The Legislative Branch: The U.S. Congress

Michael Quinones, NBCTwww.socialstudiesguy.com

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APK: Activation of Prior KnowledgeWrite at least 2-3 sentences describing a time when…

You selected or chose someone to do something for you [Describe how well or poorly the

person performed].

Question of the Day

How does the United States Congress provide leadership and representation for citizens of the United States?

Terms/Words/Topics You Need To Look For

Term/Topic Description Importance? Purpose?

Bicameral

Expressed powers

Implied powers

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Bill of Attainder

Ex Post Facto

Constituents

Impeach

Filibuster

The United States Congress• The Legislative Branch is also known as

the Congress.

• The Congress is a bicameral legislature.

• Two (2) separate houses (chambers).

• Senate [2 senators per state who represent the entire state]

• House of Representatives [Number of representatives per state based on the state’s population; members of the house represent their district]

• The powers of Congress are listed in the Constitution

• Those that are clearly listed such as making laws are called expressed powers

• Those not so clear are called implied powers such as what the Elastic Clause may allow.

Congress is very powerful but….

Why are these limits on Congress important?[Writ of Habeas Corpus, Bill of Attainder, Ex Post Facto laws]

Which of these powers is the most unfair [why?]?

• Because of abuses of power by abusive governments in Europe, before the United States was created, certain powers were kept from Congress:

According to Article I of the U.S. Constitution Congress may not…

• Suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus-Latin means to have the body [right of accused criminal to go before a judge to hear charges against him]

• Pass bills of attainder [convicting people of crimes by a legislature without the option of a jury]

• Pass ex post facto laws [to make something a crime that was not a crime when originally committed]

House of Representatives: How is the H.O.R. more responsive to the people?

Jobs, Responsibilities and Powers

• Members of the House of Representatives represent their constituents [people of a specific district] who elect them to serve the interests of the people of the district in the Congress.

• Members serve two (2) year terms of office after elected.• All budget and tax bills must originate in the House of Representatives [not

the Senate]• Have the sole power to impeach [the beginning of the removal process] of

government officials.• The House of Representatives has a leader called the House Speaker who is

a member of the majority political party [if the president and vice president both die the speaker becomes president].

• The Speaker of the House controls debate and what bills are eventually voted on by the House of Representatives.

Qualifications[1] Have to be 25 yrs old[2] Have be a citizen of U.S[3] Have to reside in that state’s district

The Senate: How is the Senate more powerful than the H.O.R.?

Jobs, Responsibilities and Powers

• Members of the Senate represent their constituents [people of the entire state] who elect them to serve the interests of the people of the state in the Congress.

• Two (2) senators per state• Senators serve six (6) year terms of office• Has sole power to ratify treaties• Have the sole power to try impeachments

[decide whether government officials are removed]

• Has sole power to confirm [by holding hearings] appointed members of the executive branch and judicial branch

• Examples- members of the Cabinet and Supreme Court Justices.

• Has sole power to filibuster [a debate intended to stall debate and vote on a bill/confirmation]

• To end a filibuster 60% of senators present may vote to end debate and ask for a vote [called a cloture vote]

Senator engaged in a filibusterQualifications[1] Have to be 30 yrs old[2] Have to be a citizen of U.S[3] Have to reside in that state

Understanding WordsUnderstanding Words-Read each of the sentences on the left and right.-Read each of the sentences on the left and right.

-Decide what each -Decide what each underlinedunderlined word means. word means.-Write the -Write the underlinedunderlined word in a sentence of your own. word in a sentence of your own.

• The students The students expressedexpressed their opinions very their opinions very clearly about the situation.clearly about the situation.

• The kiss The kiss expressed expressed exactly what the man exactly what the man was feeling towards the woman.was feeling towards the woman.

• The rude comment by the young woman The rude comment by the young woman impliedimplied that she did not like him. that she did not like him.

• Somehow, by John wearing a pink shirt and Somehow, by John wearing a pink shirt and lavender pants, people lavender pants, people impliedimplied he was gay. he was gay.

• In order to postpone going to bed Jane In order to postpone going to bed Jane decided to decided to filibusterfilibuster her parents with her parents with endless reasons she should stay awake endless reasons she should stay awake longer.longer.

