CongressCongress

The 535The 535

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Section 1: How Congress is Section 1: How Congress is OrganizedOrganized

Bicameral: Two HousesBicameral: Two Houses

Requirements Requirements (From Article I of (From Article I of Constitution)Constitution)

RepresentativeRepresentative– At least 25At least 25– Resident of US for 7 yearsResident of US for 7 years

SenatorSenator– At least 30At least 30– Resident of US for 9 yearsResident of US for 9 years

*Both must reside in the state*Both must reside in the state

Congressional TermsCongressional Terms

One Term=Two Sessions (years)One Term=Two Sessions (years)– January through November or DecemberJanuary through November or December– 113113thth Congress began January 2013 Congress began January 2013

11stst session=Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013 session=Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013 22ndnd session=Jan. 2014-Dec.2014 session=Jan. 2014-Dec.2014

Joint Session: Joint Session: both Senate & House both Senate & House meet; usually happens for president’s meet; usually happens for president’s State of the Union address State of the Union address

House of Representatives House of Representatives (lower house)(lower house)

The number of The number of representatives each state is representatives each state is allowed is based on allowed is based on population (from the census)population (from the census)

Census: Census: population count population count every 10 yearsevery 10 years

Congressional District: Congressional District: areas with one areas with one representative elected from representative elected from each districteach district

Constituents: Constituents: people people representedrepresented

435 people (7 from AL)435 people (7 from AL) Two-year termsTwo-year terms

Gerrymandering: Gerrymandering: oddly shaped oddly shaped

districts designed to increase voting strength for a districts designed to increase voting strength for a particular groupparticular group

Named for Named for Elbridge Gerry Elbridge Gerry

1812 created new 1812 created new voting district in voting district in Andover, Andover, MassachusettsMassachusetts

Still happening Still happening today!today!

More GerrymanderingMore Gerrymandering

Representative’s Relationship Representative’s Relationship with Constituentswith Constituents

They focus on concerns of the people They focus on concerns of the people of their districtof their district

HOR is considered closest to the HOR is considered closest to the people & most democratic of the two people & most democratic of the two houses of Congresshouses of Congress

SenateSenate(upper (upper house)house)

100 members (2 per state)100 members (2 per state) Term: 6 years (staggered):Term: 6 years (staggered):

– Class I: expires 2019Class I: expires 2019– Class II: expires 2015Class II: expires 2015– Class III: expires 2017Class III: expires 2017

Staggered Terms: Approx. Staggered Terms: Approx. 1/3 of Senators are up for 1/3 of Senators are up for reelection every 2 yearsreelection every 2 years

Reason: Ensures stability Reason: Ensures stability (able to continue working on (able to continue working on time-consuming legislation)time-consuming legislation)

Majority/Minority PartyMajority/Minority Party

Majority Party: political party in which Majority Party: political party in which more than ½ of the members of the more than ½ of the members of the house (HoR or Senate) belonghouse (HoR or Senate) belong

Minority Party: other party (has less Minority Party: other party (has less control because they have fewer control because they have fewer people in the house)people in the house)

*Currently, the Republicans are the *Currently, the Republicans are the Majority Party in the HOR & Democrats Majority Party in the HOR & Democrats are the Minority Partyare the Minority Party

US Senate 2011US Senate 2011BLUE: DemocratsBLUE: DemocratsRED: RepublicansRED: Republicans

US House of Representatives US House of Representatives 20112011

BLUE: Democrats BLUE: DemocratsRED: Republicans RED: Republicans

Major PersonalitiesMajor Personalities

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House

John Boehner(R, OH)John Boehner(R, OH)

PresidentPresident

Joe Biden Joe Biden

(vice president)(vice president)

President Pro President Pro TemporeTempore

Patrick Leahy (D, VT)Patrick Leahy (D, VT)

HOUSE SENATE

Congressional Leadership Congressional Leadership

House of RepresentativesHouse of RepresentativesSpeaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House: : Level of Power: has more power than any other in Level of Power: has more power than any other in

CongressCongress(Nominated by majority party, but wins through (Nominated by majority party, but wins through

vote by entire House.)vote by entire House.)Responsibilities:Responsibilities: Presides over HousePresides over House

*Decides what bills will be debated and when*Decides what bills will be debated and when““The power of the speaker of the House is the The power of the speaker of the House is the

power of scheduling.” –Tip O’Neill (former power of scheduling.” –Tip O’Neill (former speaker)speaker)

