Prof. Bruno Pierri Lingua Inglese The Congress of the United States December 10th, 2009.

Prof. Bruno PierriProf. Bruno PierriLingua IngleseLingua Inglese

The Congress of the United StatesThe Congress of the United States

December 10th, 2009December 10th, 2009

The Congress of the United States The Congress of the United States Historical Roots: US Constitution, Article I, Section 1: All Historical Roots: US Constitution, Article I, Section 1: All

legislative powers vested in a Congress, consisting of legislative powers vested in a Congress, consisting of Senate and House of Representatives Senate and House of Representatives

Section 2: HR composed of Members chosen every two Section 2: HR composed of Members chosen every two years by electors in each State (now 435 Members)years by electors in each State (now 435 Members)

Eligiblity to HR is 25 years of age, 7 years as citizen of the Eligiblity to HR is 25 years of age, 7 years as citizen of the US and resident, when elected, in the State represented. US and resident, when elected, in the State represented. Each State elects a number of Representatives according Each State elects a number of Representatives according to population living in its territory (not only residents) to population living in its territory (not only residents)

Section 3: Senate composed of two Senators from each Section 3: Senate composed of two Senators from each State (now 100 members), chosen by the Legislature for six State (now 100 members), chosen by the Legislature for six years years

XVII Amendment 1913: Senators elected by peopleXVII Amendment 1913: Senators elected by people One third of Senate elected every two yearsOne third of Senate elected every two years Eligiblity to Sen. is 30 years of age, 9 years as citizen of the Eligiblity to Sen. is 30 years of age, 9 years as citizen of the

US and resident, when elected, in the State represented US and resident, when elected, in the State represented

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress Congress may exercise only those powers Congress may exercise only those powers

granted by Constitutiongranted by Constitution Implied Powers: Powers inferred from general Implied Powers: Powers inferred from general

language in founding documentlanguage in founding document1)1) Lay and collect taxesLay and collect taxes2)2) Borrow moneyBorrow money3)3) Defence and welfare of the USDefence and welfare of the US4)4) Declare warDeclare war5)5) Raise ans support armed forcesRaise ans support armed forces6)6) Regulate foreign commerceRegulate foreign commerce7)7) Control immigration…Control immigration… Police power vested in State and local Govt, Police power vested in State and local Govt,

but FBI is federal police but FBI is federal police

Taxation without RepresentationTaxation without Representation

Washington D.C.:Washington D.C.:

A)A) Federal Capital, not a StateFederal Capital, not a State

B)B) Local and federal taxesLocal and federal taxes

C)C) Three electoral votes in presidential Three electoral votes in presidential electionselections

D)D) No congressional representation, apart No congressional representation, apart from delegates with role of observers only from delegates with role of observers only

Single-member DistrictsSingle-member DistrictsAll members of HR elected in single-All members of HR elected in single-

member districtsmember districtsNumber of districts in each State depends Number of districts in each State depends

on its populationon its population In Senate two people represent a State, but In Senate two people represent a State, but

their election is separate. States are single-their election is separate. States are single-member districts because one candidate member districts because one candidate wins a seat in each electionwins a seat in each election

Two Senators per StateTwo Senators per State Equal representation in Senate and Equal representation in Senate and

proportional representation in HRproportional representation in HR Larger States wanted Congress in Larger States wanted Congress in

proportion to State populationproportion to State population Smaller States thought this plan would Smaller States thought this plan would

jeopardise their interests jeopardise their interests CompromiseCompromise

A)A) Membership in Lower House in proportion Membership in Lower House in proportion to State populationto State population

B)B) Membership in Upper House: two seats to Membership in Upper House: two seats to each Stateeach State

Length of Senate TermLength of Senate Term Some delegates wanted strong independent Some delegates wanted strong independent

Senate Senate Some feared tyranny of aristocratic Upper HouseSome feared tyranny of aristocratic Upper House Some wanted lifelong term Some wanted lifelong term Compromise: Six-year-term gives Senators more Compromise: Six-year-term gives Senators more

authority to ignore mass sentiment in favour of authority to ignore mass sentiment in favour of country's broad interests country's broad interests

