U.S. Congress

Legislative Branch

Article I

House of Representatives

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

435

smaller constituencies

less prestige

limited debate

one committee assign.

All money bills originate here

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

At least 25 yrs of age

Citizen, 7 yrs

Resident of state

Serve two-year term

apportionment

census

Article 1, Section 2

gerrymandering

Pennsylvania 12th

U. S. House, Press U. S. House, Press GalleryGallery

The WellThe Well

Speaker of the House

John Boehner (BA-ner) R-OH

)

House Minority Leader

(formerly the Speaker of the House when the Democrats had a

majority)

Nancy Pelosi (D, CA)

Special Powers of the HouseSpecial Powers of the House

• 1. All originate all $ bills1. All originate all $ bills

• 2. Can bring impeachment charges2. Can bring impeachment charges

• 3. Can select Pres if no candidate receives 3. Can select Pres if no candidate receives majority of electoral votemajority of electoral vote

SenateSenate

100

less formal and rigid rules

acts more slowly

larger constituencies

more prestige

unlimited debate

two or more committee assignments

At least 30 yrs of age

US citizen, 9 yrs

Resident of State

Serve six-year term

filibusterfilibuster

cloturecloture

Preparations for a filibuster: • Sometimes cots are brought into the hallways or

cloakrooms for senators to sleep on. • Filibusters were called: 'taking to the diaper,' a

phrase that referred to the preparation undertaken by a prudent senator before an extended filibuster ...

• Strom Thurmond visited a steam room before his filibuster in order to dehydrate himself so he could drink without urinating. An aide stood by in the cloakroom with a pail in case of emergency.

Special Powers of the Senate

• 1. Ratifies treaties negotiated by the President (by 2/3 vote)

• 2. Confirm or disapprove of Presidential appointments

• 3. Act as a jury in the impeachment process

• 4. Can select a VP if no candidate has majority of electoral vote

Senate Majority Leader

• Harry Reid - (D-Nev)

Hilllary Clinton, DChuck Schumer, D

How Congress works: Committee System

– Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry– Appropriations– Armed Services– Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs– Budget– Commerce, Science, Transportation– Energy and Natural Resources– Environment and Public Works– Finance– Foreign Relations– Governmental Affairs– Health, Education, Labor and Pensions– Judiciary– Rules and Administration– Small Business and Administration– Veterans Affairs

Standing Standing Committees Committees

of the of the SenateSenate

How a Bill Becomes a Law

An issue gets raised by– President– the people– a member of Congress

• Passes through various committees

• Must get approved by both House and Senate to go on for President’s signature

President can either:

• sign a bill into law

• veto it (not sign it)

Congress can:

• Override a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority in both houses

Lobbying

• To influence legislation

• “Inside” by going to meetings, testifying in Congress, etc.

• “outside” by media coverage, advertising, letter-writing campaigns, etc.

• Often lobbyists are hired by agencies, corporations, etc. to encourage favorable legislation

Pork barrel• Congressional members introduce projects

that will benefit their constituency by bringing money or jobs back

logrolling

A practice common in the U.S. Congress and in many other legislative assemblies in which two (or more) legislators agree for each to trade his vote on one bill he cares little about in exchange for the other's vote on a bill that is personally much more important to him.

Amendments to Bills

Senate:

RidersBill

House:

Must be germane