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

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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.

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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

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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