• Pete decided to Pete decided to filibusterfilibuster his father with his father with small talk while his girlfriend snuck out the small talk while his girlfriend snuck out the back door.back door.

• The teacher The teacher confirmedconfirmed that Alex’s that Alex’s answer to the question was correct.answer to the question was correct.

• The pleasant smile on Mark’s face The pleasant smile on Mark’s face was all the was all the confirmationconfirmation Emily Emily needed to know that he was happy.needed to know that he was happy.

• After being denied permission, to go After being denied permission, to go out by her mother, Pam asked her out by her mother, Pam asked her dad to dad to overrideoverride that decision. that decision.

• Certain computer viruses can Certain computer viruses can overrideoverride important, vital programs. important, vital programs.

A A committeecommittee composed of seniors composed of seniors

was selected to decide which science was selected to decide which science project was the best.project was the best.

• The winner of the beauty contest was The winner of the beauty contest was chosen by a group of experts on the chosen by a group of experts on the fashion fashion committeecommittee..

Be on the look out forBe on the look out for ‘s‘s

• Pay careful attention to all the information you are about Pay careful attention to all the information you are about to learn regarding the to learn regarding the U.S. CongressU.S. Congress and its structure. and its structure.

• Be sure to look for questions with a beside them Be sure to look for questions with a beside them because you must because you must copy them downcopy them down andand answer themanswer them completely using all information you have.completely using all information you have.

• Your answers must be in Your answers must be in complete sentencescomplete sentences andand in in your own wordsyour own words. .

Terms/Words/Topics You Need To Look For

Term/Topic Description Importance? Purpose?

Legislation

Franking Privilege

Bill

Veto

Veto Override

Congressional Committee

Why does Congress make laws?• An idea, issue or problem must arise

• Examples- • Too many illegal immigrants• Drunk driving accidents• Legal smoking age • Homosexual marriage

• Public outrage may lead to legislation [law]

• People may petition their representatives in Congress to get a law passed or prevent one of the above issues from becoming a law.

• Sometimes members of Congress [from the Senate or House] send out letters through the mail to inform constituents of issues.

• Members of Congress have a franking privilege [may send out free mail] that allows them to share information with people they represent.

How does a bill become law?• A member of Congress

[Senator/Representative] proposes a bill [“Wannabe” law]

• Members of that Chamber debate the bill.• Discuss the positives and negatives.

• After debate on the bill it goes to committee for hearings

• The law is “proofread,” edited and finalized

• Bill is voted on in Senate, if passed, it goes to the HOR if passed…

• It goes to the president for approval

• If he signs it, it becomes a law.

• If not he can veto [reject the bill]

• What can Congress do in that case?

• Override the veto [revote for a super majority]

• A revote with 2/3 [66%] of both houses

The Congressional Committee System Why is having committees a good idea?

• It would be impossible for every member of Congress to think of every idea, solution or issue that his/her constituents needs answered or taken care of.

• Each house of Congress has committees [sometimes sub-committees too] set up to consider and write bills, hold hearings, investigate problems.

• Each committee has a leader [a chairperson] who controls debate and questioning. The leader is chosen by seniority [how long the person has served in Congress].

Legislative [Congress] Branch Skit• In groups of no more than five [5] students choose one [1] of the

following topics to create a skit to present to the class [You must introduce each member’s role before you present to class]:

[1] U.S. Senate filibuster

[2] Veto override process

[3] Congressional Committee hearing

[4] Member of Congress [senator or House Rep] talking to a concerned constituent.

[5] Impeachment Process

Image Sources

• http://www.germane-software.com/~ser/albums/dc_6_03/img_0063.sized.jpg

• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/congress/jan-june06/immi1.jpg• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/congress/jan-june05/0622en_sen.jpg• http://www.house.gov/towns/images/chamber.jpg• http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/graphic/xlarge/

08_30_05(15-29-12)_108th_xl.jpg• http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/msh0063l.jpg• http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/Assets/filibuster.jpg• http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/000000d9.jpg• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/17488944_a6fa009864.jpg?v=0• http://www.apa.org/ppo/images/btltable.jpg• http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/hsc4492l.jpg• http://cf1.netmegs.com/memestream/habeas%20corpus.jpg