The People’s BranchThe People’s BranchWayne Phaneuf – Cuthbertson High School, Union County NCWayne Phaneuf – Cuthbertson High School, Union County NC

If census shows a need to reapportion seats, state legislatures redraw district lines [another example of federalism]

District populations must be roughly equal [Baker v. Carr (1962)] Sometimes lines are drawn in odd fashion to favor one party Such districts are said to be gerrymandered They usually become “safe seats” NC 12th was challenged in Shaw v. Reno (1992)

Richard Burr [R-NC]Richard Burr [R-NC]

Governor Pat McCrory [R]

Robert Pettinger Robert Pettinger [R-NC 9[R-NC 9thth] ]

U.S. Senators for North Carolina

Alma Adams [D-NC 12th]

Thom Tillis [R-NC]

Illinois 4th

Arizona 2nd

• Presiding Officer elected by majority Presiding Officer elected by majority party; #3 in presidential successionparty; #3 in presidential succession• Has broad powers over bills and Has broad powers over bills and committeescommittees

• floor leaders organize floor leaders organize party efforts +/- billsparty efforts +/- bills

• Whips assist floor Whips assist floor leaders by keeping them leaders by keeping them informed on members informed on members and vote countand vote count

Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi[D-CA][D-CA]

Steny HoyerSteny Hoyer[D-MD][D-MD]

Paul RyanPaul Ryan[R-WI][R-WI]

Kevin Kevin McCarthyMcCarthy

[R-CA][R-CA]

Steve Scalise Steve Scalise [R-LA][R-LA]

• The Constitution names the The Constitution names the VP as pres. of the SenateVP as pres. of the Senate• Can only vote to break a tieCan only vote to break a tie• usually not thereusually not there

• Real power is w/Maj. Real power is w/Maj. Ldr. – through Ldr. – through organization and organization and personalitypersonality• coordinates w/Min. coordinates w/Min. Ldr.Ldr.

• Power and resp. Power and resp. of whips much like of whips much like in the Housein the House

• Honorary position• Presiding officer but little power• #4 in line of presidential succession

Orrin Hatch [R-UT]Orrin Hatch [R-UT]

Mike Pence - VPMike Pence - VP

Mitch McConnellMitch McConnell[R-KY][R-KY]

John CornynJohn Cornyn[R-TX][R-TX]

Charles Charles SchumerSchumer[D-NY][D-NY]

Dick DurbinDick Durbin[D-IL][D-IL]

Established in both houses to deal with Established in both houses to deal with workloadworkload

Standing committees Where most of Congress’s work is done Permanent, subject matter committees

[e.g. armed services, foreign relations, judiciary]

Divided into more specific sub-committees Life and death power over bills [more later] Controlled by chairpersons Work of lobbyists – the good and the bad

Select committees Formed for a specific purpose Last for a few to several congresses

Joint committees – members from both houses Conference committee – special committee

dealing with bills that passed both houses[more later]

So why does it take so long to get anything decided or anything done?So why does it take so long to get anything decided or anything done?

Legislative powers – making law Making law based on expressed powers [Art. I, sec. 8] use of implied power to apply expressed powers [e.g. commerce

power implies laws for airline regulation] Appropriation and allocating of money for specific purposes Regulation of business, military and foreign policy

Non-legislative powers Proposal of amendments Impeachment – investigate, charge, try, remove or not Investigative power – looking into matters that fall within the

scope of its legislative powers Approval of presidential appointments and treaties [Senate’s

authority to “advise and consent”] Electoral power – 12th amendment: if no presidential gets a clear

electoral majority, the House votes – one vote per state. Vote determined by state’s House caucus [members]

Limits on power: habeas corpus, bills of attainder, ex post facto laws

Casework: Helping constituents with issues between them

and the federal government Connection with voters and power to do what they

cannot. A way to help and represent the people Bringing home jobs and grants [pork barrel

projects] Oh, it also helps at reelection time Staffers do nearly all of this work

Resources: Member and committee staff members: research, Member and committee staff members: research,

communications, campaigning, polling, policy, etc.communications, campaigning, polling, policy, etc. Congressional Budget Office [CBO] – information Congressional Budget Office [CBO] – information

and analysis for budget decisions – usually more and analysis for budget decisions – usually more accurate projections than the OMBaccurate projections than the OMB

General Accounting Office [GAO] – reviews and General Accounting Office [GAO] – reviews and makes recommendations on financial activities of makes recommendations on financial activities of federal agenciesfederal agencies

The Library of Congress – research source for The Library of Congress – research source for members of Congress and their staffsmembers of Congress and their staffs

Government Printing OfficeGovernment Printing Office

““Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.” them being made.” Otto von BismarckGerman Prussian German Prussian politician politician

1,000s of bills are introduced each session1,000s of bills are introduced each session Only about 1% become lawOnly about 1% become law The process is long, drawn out, cumbersome The process is long, drawn out, cumbersome

and sometimes downright uglyand sometimes downright ugly But……But……

How many laws do you How many laws do you really really want to live with?want to live with? In the competition between houses, parties In the competition between houses, parties

and other interested parties, unneeded or even and other interested parties, unneeded or even harmful bills can be weeded outharmful bills can be weeded out

Its democratic, in that many thousands get a Its democratic, in that many thousands get a chance to see and consider each bill, and chance to see and consider each bill, and weigh in on it before it goes to a voteweigh in on it before it goes to a vote

It’s not very efficient, but it is effectiveIt’s not very efficient, but it is effective

Introduced Introduced to Senateto Senate• given a #given a #•PrintedPrinted•Assigned Assigned to to committeecommittee

Committee action•ReviseRevise•PigeonholPigeonholee•Vote Vote favorable/ favorable/ unfavorablunfavorablee

Floor debate•No subject No subject limitslimits•No time No time limitslimits

Introduced Introduced to Houseto House• given a #given a #•PrintedPrinted•Assigned Assigned to to committeecommittee

Committee action•ReviseRevise•PigeonholPigeonholee•Vote Vote favorable/ favorable/ unfavorablunfavorablee

Rules Rules CommitteeCommittee•Rule states:Rule states:•Time limitsTime limits•AmendmentAmendmentss•calendarcalendar

Floor Floor debatedebate•According According to rulesto rules

Conference Conference CommitteeCommittee•Resolve Resolve differencesdifferences

POTUSPOTUS

LawLaw•w/signaturew/signature•w/o signaturew/o signature

•VetoVeto•Pocket Pocket vetoveto