The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

What institutions comprise the legislative branch?

What are duties and responsibilities of Congress?

How does Congress preserve democracy?

Structure Structure

US Government

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

StructureStructure

US Government

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

President Vice President Cabinet

StructureStructure

US Government

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

President

Vice President

Cabinet

Congress

Senate

House of Representatives

US ConstitutionUS Constitution

Article I: The Legislature Structure

Connecticut Compromises

Bicameral– House of

Representatives – Senate

Qualifications Age Residence Others

ConstituentsConstituents

Apportionment Senate is based on statehood

50 states X 2 senators in each =100

House: Contingent on population size Every state gets at least one regardless to the

population Based on the 2000 census, for every 646,952

people, the state receives one House of Representative member

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior

The Power of Incumbency “You have to win the open seats by a rather

substantial proportion because, unless you have a nationalized race, the incumbents are going to win”

– John Samples, director of the Center for Representative Government at the Cato Institute.

Name recognition, fund-raising, pork barrel

Manipulating Congressional Distribution

Manipulating Congressional Distribution

Gerrymandering A controversial form of redistricting in which

electoral district boundaries are manipulated for an electoral advantage.

The term was used in the early 1800 to described the appearance of a strange electoral district Elbridge Gerry created in order to disadvantage his electoral opponents.

Gerrymandered DistrictsGerrymandered Districts

Powers and DutiesPowers and Duties Senate (Upper House)

Ratify treaties Confirm federal judges,

ambassadors, Cabinet members

Try and remove the president though impeachment

Oversight House of Representatives

(Lower House) Propose apportionment

bills Impeach the president Oversight

Powers and DutiesPowers and Duties

Both chambers together Make law Power of the purse Declare war Override a veto with

2/3 vote Amend the

Constitution with 2/3 vote

President

Both chambers

One chamber

Full Committee

Subcommittee

Addressed by Representatives

Public Needs

Law MakingLaw Making

Law Making ProcessLaw Making Process

Congressional DutiesCongressional Duties

1. Who are these men and what did they finish doing?

2. What is the tone of congressional debates?

3. Is this a positive way of running the debates?

Standing and Select CommitteesStanding and Select Committees

Significance Most work in the

law making process is done in the committees and subcommittees.

Bills most likely die before ever getting to the floor of Congress.

Internal StructureInternal StructureCommittee on

Ways and Means

Health

Human Resources

Oversight

Select Revenue Measures

Social Security

Trade

Committee on Health, Education, Labor,

and Pensions

Bioterrorism and public health preparedness

Education and Early Childhood Development

Employment and Work Place Safety

Retirement Security and Aging

Law MakingLaw Making

Step 1 Issue in society needs

government intervention Step 2

Congress person address the need by creating a bill

Step 3 Introduces the bill to the

House or Senate Leaders of either the

House or Senate assigns bill to a subcommittee for research

Law MakingLaw Making Step 4

If bill is agreed upon in subcommittee then sent to the full committee.

If passed through the full committee then it goes to either the floor of the House or Senate for a full debate and vote.

Step 5 If bill is passed through one

camber, then it goes to the other chamber for a vote

If both chambers agree on the identical bill, then it is sent to the president.

Step 6 The president can sign the bill to

make it a law. He can veto it, and the bill goes

back to the Congress.

OversightOversight

Monitor the actions of the government Duties and

responsibilities of the government

Punish malfeasance Protect Democracy Efficiency and

effectiveness of government institutions

Congressional DutiesCongressional Duties

1. Who does the bride and groom represent?

2. How does this cartoon represents checks and balances?

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

What type of relationship do the two

have?

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

How does the phrase it takes two to tango apply to the Congress and the President?

List the many ways, this is true?

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Presidential Powers Commander and Chief Appoint judges,

ambassadors, and the Cabinet

Sign to become a law or Veto it

Negotiate treaties

Congressional Checks Declare and Fund War Confirmation of these

officials Creates bills Ratify treaties

QuizQuiz

How is Congress roles central to democracy? Provide at least 2 specific examples.

Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary

Bicameral Committees Quorum Simple Majority Super Majority Filibuster Pork Barrel Constituents Incumbent

Gerrymandering Apportionment Caucus Lobbyist Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Bill and Law Oversight Legislation