the legislative branch
DESCRIPTION
Basic info for our HS class on government, econ and current events.TRANSCRIPT
The The Legislative Legislative
BranchBranchHouse and SenateHouse and Senate
The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress: The People’s BranchThe People’s Branch
• The Role of Congress
• Senate vs. House
• Organization & Leadership
• The Committee System
• Lame Duck Session
Founders’ Intentions for Founders’ Intentions for CongressCongress
Most powerful branch of governmentMost powerful branch of government
Representative assembly Representative assembly
Accessible to the peopleAccessible to the people
House Office Buildings
Senate Office BuildingsVirtual Tour of the Senate
Chamber
The Well in the House ChamberCapitol Hill
House Wing
Senate
Wing
Why TWO Houses?
House and SenateHouse and Senate
SIX Constitutional Powers of Congress
Spend money for the general welfare
Regulate interstate commerce
Do what is "necessary and proper“
Establish and maintain the armed forces
Declare war
Raise taxes and borrow money
Key Functions of Congress
Representation: expresses
the diverse views of the American
people
Law Making: creates bills to address
issues and solve problems in American
society
Consensus Building:
reconciles competing interests
Oversight: ensures that laws passed
by Congress are effectively carried out by
the executive branch
Investigation: investigates government agencies, including the
White House---impeachment
Approval: confirms
presidential appointees and treaties (Senate
Only)
Qualifications for the Qualifications for the HouseHouse
25 years old25 years old
Citizen for at least 7 Citizen for at least 7 yearsyears
Live in state which you Live in state which you representrepresent Should live in district Should live in district
you represent too – you represent too – though strangely, this is though strangely, this is not not requiredrequired
Remember the stick figure we made?
Qualifications for Qualifications for SenateSenate
Live in state you Live in state you representrepresent
30 years old
C
itize
n fo
r at
leas
t nin
e ye
ars
The Perks of the JobThe Perks of the Job
Vote for your own pay raiseVote for your own pay raise Though it does not take effect until the next Though it does not take effect until the next
electionelection
Current salary is $_________________Current salary is $_________________ Dirt cheap life insurance, nice pension, own Dirt cheap life insurance, nice pension, own
office (w/ free parking), a staff, office (w/ free parking), a staff, Pools, saunas, restaurants, etcPools, saunas, restaurants, etc A certain amount of immunity for things A certain amount of immunity for things
said on the floor or as a result of the jobsaid on the floor or as a result of the job ““Franking” privilege – can send mail for freeFranking” privilege – can send mail for free
The Dregs of the JobThe Dregs of the Job
Away from home and family for most of the Away from home and family for most of the yearyear
Need to have a second house or apartment Need to have a second house or apartment Washington DC is VERY expensiveWashington DC is VERY expensive
Looooooooooooong hoursLooooooooooooong hours
EVERYONE expects you to solve their EVERYONE expects you to solve their problemsproblems
Congressional Congressional ElectionsElections
The ENTIRE House of Representatives is The ENTIRE House of Representatives is elected at one time.elected at one time.
Only 1/3 of the Senate is up for election in Only 1/3 of the Senate is up for election in any given year (every other year).any given year (every other year). Considered a “continuous body”Considered a “continuous body”
Importance of Winning Importance of Winning PowerPower
Majority Party gets chairmanship of Majority Party gets chairmanship of ALLALL Congressional Committees Congressional CommitteesHas more say in what will be Has more say in what will be
debateddebated
““The Lower House”The Lower House”
The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives
The House of The House of RepresentativesRepresentatives
Considered the “Lower House”Considered the “Lower House”
More “rough and tumble” than the SenateMore “rough and tumble” than the Senate
Terms last two years. Terms last two years. No limit on number of times you can be re-No limit on number of times you can be re-
electedelected
Represent a small district of a state. More Represent a small district of a state. More oriented on local needsoriented on local needs
House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives
Each state split into districtsEach state split into districts Supposed to be fairly equal in population Supposed to be fairly equal in population
About 650,000 people / districtAbout 650,000 people / district ReapportionedReapportioned and Redrawn every 10 years and Redrawn every 10 years
based on the Censusbased on the Census Lose population = lose reps = lose districts = Lose population = lose reps = lose districts =
change the map.change the map.
Congressional Districts Congressional Districts for PAfor PA
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=PA
Which congressional district are we in?So who is the Representative from OUR district??
Congressional Districts
What Happens If the What Happens If the Population Grows or Population Grows or
ShrinksShrinks At the State level – the majority party At the State level – the majority party
decides how to draw the lines for new decides how to draw the lines for new districts after each census.districts after each census. “ “ Let’s make Philly one district, and split Let’s make Philly one district, and split
Montgomery County into 5 districts – each with Montgomery County into 5 districts – each with its own Congressman”its own Congressman”
““Gerrymandering”Gerrymandering” Technically illegal, but still doneTechnically illegal, but still done
Activity: Gerrymander Island
You are part of the government of Gerrymander Island.You have taken the ten year census and found out how many people live on the island. Now you must REAPPORTION the island’s districts. There used to be five districts, now there are only four. YOU want to make sure the ____________(fill in your party here) party gets an advantage in every election for the next 10 years. To do so, you need to draw new district borders that will make sure YOUR party has more votes in each district than the other party.
