Unit Two: The Legislative Branch Chapter 10- Congress Chapter 11- Powers of Congress Chapter 12- Congress in Action.

Unit Two: The Legislative Branch

Chapter 10- Congress

Chapter 11- Powers of Congress

Chapter 12- Congress in Action

Congress Chapter 10

National Legislature

The House Representatives

The Senate

The National Legislature

You live in a representative democracy You choose men and women to make

decision for you about the government. Article 1 of the constitution is dedicated to the

powers of the congress. Congress is bicameral, why?

Article 1, Section 1

“All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in the Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives”

Is congress set up fairly?

The Senate is based on even representation for every state.

The House is based on population. How many reps does California have? How many reps does Wyoming have? How many reps does Pennsylvania have? How many reps does Texas have?

Should each state have equal say?

Terms and Sessions

Each term last 2 years. Starts on 1/3/odd years.

Sessions- there are 2 sessions for each term. One per year. 20th Amendment section 2

“The Congress shall assemble at least once every year”

Special Sessions

The President may call special sessions to deal with pressing issues. Only 26 have been called in U.S. history

The last one was by President Truman in 1948 over inflation.

Congress meets almost year round today, reduces the need for Special Session.

The House of Representatives

435 members Apportioned according to a states population States with 1 Representatives

Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming.

California has 53 and Texas has 35.

Reapportionment

Article 1 set the reapportionment, after each decennial census (10 years).

Permanent size of the House is 435, it started out at 65.

What if Puerto Rico were to become the 51st state?

Qualifications for House

25 years of age Citizen for 7 years Inhabit the state in which they are running

Members can be expelled for behavior Supporting rebellion in 1861

John Clark (Mo), John Reid (Mo), and Henry Burnett (Ky) 1980 Michael Myers of PA was convicted of bribery. 2002 James Traficant of Ohio was convicted of ten

counts including bribery, obstruction of justice, and racketeering.

Re-elected every 2 years.

Senate

Election and Term Started off with 22

members in 1789 Today 100 Continuous Body-

1/3 elected every 2 years. All of its seats are never up for election.

6 year terms

Qualifications 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Live in the state where

you were elected.

Differences between the House and the Senate

House Larger Body Shorter Term Smaller constituencies Younger membership Less Prestige Lower Visibility

Senate Smaller Body Longer Term Larger constituencies

(entire state) Older membership More prestige Higher visibility

Pennsylvania U.S. Representatives

The House of Representatives: Matt Carwright( D) Tom Marino ( R )

The United States Senate: Robert Casey ( D ) Patrick Toomey ( R )

Duties of a Congressmen

Legislature Committee member Representative of the Constituents Servant to the Constituents Politician

Chapter 11

Powers of Congress

Congressional Powers

Expressed-written out in the Constitution Article 1, section 8, clauses 1-17

Implied-Necessary and Proper Clause Article 1, section 8, clauses 18

Inherent-those powers of the National Government that belong to it because it is a sovereign state.

Expressed Peace Powers of Congress

1. Lay and collect taxes2. Borrow money3. Regulate foreign and

interstate commerce4. Establish naturalization

and bankruptcy laws5. Coin money6. Punish counterfeiters7. Establish a post office

8. To grant patents and copyrights

9. Create courts inferior to the Supreme Court

10. To define punishment for offenses against the law of the nation

11. Jurisdiction over national parks, forts, etc.

12. Necessary and proper clause

Expressed War Powers

1. To declare war, letters of reprisal, make rules concerning capture

2. To raise and support armies

3. To provide for and maintain a navy

4. To make laws governing land and naval forces

5. To provide for calling forth militia to execute federal laws, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions

6. To provide for arming, organizing, and disciplining the militia

Implied Powers Of Congress

Not written, but still accepted as part of the scope of Congressional power.

1. Establish a Federal Reserve Bank

2. Make tax evasion a crime

3. Draft men and women into the armed forces

4. Fix minimum wage and maximum work hours

Nonlegislative Powers

1. Constitutional Amendment (happened 33 X’s)1. Congress can propose a Constitutional Amendment

with a 2/3 vote from each house

2. Has happened 33 times

2. Impeachment The President and VP can be remove from office on

impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors”

The House can bring the charges and the Senate has the power to judge the cases

3. Executive Powers Appointment confirmation

Majority vote by the Senate for all cabinet and federal appointees.

Approval of Treaties The Senate may approve or reject a treaty as it

stands, or it may offer amendments, reservations, or understanding to it

4. Investigative Powers Congress has the power to investigate any matter that

falls within the scope of its legislative scope Making legislation, oversee the operations of

executive offices, focus public attention, expose the activities of public officials, promote the interest of a member of Congress

What do they get paid?

Senators $174,000 per year President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy

makes $193,400

Representatives $165,200 per year The Speaker of the House makes

$212,100 per year.

Demographics for Congress

Chapter 12

Congress in Action

The Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House- Is both the elected presiding officer of the House

and the leader of its majority party. Roles of the Speaker-

Presides over all sessions of the House. Interprets and applies the rules. Names members of all select and conference

committees. Signs all bills and resolutions passed by the House.

John Boehner (R) since January 5, 2011.

The President of the Senate

President of the Senate- Not a member of the Senate. Not always a member of the majority party. Vice President of the United States.

Joe Biden (D)

President Pro- Tempore- Serves as President of the Senate when the Vice

President is absent. Selected by the Senate and a member of the

majority party. Patrick Leahy (D)

Important Positions in the Senate

Majority Leader- Harry Reid (D) since January 2007.

Minority Leader- Mitch McConnell (R) since January 2007.

These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokespeople for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate.

Floor Leaders

Floor Leader- Legislative strategists. Try to carry out the decisions of their parties’

caucuses and steer the floor action to their parties’ benefit.

Whip- The job of a whip is to check with party

members and advise the floor leader of the number of votes that can be counted on.

The Party Caucus

Closed meeting of the members of each party in each house.

Meets before Congress goes into session in January and occasionally during a session.

Deals with party organization. The party’s flood leaders and possibly a

stance on particular bills.

Standing Committees

Standing Committees- Permanent committee All similar bills are sent to them. The Speaker and the President of the Senate decide what

bills will go where. Ex. Standing Committees-

Agriculture, the House Ways and Means Committee Select Committee-

A special group set up for a specific purpose and for a limited time.

Joint Committee- Committee composed of member of both houses.