Government Institutions: Government Institutions: Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Congressional StructureCongressional Structure

Congress

House• 435 members• Representatives based

on population• 2 year term• Serve the constituents

of their DISTRICTS

Senate• 100 members• 2 per state• 6 year term• Serve the constituents

of their STATES

House of House of RepresentativRepresentativ

eses• Must be 25 years of age (when seated, not when elected).

• Must have been a citizen of the United States for 7 years.

• Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected. (NOTE: custom, but not the Constitution, requires that a representative live in the district that he or she represents.)

• Serve a two year term.

SenateSenate• Must be 30 years of age (when seated, not when

elected).

• Must have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years.

• Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected.

• Serve a six year term; 1/3 up for re-election at a time

Determining Representatives Determining Representatives in the Housein the House

• CensusCensus Every 10 years to determine population

• ReapportionmentReapportionment – Congress divides the 435 House seats between states based on population

• Redistricting - Redistricting - state legislature draws the new district lines

• Gerrymandering - Gerrymandering - drawing district lines based on some characteristic other than just population

Original Gerrymander

Non-gerrymandered Non-gerrymandered districtdistrict

Gerrymandered districtGerrymandered district

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Illinois_District_4_2004.png

Terms and SessionsTerms and Sessions

• Congressional Term for 2 yrs

• Session- 2 sessions Jan 3rd – Dec., Jan - July 31st

• Work day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

• Working time: Noon to 5 – 6 o’clock.

• Recess = temporary break

• Special Session= Outside of regular hours

• Joint Session= Both House and Senate

• “State of the Union” Called by president

Congressional Congressional LeadershipLeadership

CongressCongressCongressCongressSenateSenate

Upper HouseSenateSenate

Upper HouseHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Lower HouseHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Lower House

President of SenatePresident of SenateVP of USA

President of SenatePresident of SenateVP of USA

President Pro TemporePresident Pro TemporeSenior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party

President Pro TemporePresident Pro TemporeSenior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party

435 Representatives435 RepresentativesElected by Population435 Representatives435 RepresentativesElected by Population

House Minority House Minority LeaderLeader

House Minority House Minority LeaderLeader

Speaker of HouseSpeaker of HouseMajority Leader

Speaker of HouseSpeaker of HouseMajority Leader

100 Senators100 Senators2 from each State

100 Senators100 Senators2 from each State

Senate Minority Senate Minority LeaderLeader

Senate Minority Senate Minority LeaderLeader

House Majority House Majority Floor LeaderFloor Leader

House Majority House Majority Floor LeaderFloor Leader

Senate Majority Senate Majority LeaderLeader

Senate Majority Senate Majority LeaderLeader

House Minority House Minority WhipWhip

House Minority House Minority WhipWhip

House Majority House Majority WhipWhip

House Majority House Majority WhipWhip

Senate Majority Senate Majority WhipWhip

Senate Majority Senate Majority WhipWhip

Senate Minority Senate Minority WhipWhip

Senate Minority Senate Minority WhipWhip

Leadership in the Leadership in the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSESPEAKER OF THE HOUSESelected by the majority party

John Boehner

R - Ohio

Job: Presiding Officer of the House

Power: Decides which committee a bill goes to.

Leadership in the Leadership in the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSESPEAKER OF THE HOUSESelected by the majority party

Majority LeaderMajority Leader Job: Support legislation for

party and get it passed

Eric Cantor

R - Virginia

Minority LeaderMinority Leader Job: Leads Opposition to control the majority party

Nancy Pelosi

D - California

Leadership in the Leadership in the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSESPEAKER OF THE HOUSESelected by the majority party

Majority LeaderMajority Leader Minority LeaderMinority Leader

Majority Whip Job:Assists the

leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of deputy

and assistant whips.

Minority Whip Job:

Assists the leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of

deputy and assistant whips.

Kevin McCarthy

R - California

Steny Hoyer

D - Maryland

Georgia’s RepresentationGeorgia’s Representation

• Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts.

• McEachern’s current congressional district is the 13th represented by:

Congressman

David Scott

Georgia Delegation

Jack Kingston, Sanford Bishop, Lynn Westmoreland, Hank Johnson, John Lewis, Tom Price

Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey, John Barrow, David Scott, Tom Graves

Leadership in the Leadership in the United States SenateUnited States Senate

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATEPRESIDENT OF THE SENATEThe Vice President of the United States

Vice President

Joseph Biden

Job: President of the Senate

Power: Breaks tie in legislation. Otherwise does not vote.