Senators elected by State legislatures (superseded Senators elected by State legislatures (superseded by XVII Amendment) because framers wanted to by XVII Amendment) because framers wanted to keep Upper House away from emotions of masses keep Upper House away from emotions of masses

Senate Powers and ProceduresSenate Powers and Procedures ImpeachmentImpeachmentA)A) HR has power to impeach a Govt official, HR has power to impeach a Govt official,

serving as prosecutorserving as prosecutorB)B) Senate has power to conduct impeachment Senate has power to conduct impeachment

trials, serving as judge and jury trials, serving as judge and jury Nominations: President nominates Justices, Nominations: President nominates Justices,

Ambassadors and other public Ministers and Ambassadors and other public Ministers and Consuls with advice and consent of the Consuls with advice and consent of the Senate Senate

Treaties: Senate has power to approve, Treaties: Senate has power to approve, change, or amend, by a two-thirds vote, change, or amend, by a two-thirds vote, treaties made by Executivetreaties made by Executive

Filibuster and ClotureFilibuster and ClotureDelaying debate or blocking legislation is Delaying debate or blocking legislation is

called filibuster called filibuster Senators have two freedoms no other Senators have two freedoms no other

legislator worldwide possesses:legislator worldwide possesses:

A)A)Unlimited debateUnlimited debate

B)B)Unlimited opportunity to offer amendmentsUnlimited opportunity to offer amendments In 1917 Senate adopted Cloture to end In 1917 Senate adopted Cloture to end

filibuster. Cloture cannot be voted until filibuster. Cloture cannot be voted until two days after it is proposed in a petition two days after it is proposed in a petition signed by 16 Senators. It requires a three-signed by 16 Senators. It requires a three-fifths votefifths vote

Senate OfficesSenate Offices Vice PresidentVice President officially serves as presiding officer of officially serves as presiding officer of

Senate, but rarely performs this roleSenate, but rarely performs this role President pro temporePresident pro tempore serves as presiding officer on a serves as presiding officer on a

day-to-day basisday-to-day basis Majority Leader is most powerful figure in SenateMajority Leader is most powerful figure in Senate Floor LeadersFloor Leaders: Majority and Minority Leader, elected by : Majority and Minority Leader, elected by

members of their party at beginning of each Congress, members of their party at beginning of each Congress, serving as serving as spokespersons for their partyspokespersons for their party. Majority . Majority Leader sets legislative programme and offers motions or Leader sets legislative programme and offers motions or amendments before any other Senator amendments before any other Senator

Majority and Minority WhipsMajority and Minority Whips: The word comes from fox-: The word comes from fox-hunting and refers to person responsible for keeping hunting and refers to person responsible for keeping dogs from straying from team. Responsible for counting dogs from straying from team. Responsible for counting heads and rounding up members for votes. Responsible heads and rounding up members for votes. Responsible for closely watching party members to determine how for closely watching party members to determine how they vote and if they attend vote procedures they vote and if they attend vote procedures

House of Representatives OfficesHouse of Representatives Offices Speaker of the House: Speaker of the House: Third Office of the UnionThird Office of the Union, , most most

important position in HRimportant position in HR, controlling schedule for , controlling schedule for House business, recognizing members during debate. House business, recognizing members during debate. Spokesperson for Majority PartySpokesperson for Majority Party

Speaker is head of majority party, but usually does not Speaker is head of majority party, but usually does not participate in debate and rarely votesparticipate in debate and rarely votes

Speaker responsible for House to pass legislation Speaker responsible for House to pass legislation supported by majority party supported by majority party

Majority Leader/Majority WhipMajority Leader/Majority Whip. ML controls party’s . ML controls party’s efforts on the floor and efforts on the floor and is second-highest ranking is second-highest ranking person of majority party. person of majority party. MW responsible for watching MW responsible for watching party members to determine how they vote party members to determine how they vote

Minority Leader/Minority WhipMinority Leader/Minority Whip: th: they perform the same job for minority party