Reps. He was only in the house for 1 term (2 years).
He used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor for president in His criticism of the war made him unpopular back home and he decided not to run for second term, but instead returned to practicing law.
In 1860 he ran for President and won. He served as President from when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

18. Midterm Elections That really stinks, yo.
In the election years where there is no presidential election (2010, 2014), the president’s party usually loses seats in Congress
Also known as off-year elections. These generally have lower voter turnout.
U.S. presidents almost always fall in the polls after they are elected, as they make policy choices. This dip in presidential approval ratings effects the Congressional candidates

19. Seats in the Senate
There will always be 2 seats per state in the Senate
50 States = 100 Senators
The man pictured is Senator Jesse Helms- he served as a Senator for North Carolina from He was the longest standing NC senator.

20. What Does it Take to be in the Senate?
I am the Governator, and I’ll be back.
30 Years Old
U.S. Citizen for 9 Years
Must live in the state you are elected in
It was rumored Arnold Schwarzenegger would run for Senator of California in after he served as Governor of California from

21. Comparing the House and the Senate
Originally, congressmen were elected by the public, and Senators were elected by the state legislatures
Founding Fathers did not trust the public with all power
17th Amendment has since changed Senate elections to a public vote
The 17th amendment was passed to curb political corruption surrounding the appointment of Senators

22. Comparing the House and the Senate
Senators have a much longer term
Entire House is elected at once, while only 1/3 of Senate is chosen at a time
What do you think would happen if the entire Senate was reelected in the same year?
WHY???
This always leaves 2/3 of the Senate members with some past experience. On the other hand, the House of Representatives could face the problem of all new members if the voters chose to change every representative.

23. Founding Fathers’ Intent
The Founding Fathers wanted to have one house that would quickly respond to the desires of the public (House of Reps)
And one house that would be moderate, and stop any crazy nonsense the House would try (Senate)

24. Demographics of Congress
Congress is not at all demographically representative of the U.S. population
For example…

25. Demographics of Congress

26. 4 out of 5 Congress members is a white male.

27. Special House Powers
The House has special jobs that only it can do. It can:
Start laws that make people pay taxes.
Decide if a government official should be put on trial before the Senate if s/he commits a crime against the country.
These are all check and balances on the Legislative Branch
The House accuses an official of a wrong doing (Impeachment)

28. Special Senate Powers
The Senate has special jobs that only it can do. It can:
Say yes or no to any treaties the president makes.
Say yes or no to any people the president recommends for jobs, such as cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices, and ambassadors.
Can hold a trial for a government official who does something very wrong
These are all check and balances on the Legislative Branch
The Senate actually holds the trial of the impeached official

29. Role on the Job How should elected officials
represent their constituents?
Trustee – the people ‘trust’ that the official will vote in the constituent’s best interests
Partisan – the official acts as a member of his/her political party and votes with the party
Politico – the official votes partially as a ‘trustee’ and partially as a ‘partisan’ to COMPROMISE and get work done
So, Congress members are partly beholden to their constituents and partly beholden to their political colleagues

30. Salary as of 2015 President Pro-tempore: $193,400
Regular Senator: $174,000
Majority/Minority leaders: $193,400
Speaker of the House: $223,500
Regular Representative: $174,000
Also… members of congress are given $900,000 to pay up to 18 employees and $250,000 for office supplies.

31. Non-Salary Benefits and Privileges
Franking Privilege
Privilege from Arrest
Hospitalization Privilege
$3000 tax break on 2 houses
Free Travel
Office Space
"They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place."
the writers of the Constitution were concerned that citizens could use civil arrests to disrupt legislative sessions.