Article I – Legislative Branch Congress Odd Laws Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red...
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Transcript of Article I – Legislative Branch Congress Odd Laws Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red...
Article I – Legislative Branch
Congress
Odd Laws Any misdemeanor committed
while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.
In Little Rock dogs can't bark after 6pm.
In Blyth, CA a person must own two cows before s/he is permitted to wear cowboy boots in public.
In Florida, it's illegal to skateboard without a license.
In Portland, it is illegal for men to tickle women under the chin with feather dusters.
In Michigan a state law stipulates that a woman's hair legally belongs to her husband.
In Excelsior Springs it's illegal to make a squirrel worry.
In Kansas city installation of a four legged bathtub with toes that resemble those of an animal is prohibited.
People who make "ugly faces" at dogs may be fined and/or jailed in Oklahoma.
In Mesquite, TX it's illegal for children to have "unusual" haircuts.
Main Purpose:
Congress’ main purpose is to PASS LAWS
Organization of Congress
House of Representatives consists of 435 members
Number per state depends on population
Missouri has 9 Representatives They are chosen by the PEOPLE
in the GENERAL ELECTION
House of Representatives
Missouri is divided into 9 Congressional districts – each district represents approximately 630,000 people
District #4 – Vicky Hartzler (R) District #5 – Emmanual Cleaver (D)* Their term is for 2 years Salary is $174,000 per year
House of Representatives
Leader is called the Speaker of the House
John Boehner (R) – California - is the current Speaker $223,500/yr
Majority Leader and Minority Leader also have a lot of power
Senate
There are 100 Senators total – 2 per state
Missouri’s 2 Senators are Roy Blunt (R) and Claire McCaskill (D)
1/3 of the Senators in the US are chosen by the PEOPLE in the GENERAL ELECTION
Senate
The Senate term is for 6 years Salary is currently $174,000
per year Leaders include: Vice President Joe Biden (D) –
his only real power is to break tie votes
Senate
President Pro Tempore – is currently is Daniel Inouye
Senate Majority Leader – is currently Harry Reid
Senate Minority Leader – is currently Mitch McConnell
Congress
Remember, Congress consists of BOTH the Senate and House of Representatives
In total, there are 535 members Information about Congress
can be found in Article I of the Constitution
Duties of Congresspeople
Introduce Bills (ideas for laws) Study Bills and attend meetings Votes on Bills ( public record) Help Constituents ( the people
they represent) Go home and meet with people
(usually every weekend)
More Duties:
Meet with people: lobbyists, groups, anyone in D.C.
Always ON!! Lots of Social Occasions.
Duties cont’d:
Meetings with staff: staff is extremely important as they do a ton of work!
Campaign for re-election – House of Representatives is only a 2 year term
Represent the basic needs of their Constituents
VERY VERY BUSY!!!!!!
Powers of CongressEx. All cars must have seatbelts
Enumerated powers – listed or stated in the Constitution
Declare war Coin and print money Regulate commerce (business) Impose Constitutional amendments Establish post offices
More Enumerated Powers
Grant copyrights and patents
Establish courts Investigate problems/issues
Implied Powers
Powers not written, but assumed
Comes from the ELASTIC CLAUSE
Example: social security, I-70, etc
How Congress can check
President – by overriding his veto OR to impeach and remove him from office
The Courts – by impeaching and removing judges AND the Senate must approve all court appointments made by the President
Checks on Congress
The President can VETO bills
The Courts – can use JUDICIAL REVIEW and declare laws unconstitutional
Special powers of the House
Impeachment process starts in the House
All money bills (REVENUE) must start in the House
Elect President if 270 electoral votes aren’t voted to one person
Special Powers of the Senate
Ratify (approve) all treaties Hold the removal trial for
executive officials Approve Presidential
appointments Elect the Vice President – if no
one won 270 electoral votes
Special Powers of the Speaker of the House
Presiding official over the House He appoints people to the Rules
Committee – this committee assigns bills to their committees in Congress
Assigns bills to committee Determines when a bill gets
discussed Calls on people to speak
Special Interest Groups Good or Evil? Try to persuade public officials and
public policy. “Where the body is, there will the
vultures be gathered.” – Historian/Diplomat Lord Bryce
Good Help raise awareness Represent members
Provide helpful info to government (employment, price levels etc.)
