Legislative Legislative BranchBranch

Law Making Branch

vocabularyvocabulary1. Bicameral2. Census3. Constituent4. Gerrymander5. Majority party6. Minority party7. Standing Committee8. Seniority9. Expressed powers10.Implied powers11.Elastic clause12.Impeach13.Writ of habeas corpus14.Bill of attainder

15. Ex post facto law16. Franking privilege17. Lobbyist18. Casework19. Pork-barrel project20. Joint resolution21. Special-interest group22. Filibuster23. Cloture24. Voice vote25. Standing vote26. Roll-call27. Veto28. Pocket veto

QualificationsQualificationsHouse of

Representatives• 25 Years old• US citizen for 7

years• Live in state and

district elected from.

Senate• 30 Years old• US citizen for 9

years• Live in state

elected from.

Patrick McHenry D 10th districtRichard Burr R Thom Tillis R Robert Pittenger R

9th district

Terms and Terms and MembershipMembership

House of Representatives

• Two year terms• 435 Members

• North Carolina has 13

• California has 53• Each state has at

least 1

Senate• Six year terms• 100 members• Each state has two• 1/3 is up for

reelection every 2 yrs.

• Expected to prevent quick unwise changes in the law

Special PowersSpecial PowersHouse of

Representatives• Elects the

President if no majority.

• Starts Impeachment

Senate• Ratify treaties (2/3

vote)• Elects VP if no

majority.• Act as the jury in

Impeachment trials.

• Confirms Presidential appointments.

Congressional BenefitsCongressional Benefits• Salary: Approximately $174,000 a year.• Trips to home state are paid for.• Given discounts on many services Franking

Privilege: Send job related mail without postage

Other Congressional Allowances - office personnel

• Given immunity for minor crimes.• Members’ Representational Allowance(MRA) -

$573.9 million for fiscal year 2012 (Congress)• Senators’ Official Personnel and Office

Expense Account (SOPOEA) – 396.2 million for fiscal year 2012.

• .

PunishmentsPunishments• Expulsion: Forced to leave. 2/3 vote by

either house.• Censure: Wrongdoings are made public.

(Very embarrassing).

• A few recent examples - • Anthony Weiner Barney Frank

Larry Craig Fred Richmond Edward Kennedy Dan Crane Gerry StuddsMark Foley Wayne Hays Mel Reynolds

Congressional Congressional DistrictsDistricts

• If a state has more than one representative, district lines are drawn.

• Gerrymandering: Drawing of odd shaped districts for political reasons.

• All districts must have the same number of constituents (voters).

SessionsSessions• Regular: Two regular sessions, one

for each year beginning on Jan. 3.• Special: Called by the President.

Used normally in times of crisis.• Joint: House and Senate meet

together. (State of the Union).

Congressional LeadersCongressional Leaders• The party with the most members is the

majority party. The party with the least members is the minority party.

• Floor leaders: Make sure that upcoming bills are in the best interest of the party. (Majority and minority).

• Party whip: Keeps track of voting intentions. Works with floor leader to ensure members vote on party lines. (Majority and minority).

• Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives.

• According to the constitution, the vice-president is the leader of the Senate.

• President pro tempore: Day to day leader of the Senate.

House of Representative House of Representative

LeadersLeadersSpeaker

Paul Ryan(R-WI)Majority Leader Majority Whip Minority

Leader Minority Whip

Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Nancy Pelosi

(D-CA)Steny Hoyer

(D-MD)

Steve Scalice (R-LA)

Senate LeadersSenate LeadersVice-President of the United States

Joe Biden

President Pro Tempore

Orrin Hatch (R- UT)

Majority Leader

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Majority Whip

John Cornyn (R-TX)

Minority Leader

Minority Whip

Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Dick Durbin (D- IL

Congressional Congressional CommitteesCommittees

• Discuss, research, and revise bills. “Congress at work”.

• Standing: Permanent committees specializing in a certain area. Divided into subcommittees.

• Select: Temporary committees formed to complete a task.

• Joint: Members of both houses meet together.

• Conference: Both houses meet together to discuss different versions of a bill.

Committee Committee MembershipMembership

• Majority party has the majority on all committees. Party leadership determines membership.

• Seniority system: Desirable positions are given to those members who have served the longest.

Expressed or Implied Expressed or Implied PowerPower

• Expressed powers are those listed in Article I of the Constitution.

• Implied powers come from the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) allowing Congress to stretch its power.

Non-Legislative PowerNon-Legislative Power• Powers that make the government

run more effectively.• Congress has the power to propose

amendments, investigate legislation, investigate crimes committed by others, and impeachment.

Limits on PowerLimits on Power• Congress can not favor a state, tax

trade between states, or tax exports.• Can not pass laws that interfere with

the legal rights of individuals.• Can not interfere with powers

reserved to the states.• Checks and balances interfere with

Congressional power.• Economics will not allow congress to

pass every law.

How a Bill How a Bill Becomes a Becomes a

LawLaw

IntroductionIntroduction• In the House of Reps., a bill is

dropped into the “hopper” box and assigned to a committee.

• In the Senate, a senator submits a bill to the clerk for a reading and committee assignment.

Committee ActionCommittee Action• They can reject the bill immediately.• They can pigeonhole a bill. (Set it

aside).• They can research and approve the

bill.• They can change any and all aspects

of a bill.

Floor DebatesFloor Debates• Representatives in the house have a

time limitation.• Senators can filibuster a bill. (Talk it

to death).• Cloture: Limit the time senators may

talk. Requires a 3/5 vote.

VotingVoting• Roll call: Opinion given after name is

called.• Voice vote: Used on procedural

issues.• Standing vote: Person stands until

counted.

Presidential ActionPresidential Action• Sign a bill into law.• Veto a bill (reject).• Pocket veto: Take no action for ten

days. If congress is in session after ten days, the bill becomes a law. If Congress is not in session after ten days, the bill is rejected.