Government Institutions: Legislative Branch
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Transcript of Government Institutions: Legislative Branch
Government Institutions: Legislative Branch Congressional
Structure Congress Senate House 100 members 435 members 2 per
state
6 year term Serve the constituents of their STATES House 435
members Representatives based on population 2 year term Serve the
constituents of their DISTRICTS House of Representatives
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. Senate
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
in the House
Census Every 10 years to determine population Reapportionment
Congress divides the 435 House seats between states based on
population Redistricting -state legislature draws the new district
lines Gerrymandering - drawing district lines based on some
characteristic other than just population Original Gerrymander
Non-gerrymandered district Terms 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 oclock.
Recess = temporary break Special Session= Outside of regular hours
Joint Session= Both House and Senate State of the Union Called by
president Congressional Leadership Leadership in the House of
Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Job: Presiding
Officer of the House Power: Decides which committee a bill goes to.
Paul Ryan R Wisconsin Leadership in the House of
Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Majority Leader
Leads the Republican partyJob: Support legislation for party and
get it passed Minority LeaderLeads the Democratic party Job: Leads
Opposition to control the majority party Kevin McCarthy R
California Nancy Pelosi D California Leadership in the House of
Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Majority Leader
Minority 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. Steny Hoyer D - Maryland Steve Scalise
R Louisiana Georgias Representation
Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts. McEacherns
current congressional district is the 13th represented by:
Congressman David Scott Georgia Delegation 114th Buddy Carter,
Sanford Bishop, Lynn Westmoreland, Hank Johnson, John Lewis, Tom
Price Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Jody Hice, Barry
Loudermilk, Rick Allen, David Scott, Tom Graves Leadership in the
United States Senate Leadership in the United States Senate
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The 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 United States Senate
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the United States
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Selected by majority party. Usually most
senior member of the Senate majority party Job: Presides over the
Senate when the Vice President is absent. Senator Orrin Hatch R
Utah Leadership in the United States Senate
Majority Leader Leads the Democratic partyJob: Guides legislation
Minority LeaderLeads the Republican party Job: Leads Opposition
Mitch McConnell R - Kentucky Harry Reid D - Nevada Georgias
Representation
Senator Johnny Isakson Senator David Perdue AND House of
Representatives
Congress Senate Upper House House of Representatives Lower House
President of Senate VP of USA Speaker of House Majority Leader
President Pro Tempore Senior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party
House Majority Floor Leader House Minority Leader Senate Majority
Leader Senate Minority Leader House Majority Whip House Minority
Whip Senate Majority Whip Senate Minority Whip 100 Senators 2 from
each State 435 Representatives Elected by Population Other 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. Congressional Rules and
Benefits Congressional Expectations
Loyalty to chamber dont 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.Ill help
pass your transportation bill now if you help pass my health care
bill when it comes to the floor. Congressional 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
Benefits
Salaries-$174,000 per year Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader
- $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority
Leader - $193,400 Compensation 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 Powers Congressional Powers Enumeratedlisted in
Article I Section 8; most important Impliednecessary and
proper/elastic clause do what necessary to carry out enumerated
allows for today's laws Deniedex post facto bill of attainder
suspend writ of habeas corpus grant titles of nobility
Delegated/Enumerated/Expressed Powers are: Specifically Granted in
Constitution
Legislative Powers 1.Provide common defense 2.Make citizenship
rules 3.Run military (armed services) 4.Declare War 5.Supervise
Washington DC 6.Raise Money (taxes) 7.Regulate Trade 8.Spend Money
(pay bills, fund programs) 9.Coin money (and set value) 10.Run Post
Office & Roads 11.Issue Copyrights & Patents 12.Establish
Federal Courts 13.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 corpus
Cant put you in jail without telling you charges bills of attainder
Cant pass law that punishes group without trial ex post facto laws
Cant pass a retroactive law charging youfor something that was
legal when you did it Implied Powers are: Laws needed to help carry
out the enumerated powers (Necessary & Proper/Elastic Clause)
Capitol Tidbits Site chosen in 1791; British burned in 1814
300 feet to top of statue Freedom Statue is 19 6 Capitol sits on
3.5 acres; 168 acres around it are designated to the capitol
Diameter of Rotunda is 95 (whisper heard across the room) Original
rule was that nothing could be higher than Freedom Statue;
exception made for Washington monument Capitol Building
Architecture 360 Tour of Capitol Capitol Grounds Learning Modules
How a Bill Becomes a Law How a Bill Becomes a Law. A Bill is a
proposed law The Sponsor is the person who proposes the bill Types
of Bills Public Bills-applies to general public Private Bills
concern individuals How a Bill Becomes a Law Sub Committee Standing
Committee Rules
House Floor House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference
Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor
Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Sub Committee A Bill
Can Start in Either the House or Senate
House of Representatives Senate Senate - a motion from the
floor
A Bill Can Start in Either the House or Senate Introducing a Bill
Senate - a motion from the floor House - placed in a box called the
Hopper Assign Bills to Committees
Each bill is sent to a standing (permanent) committee by either
the: Speaker of the House Majority Leader of the Senate (with help
of the Steering Committee) Types of Committees Standing Committees
(Permanent)
Specialized committee: bills fall under their jurisdiction Select
Committees Temporary committees set up for investigative purposes
Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses of Congress
Standing Committee House of Representatives Sub Committee Standing
Committee House of Representatives Standing Committee research the
bill to see if it will work hear testimony from the public,
interest group lobbyists and experts in the field look for
loopholes (ways people can get around the new law) Committee