HOWEVER: a couple rules applyDistricts must be contiguous – you can’t have an “island” from one district inside another.Each district must have approximately the same NUMBER of people in them.
DD
DD
DDD
D
D
DD
D
DD
D
DD
DDD
DD
DDDD
D
DD
DD
D
D
DD
D
DD
D
D
D
DD
D
DD
D
D
RR
R
RR
R
RR
RRR
R
RRR
R
RRR
R
RRR
R
D
D
D
RR
R
R
RR
RR
D
D
D
RR
R
RR
R
RR
D
D
DRR
R
R
R
R
RR
R
RR
R
RR
R
Gerrymander Island
D=57R= 54
Leaders of Leaders of the Housethe House
Speaker of the House: Presides over the Chamber
Decides Points of Order During Debate
Refers bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees
Schedules legislation for floor action
Appoints House members to committees
Majority LeaderMinority Leader
Majority & Minority LeadersDirect strategy on the House floor
Maintains alliances to gain votes and to pass/defeat bills
Develop the party’s legislative agenda w/Speaker
Ensures that committee chairs take action on bills
Eric Cantor
Nancy Pelosi
John Boehner
Speaker of the House
9 members from the majority party—chosen by the Speaker
4 members from the minority party Is the Rules Committee
democratic?
Regulates floor debate
Sets limits on amendments
Influences which bills do and do not get consideration
Supports the agenda of the majority party .
THE SENATE
The SenateThe Senate
Considered the “Upper House”Considered the “Upper House” More sophisticated than the House of Reps.More sophisticated than the House of Reps.
Serve six year termServe six year term Supposedly helps them avoid special interest Supposedly helps them avoid special interest
group influencegroup influence Spend more time working, less time Spend more time working, less time
campaigningcampaigning
Represent the entire State, not just a small Represent the entire State, not just a small districtdistrict
Lead
ers
hip
in
th
e S
enate
: Le
ad
ers
hip
in
th
e S
en
ate
: D
em
ocr
ati
cD
em
ocr
ati
c
Vice President Is the president of the Senate
May not take part in the debate
May try to influence a vote through contact with senators
May recognize members and put questions to a vote
May vote only in the event of a tie
President Pro Temp Presides when the vice president is not present
Usually is the most senior member of the majority party
Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid (D) Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnel (R)
Daniel Inouye
FilibusterFilibuster
Strom Thurmond
(1957) 24 hours
against civil rights
legislation
Huey Long
filibustered on behalf of
the poor
Is the filibuster democratic?
You tell me.
A senator refuses to give up the floor in order to prevent a vote.
If 60 senators vote to end a filibuster, a vote on the bill must be held within 30 hours. (cloture)
PhilosophiPhilosophical Roles cal Roles
of of CongressCongress
menmen
Roles of Roles of CongressmenCongressmen
““The Trustee”The Trustee” Vote their conscience, regardless of views Vote their conscience, regardless of views
held by their constituentsheld by their constituents ““The people place their trust in me to vote the The people place their trust in me to vote the
best way I can.”best way I can.”
““The Partisan”The Partisan” Feel their first duty is to their party.Feel their first duty is to their party.
““My constituents obviously believe in our party My constituents obviously believe in our party platform, that is why they elected me. platform, that is why they elected me. Therefore, I will vote my party line all of the Therefore, I will vote my party line all of the time.”time.”
Roles of Roles of CongressmenCongressmen
““The Delegate”The Delegate” Vote the way people back home want them Vote the way people back home want them
to vote, regardless of their own personal to vote, regardless of their own personal feelings on the issuefeelings on the issue ““I don’t agree with this issue, but my I don’t agree with this issue, but my
constituents say they want it, so OK.”constituents say they want it, so OK.”
““The Politico”The Politico” Votes whatever way will ensure he can stay Votes whatever way will ensure he can stay
in office.in office.
CommitteesCommittees Chaired by those in the Majority PartyChaired by those in the Majority Party
Chairs selected by seniorityChairs selected by seniority
Main typesMain types Standing = never goes awayStanding = never goes away
The House Commerce CommitteeThe House Commerce Committee Select = called for as neededSelect = called for as needed
““Select Committee on Intelligence”Select Committee on Intelligence”
Joint CommitteeJoint Committee Made up of members of both House and SenateMade up of members of both House and Senate
Conference CommitteeConference Committee Special Committee that tries to blend different versions Special Committee that tries to blend different versions
of Bills that come out of House and Senate into one final of Bills that come out of House and Senate into one final Bill.Bill.
Main typesMain types
Standing = never goes awayStanding = never goes away The House Commerce CommitteeThe House Commerce Committee
Select = called for as neededSelect = called for as needed ““Select Committee on Intelligence”Select Committee on Intelligence”
Joint CommitteeJoint Committee Made up of members of both House and SenateMade up of members of both House and Senate
Conference CommitteeConference Committee Special Committee that tries to blend different versions of Special Committee that tries to blend different versions of
Bills that come out of House and Senate into one final Bill.Bills that come out of House and Senate into one final Bill.
House Rules CommitteeHouse Rules Committee Decides which Bills get sent to which committees Decides which Bills get sent to which committees
and which bills end up getting a vote on the floor and which bills end up getting a vote on the floor of the Houseof the House
VERY POWERFUL CHAIRMANSHIPVERY POWERFUL CHAIRMANSHIP