Number of Senators per state is equal for each state Two (2) per state 100 total members Each senator is elected to a six (6) year term. Qualifications 1.Must be at least 30 years of age 2.Must be a citizen of the US for at least 9 years 3.Must be a resident of the state from which he or she is elected Ratifies Treaties Ratifies Appointments of cabinet positions, Supreme Court and Federal Court Judges, and other officials. Conducts trials of impeachment can convict and remove Richard Blumenthal Christopher Murphy Number of Representatives per state is based upon the population of each state 435 total members Each Representative to the House serves a 2 (two) year term Qualifications 1.Must be at least 25 years of age 2.Must be a citizen of the US for at least 7 years 3.Must be a resident of the state from which he or she is elected (preferably the same district Must pass all spending bills before they go to the Senate Can bring Articles of Impeachment (official statement of charges and request to remove from office) against members of the executive and judicial branches Joe Courtney Jim Himes Rosa DeLauro Elizabeth Esty John Larson Majority Party = political party that has the most members in a house Minority Party = the other party Speaker of the House Most important and powerful of Congress Serves as leader of the majority party Runs the show Vice President Not a member of the Senate Votes only when there is a tie. President Pro Tempore Serves in the VPs absence House of RepresentativesSenate Floor Leaders in Both Houses Majority and Minority Floor Leaders Legislative Strategists Spokesman for their party Carry out the decisions of their parties Chosen by members of party Majority and Minority Whips Assist floor leaders Act as a liaison between house members and floor leaders Salary-$174,000/year for both Senators and Representatives Senate Leadership $ Vice President - $230,700 $ President Pro tempore - $193,400 $ Majority Party Leader - $193,400 $ Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership $ Speaker of the House - $223,500 $ Majority Leader - $193,400 $ Minority Leader - $193,400 Low cost insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off Total benefits $110,000 Free office space, parking, trips home, postage Allowance for secretaries, assistants, and office staff Total personnel, office, and mail allowances $1.5 Million (average) 3.2 Million (range $ ) StateSeatsAverage G* MD NC FL PA CA NJ IL TX AL764.8 TN962.9 MA VA NY OH LA747.8 CO747.2 WV345.5 GA AZ844.4 SC643.0 Expressed Powers-powers specifically given to congress e.g. Power to coin money Implied Powers-Necessary and Proper powers not listed in the constitution elastic clause Called the elastic clause e.g. Power to create US Air Force Inherent Powers-powers beyond the Const. which are necessary in order to get the job done. Has the power to check the other branches Propose Amendments to the Constitution House has the power to impeach/accuse federal officials of wrongdoing a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted a bill or act passed by a legislative body What is a Bill?What is a Law? Private Private = a proposed legislative bill that deals with specific private, personal, or local matters rather than general affairs Ex: a person seeking special permission to become a naturalized citizen Public Public = proposed legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern and application Ex: Civil Rights Act of 1964 Appropriation Appropriation = legislative motion authorizing the government to spend money Ex: Defense spending to support troops in Iraq Resolution Resolution - a measure expressing opinions on policies or issues Simple resolution Simple resolution measure dealing with house-keeping or procedural matters that only affect one house Joint resolution Joint resolution measure when approved by both houses and the president carries the force of law Concurrent resolution Concurrent resolution legislative motion that must be approved by both houses, but does not have the force of law Legislator Representative Committee Member Partisan Politician How should I vote? My constituents first or my country??? Floor vote on the Energy Bill! Sources: Bill formerly read aloud on floor Bill then given to clerk Referred to committee by Steering Committee Bill dropped in hopper Referred to committee by the Speaker Senate House House & Senate committees conduct public hearings Experts testify Markup of bills Committee vote: report favorably, unfavorably, or table bill House Armed Services Committee Party leaders schedule bills for floor debate on the calendar Unlimited debate Filibuster Filibuster - member(s) keep talking to block debate on a bill Cloture Cloture vote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster Floor vote Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act Rules Committee schedules bills on calendar & decides whether amendments may be added Limited debate Floor vote: Recorded, Standing, Voice Approved bill must pass each chamber by a simple majority Members from each chamber meet to reconcile differences in the two bills Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act President can: 1.Sign bill into law 2.Veto bill (refuse to sign it) Congress can override veto by 2/3 vote only 4% of vetoes have been overridden 3.May do nothing After 10 days, bill automatically becomes law Pocket Veto Pocket Veto = Unless Congress is no longer in session, then the bill dies Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law. 1.Explain why so few bills become law. 2.Is that a good thing or a bad thing? 3.Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not? 1.Starts as an idea that is introduced before Congress Given a title and number 2.Goes to a committee Decides life-or-death of bill 3.Debate Approved bills are debated by either the House or Senate Filibuster = talking a bill to death 4.Voting House of Representatives 1.Voice Vote = simple Yea or No 2.Standing Vote = members stand to be counted 3.Recorded Vote = recorded electronically Senate 1.Voice Vote 2.Standing Vote 3.Roll-Call Vote-Senator respond Aye or No as their names are called 5.Action by President A.Sign the bill into law B.Veto the bill (refuse to sign it) Congress can override veto by 2/3 vote C.May do nothing After 10 days, bill automatically becomes law Pocket Veto Pocket Veto = Unless Congress is no longer in session, then the bill dies Title: Imagine theres no CongressArtist: Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette Date: 6/06/07Source: Artist: RJ Matson Date: 6/14/07 Source:m/category/politics/politic al-cartoons/m/category/politics/politic al-cartoons/ Source:Date: 5/6/06http://bigpicture.typepad.com/