Encourage political participation Checks and Balances (keep an eye on politicians)
Bad Push their own interests, not always in the best
interest of Americans Some have too much influence Hard to tell how many people there are. (The
American Citizens Committee for…..) Sometimes the representative of the org. doesn’t
share all members views Bribery, threats etc.
Special Interest Groups Examples Assoc. on American Indian Affairs American Zoo and Aquarium Assoc. American Cancer Society U.S. Brewer’s Association American Trucking Association Fraternal Order of Police National Farmers Union American Medical Association National Education Association American Civil Liberties Union AARP NAACP National Rifle Association
How Do Interest Groups Influence?
Propaganda – persuasion of public opinion using mass media
Political Action Committees (PACs) – raise money for election campaigns
Lobbying – pressure legislators to pass or reject laws.
How a law is passed
Average time is 18 months Where do the ideas come from?
Constituents, committees, President, Lobbyists, Political Parties, Congress People, other
(10,000 bills could be introduced into congress in one session.)
Process of bill becoming a law
Bills can be introduced into either house except MONEY bills which have to start in the House of Representatives
Thrown into the hopper (a box on the clerk’s desk)
Given a number Assigned to committee
Committees
Congress people are assigned to committees
Choice of committee is based on what will help their state and their own personal interests
Assignments are based on seniority and party ratio in Congress
House Committees
The Speaker of the House makes all committee assignments
Committee Work
Open hearings – make a huge report First step –obtain information from
experts, special interest groups, and common people
Closed hearings – committee and staff members only allowed!
All info from open hearing is summarized into report.
Committee Work
Then, the committee reads the report, discusses/debates, and makes a decision
Decision can be: Yes recommendation, No recommendation, never send back to the floor
Floor – entire House or Senate Senate – clerk puts on the
calendar automatically on the first available date
House – Speaker decides when and if to place on calendar
Discussion in Senate anyone can talk and in the House you have to be called on by the Speaker
Vote: need a majority or 51% to pass.
How to Influence a Congressperson’s Vote
Write letters or visit Attend open hearings Join a political party Join a special interest group Vote on Congress people
If Bill passes
Goes to the other house in identical form Committee Floor – if it passes here then it goes to the President
President can sign into law; veto which means he says NOPresident Obama signs
a bill that will increase tobacco taxes to provide health care for 4 million uninsured children in the U.S.
President Obama’s first veto was against a bill (H.J. Res. 64) to issue emergency funding for Congress while they were working to pass an appropriations bill. The appropriations bill was passed therefore H.J. Res. 64 was not needed.
Overriding a Veto
Bill goes back to the House that started it
2/3 majority vote to pass If passes goes to the other house 2/3 majority vote to pass there
also If that happens, it becomes a law
Line Item Veto
President can kill certain lines in the bill. Can only remove BUDGET related items
President can do nothing
Hold for 10 days if Congress is in session it automatically becomes a law
If Congress is not in session – it is pocket veto and is therefore DEAD!!
President Obama issues a pocket veto on a resolution to regulate notarizations on financial documents. He believes it will make it easier for mortgage companies to foreclose on homes.
Terms to KnowFreshman Congressperson – less experienced,
new to Congress.
Bill – a proposed law
Seniority – years of experience that allow for an advantage
Constituent – citizen that is represented
Lobby Group – special interest group that tries to influence lawmakers.
Capitol – building where congress meets.
Standing Committee – permanent panel where similar bills are discussed
Select/Special Committee – limited time/special circumstance
Joint Committee – members of both houses
Veto – rejection of a bill by the Pres.
Impeach – bring formal charges against a public official.
House – House of Representatives
house – two houses of government
Session – period of time in which Congress does legislative work
Term – amount of time an elected official may hold office.
Federal Government – form of government in which powers are divide between central and state.
Other Terms to Know
Gerrymander – the drawing of irregular district boundaries to give a group an advantage.
Quorum – majority of the house that must be present to conduct business.
Joint Resolution – similar to bills, proposal for action (special circumstances or temporary matters)