CONGRESSTHE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Intro to Congress

History Established by the Constitution as the law

making branch 1789 – 91 representatives total

26 senators and 65 representatives 1st congress meets at Federal Hall in NYC Bicameral – congress is the House and the

Senate Today

540 representatives Meet in the Capital Building in Washington D.C.

House of Representatives

Representation based on population Each member represents a congressional district

Area in each state with about 600,000 people, redrawn every 10 years

Some state legislatures will draw congressional districts in ways that favor a particular party (gerrymandering)

In addition to the 435 elected state representatives there are 5 additional representatives:

From D.C., Puerto Rico, and the 3 American territories (Guam, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands)

Originally the number of representatives was supposed to grow along with the new nation but in 1929 Congress limited the number of representatives in the House to 435 to prevent it from getting too big

House of Representatives

Requirements At least 25 years old U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Resident of the state you want to represent

Terms Representatives serve a 2 year term

The 2 year term was originally intended to keep the reps in touch with the wants of the people

The entire house is elected every 2 years

Senate Each state has 2 senators Requirements

At least 30 years old U.S. citizen for at least 9 years A resident of the state you want to represent

Terms Senators serve a 6 year term

The 6 year terms was meant to give senators more freedom 1/3 of the senators are elected every 2 years

There are no term limits on Representatives or Senators

Should there be? Why? Why not?

The Art Of Rigging Elections Article

Answer questions and be prepared to discuss

1. Explain what gerrymandering is.2. What is the point of gerrymandering? 3. How do districts that are a result of

gerrymandering confuse voters?4. Come up with 1 question you have about the

article.

How Congress Works

Political Parties in Congress Major party – party with the greatest number

of members in congress Minority party – party with the second

greatest number of members in congress

There is a “new” Congress every 2 years Called this because all of the representatives

and 1/3 of the Senate are elected The next new congress will be elected this year

and their sessions will be in 2011 and 2012

Party Leadership in Congress

Floor Leader Member of the House or Senate that is elected by the

members to be in charge of some of the party’s activities

Each party has a floor leader They act as the spokes person for their party Work to get members of both parties to vote

on specific legislation Proposed or enacted law/group of laws

Leaders of the House and Senate

Speaker of the House Member of the majority party who is elected to

lead the House - current speaker is Nancy Pelosi Highest officer in the House Speaker of the House is the person who takes

over if both the president and vice are unable to serve

President Pro Tempore Leader of the Senate when the VP is absent

Members vote to elect Position is mostly symbolic

What are the Powers of Congress?

Declare War

Tax Regulate Trade

Raise and Maintain an Army

Grant Patents

Print and Coin Money

Borrow Money

Govern D.C and U.S. Territories

Admit New States

Establish Federal Court System

Elastic Clause

Establish Uniform Laws

Powers of Congress

SPECIAL POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SPECIAL POWERS OF THE SENATE

House can begin impeachment proceedings

All bills that have to do with money begin in the House

If no candidate for president receives the required number of votes the members of the House choose the president

All impeachment trials are held in the Senate

If no candidates for VP receives the number votes required the members of the Senate choose the VP

All treaties with foreign nations must be approved by 2/3 of the Senate

Specific high officials that are appointed by the president must be approved by the Senate

Checks and Balances

EXECUTIVE JUDICIARY

Impeachment Override presidential

vetoes Senate approves

appointments, treaties, & ambassadors

State of the Union

Senate approves federal Judges

Amendments Creation of courts

and court jurisdiction Can change the size

of the Supreme Court

Checks and Balances

Because Congress is Bicameral it checks its own power in some ways: All legislation must be passed by both houses Neither house can recess for more than 3 days

with out consent from the other

What keeps Congress from “Fixing” our Problems?

There are 5 things Congress has to overcome in order to “fix” a problem1. Pork Barreling2. Riders3. Empty Legislation4. Filibusters5. Interest Groups

PorkBarreling Legislations that have special funding for

projects that will benefit just a few members of Congress

Pork Barrel projects include Dams Military bases Highways Job training Bridges

Examples $500,000 to build a replica Great Pyramid $2 million to construct an ancient Hawaiian Canoe

Riders

Amendment attached to a bill Usually has noting to do with the original bill Idea is to use that original bill to “ride” easily

into passage Can also be used in an attempt to stop a bill

Example Civil Rights Act 1964

Originally didn’t include women

Empty Legislation

Legislation that is passed with little or no intention of enforcing it

Passed to appease people Ex. There is a law on the books that every

factory that is caught with illegal workers has to pay a fine for every worker

Filibusters

Talking a bill to death All a Senator has to do is keep talking,

this prevents a vote. They can talk about anything (read the phone

book) Only happens in the Senate

In the House the Speaker can determine who talks and for how long

A filibuster can only be stopped if 60 senators agree and vote to stop it

Interest Groups

Public or private organizations that try to influence public opinion to support its own interests

Types Economic, Political/Ideological, Professional,

Governmental, Civil Rights, Single Issue Problems

Promote their own interests Not much control over them

Advantages Make issues known Help members (only an advantage if you believe the

way they do)

Interest Groups

Interest groups use Lobbyists to try to influence the way a Congress member votes A good lobbyist

Knows about the process Familiar with the goals of the group they represent Is truthful Try to show how supporting their group will help the

Congress member

Congressional Committees

When a Bill is introduced into Congress it is sent to a committee

Bill – a draft of a proposed law There are 4 types of committees

Standing Committees Joint Committees Select Committees Conference Committees

Standing Committees

Permanent groups that are responsible for laws in specific areas

Most are divided into sub-committees Study even more in depth areas within original

committee Examples:

House Committee on foreign relations Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and

Forestry

Joint Committees

Permanent committees that contain members of both House and Senate

Investigate issues and make recommendations

DO NOT write Legislation Examples:

The Joint Committee on Taxation

Select Committees

Temporary or permanent committee that is created to study an issue or particular event

Issues that a standing committee doesn’t already address

Example: House Select Committee on Energy

Independence and Global Warming

Conference Committee

Formed when the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill this committee works out the differences and produces the final version

Final draft goes back to House and Senate for a final vote

Example: No Child Left Behind Act (2001)