Leadership in the Leadership in the United States SenateUnited States Senate

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATEPRESIDENT OF THE SENATEThe Vice President of the United States

Senator Patrick Leahy

D – Vermont

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPOREPRESIDENT PRO TEMPORESelected by majority party. Usually most senior member of the Senate

majority party

Job: Presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent.

Leadership in the Leadership in the United States SenateUnited States Senate

Harry Reid

D - Nevada

Mitch McConnell

R - Kentucky

Majority LeaderMajority Leader Leads the Democratic party

Job: Guides legislation

Minority LeaderMinority Leader Leads the Republican party

Job: Leads Opposition

Other House & Senate PositionsOther House & Senate Positions

• Clerk of House does administrative duties.

• Parliamentarian keeps rule on debate.

• Chaplain prays before debate.

• Sergeant at Arms keep order.

• Official Reporters writes every single word in meeting.

• Post Master sees that everything is distributed.

Georgia’s Representation

Senator

Saxby Chambliss

AND

Senator

Johnny Isakson

Congressional Rules and Congressional Rules and BenefitsBenefits

Congressional ExpectationsCongressional Expectations• Loyalty to chamber – don’t talk about them

• Civility to each other – Polite, courteous

• Seniority – the most senior members get more choice of assignments

• Specialization - become an expert in an area

• Reciprocity (aka logrolling)-support for each others bill. “I’ll help pass your transportation bill now if you help pass my health care bill when it comes to the floor.”

Congressional RepresentationCongressional Representation• Delegate – follows the advice and instruction of

constituents

• Trustee - assume the people put you in, so now you vote your conscience

• Politico - uses whichever will help politically; become a delegate on pork barrel issues and a trustee on all others

Compensation and BenefitsCompensation and Benefits

Salaries - $174,000 per yearSenate LeadershipMajority Party Leader - $193,400Minority Party Leader - $193,400

House LeadershipSpeaker of the House - $223,500Majority Leader - $193,400Minority Leader - $193,400

Compensation and BenefitsCompensation and Benefits

• Offices – home state & DC

• Expense Accounts

• Stationary and Postage (Franking privilege)

• Pension Plan and Retirement Income

• Incumbency – advantage of already holding office – helps in re-election

Congressional PowersCongressional Powers

Congressional PowersCongressional Powers

Enumerated listed in Article I Section 8; most important

Implied necessary and proper/elastic clausedo what necessary to carry out enumeratedallows for today's laws

Denied ex post factobill of attaindersuspend writ of habeas corpusgrant titles of nobility

Enumerated listed in Article I Section 8; most important

Implied necessary and proper/elastic clausedo what necessary to carry out enumeratedallows for today's laws

Denied ex post factobill of attaindersuspend writ of habeas corpusgrant titles of nobility

Delegated/Enumerated/Expressed Powers are: Specifically Granted in Constitution

Legislative Powers1. Provide common defense2. Make citizenship rules3. Run military (armed services)4. Declare War5. Supervise Washington DC6. Raise Money (taxes)7. Regulate Trade8. Spend Money (pay bills, fund programs)9. Coin money (and set value)10. Run Post Office & Roads11. Issue Copyrights & Patents12. Establish Federal Courts13. Set number of justices on Supreme Court

Non-legislative Powers

1. Advice and Consent

(Senate approve treaties & appointments)

2. Impeachment Charges (House)

3. Convict & Remove Impeached Officials (Senate)

4. Admit new states

5. Amend the Constitution

6. Count Electoral Votes

(Senate Counts; House votes if not 270 vote)

7. Serve as “watchdog” over government

Prohibited Powers - Limits on Congress

writ of habeas corpusCan’t put you in jail without telling you charges

bills of attainderCan’t pass law that punishes group without trial

ex post facto lawsCan’t pass a retroactive law charging you for something that was legal when you did it

Implied Powers are:

Laws needed to help carry out the enumerated powers (Necessary & Proper/Elastic Clause)

• Site chosen in 1791; British burned in 1814

• 300 feet to top of statue; Freedom statue on top is 19 feet 6 inches

• sits on 3.5 acres; 168 acres around it designated to capitol

• diameter of rotunda 95'; can stand on one side and hear whisper on other side

• original rule was that nothing could be higher than freedom statue; exception was made for Washington monument

Tidbits about the CapitolTidbits about the Capitol

Capitol Building Architecture

360 Tour of Capitol

Capitol Grounds

Learning Modules