Choices Pigeon hole - Set aside to discuss later (usually kills the
bill because it never gets discussed later) Clean bill Get rid of
bill and write a new one to replace it Mark Up- Make changes to the
bill in committee or subcommittee Report bill favorably to floor
(Pass the bill as it is) Report bill unfavorably to floor (so the
committee isnt responsible for killing it by pigeonholeThis is done
if the law is controversial and known by general public) Saving a
Bill from Committee
When any bill has been in a House Committee for more than 30 days,
a representative can ask the Bypass Committee to use a Discharge
Petition (which requires a majority vote) to send the bill to the
House floor. Calendars Once passed by committee the bill is put on
a calendar.Each bill must be voted on in the order it is placed on
the calendar. HouseRevenue ($$) bills UnionAll other public bills
PrivatePrivate Bills Consent No discussion needed, just a vote Sub
Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives House Floor
Debate The HOUSE Rules Committee
(VERY POWERFUL) Places all House bills on the calendar Set rules
for debate (length of total debate and individual speaker time) Set
rules for amendments Open Rule no limit on # of changes Closed Rule
no changes allowed Modified Rule limited # of changes Committee of
the Whole can be used to continue debate (requires 100 reps to be
in chamber) but all actions must be approved by the entire House.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of
Representatives House Floor Debate House Debate Rules Only one bill
at a time can be debated Debate must be germane (related to topic)
Debate time is limited Senate Debate Rules 2 or 3 bills can be
debated at a time Debate does not have to be germane Debate time is
NOT limited Filibusters - unlimited speaking on any issue Cloture
Motion by 16 senators PRIOR TO a filibuster 3/5 vote of Senate will
limit debate to 1 hour Floor Action on Bills Pass the bill as
written Table the bill on floor while voting for it. Send bill back
to the committee for further study Amending the Bill Senate
Only:Riders (non-germane amendments) are allowed Voting in Congress
Voice vote: All in favor, All opposed.
Standing vote: Stand up when vote is called. Roll call vote: names
called & you tell your vote. Mandatory method for overriding
Presidents veto. Electronic Vote Senate Standing Committee Senate
Standing Committee Sub Committee Senate Senate Floor Debate
Standing Committee Sub Committee Bill Passes Both Houses
If bill passes in exact same version from both Bill goes directly
to President If it is passed in two versions conference committee
is formed conference must reach agreement the revised bill is voted
on in both chambers majority vote in each House will pass bill to
the President Majority vote in each house
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of
Representatives House Floor Debate President Law Senate Senate
Floor Debate Standing Committee Majorityvote in each house for
passage. Sub Committee up the Conference Committee.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of
Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee Senate
Senate Floor Debate Members from both Senate and House make up the
Conference Committee. Standing Committee Sub Committee The bill
must be passed on each floor with no changes.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House
of Representatives House Floor Debate The bill must be passed on
each floor with no changes. Conference Committee Senate Senate
Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub Committee Sub
Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House of
Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee President
Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing Committee Sub
Committee If the President signs the bill
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House
of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee
President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor Standing
Committee If the President signs the bill then it becomes law. Sub
Committee Bill Becomes a Law When the President signs it, the bill
becomes law
If the president does not sign in 10 days and --Congress is still
in session, bill becomes law --Congress has adjourned, pocket veto
occurs If the President vetoes the bill it can still be passed with
a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. If the 2/3 of House &
2/3 of Senate override the veto, the bill becomes law If the
President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House
of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee
President Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor
Standing Committee Senate Floor If the President vetoes the bill
then it goes back to both houses. Sub Committee This time the bill
must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House Floor House
of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee
President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House Floor Senate Floor
Standing Committee Senate Floor This time the bill must be passed
by2/3 of majority to override. Sub Committee How a Bill Becomes a
Law Subcommittee House Floor Standing Committee
Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate
Conference Committee President Law Senate Senate Floor Debate House
Floor Senate Floor Standing Committee Senate Floor Subcommittee
Interest Groups in Politics What is an Interest Group?
A group of people who hold common views and who work together to
influence what the government does about those things they have in
common. Goal: Lobbying for the Cause
Lobbyists work for the interest group to get elected officials to
pass policies that will be good for their group Provide public
opinion information Provide data and statistics to support the
cause Find experts to testify in favor of laws Goal: Help get
people elected that will support the cause
Form Political Action Committees (PACs) A part of the interest
group that uses money from interest groups membership fees and
donations to educate lawmakers and to support political candidates
that support their groups' policy choices Most money goes to
incumbents (those in office and running for re-election) Types of
Interest Groups
Economic establish standards, better working conditions Determined
by the way people earn a living Business & professional, labor,
agricultural NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) American
Bankers Association AFL-CIO General Motors AMA (American Medical
Association) ABA (American Bar Association) NEA (National Education
Association) Types of Interest Groups
Social Action Membership is determined by birth Gender, Race,
Ethnicity, Age Single Issue Focus on one policy area MADD (Mothers
Against Drunk Driving) NRA (National Rifle Association) NOW
National Organization of Women NAACP National Association for
Advancement of Colored Persons National Council of Senior Citizens
Types of Interest Groups
Public Interest Environment, Voter Registration, Consumer
Protection, Historic preservation Sierra Club Common Cause
Religious support or oppose laws morally U.S. Catholic Conference
Christian Coalition