Assigns bills to committeesAssigns bills to committees Appoints members to committeesAppoints members to committees

Congressional Leadership Congressional Leadership

SenateSenate

President Pro Tempore:President Pro Tempore: usually acts as usually acts as chairperson; not as powerful as Speaker (usually chairperson; not as powerful as Speaker (usually the senior senator for majority party)the senior senator for majority party)

““Pro Tempore” means for the time being because Pro Tempore” means for the time being because this position substitutes for the Vice President if this position substitutes for the Vice President if he is unable to be therehe is unable to be there

President:President: (Vice President) presiding officer; (Vice President) presiding officer; usually only appears for ceremonies or to break usually only appears for ceremonies or to break tie votestie votes

Floor Leaders (in both Floor Leaders (in both houses)houses)

Also called: Majority Leader/Minority Also called: Majority Leader/Minority LeaderLeaderMain Responsibility: Make sure laws Main Responsibility: Make sure laws passed are in the best interest of the passed are in the best interest of the partyparty

Job Descriptions:Job Descriptions:

1.1. Speak for party on issuesSpeak for party on issues

2.2. Try to sway votesTry to sway votes

3.3. Push bills through to be passedPush bills through to be passed

Whips (in both houses)Whips (in both houses)

Job Description: Stand in for floor Job Description: Stand in for floor leaders; keep track of where party leaders; keep track of where party leaders stand on certain issues & leaders stand on certain issues & round up fellow round up fellow senators/representatives for key senators/representatives for key votesvotes

Senate Party LeadersSenate Party LeadersMajority Leader

Harry Reid

(D), Nevada

Minority Leader

Mitch McConnell

(R), Kentucky

Democratic Whip

Richard Durbin

(D), Illinois

Republican Whip

John Kyl

(R), Arizona

House Party LeadersHouse Party LeadersMajority Leader

Eric Cantor

(R), Virginia

Minority Leader

Nancy Pelosi

(R), Ohio

Democratic Whip

Steny Hoyer

(D), Maryland

Republican Whip

Kevin McCarthy

(R), California

Committees: “Little Committees: “Little Legislatures”Legislatures”

Turn to PAGE 142Turn to PAGE 142

Senate Senate Judiciary Judiciary

CommitteCommitteee

Types of CommitteesTypes of Committees

Standing Committee vs. Select Standing Committee vs. Select CommitteeCommittee– Standing Committee: permanent Standing Committee: permanent

committees that continue to work from committees that continue to work from session to sessionsession to session

– Select Committee: created to do a Select Committee: created to do a special job for a limited timespecial job for a limited time

# of standing committees in House: 19# of standing committees in House: 19

# of standing committees in Senate: 16# of standing committees in Senate: 16

Other types of committeesOther types of committees

Joint Committee: include members of Joint Committee: include members of both housesboth houses– Examples?Examples?

Conference Committee: temporary Conference Committee: temporary committees that help House & committees that help House & Senate agree on a bill (come up with Senate agree on a bill (come up with compromise)compromise)

Factors influencing committee Factors influencing committee assignmentsassignments

Made by leaders of political partiesMade by leaders of political parties Seniority: the longer a congressman Seniority: the longer a congressman

has been in office, the better has been in office, the better assignment he/she will receiveassignment he/she will receive

Committee AssignmentsCommittee Assignments

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Section 2: Powers of CongressSection 2: Powers of Congress

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress(From Article I of Constitution)(From Article I of Constitution)

To levy and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.To levy and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. To borrow money.To borrow money. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, among To regulate commerce with foreign nations, among

the states, and with Indian tribes.the states, and with Indian tribes. To establish rules for naturalization (that is, becoming To establish rules for naturalization (that is, becoming

a citizen) and bankruptcy.a citizen) and bankruptcy. To coin money, set its value, and punish To coin money, set its value, and punish

counterfeiting.counterfeiting. To fix the standard of weights and measures.To fix the standard of weights and measures. To establish a post office and post roads.To establish a post office and post roads. To issue patents and copyrights to inventors and To issue patents and copyrights to inventors and

authors.authors. To create courts inferior to (that is, below) the To create courts inferior to (that is, below) the

Supreme Court.Supreme Court.

To define and punish piracies, felonies on the high To define and punish piracies, felonies on the high seas, and crimes against the law of nations. To seas, and crimes against the law of nations. To declare war.declare war.

To raise and support an army and navy and make To raise and support an army and navy and make rules for their governance.rules for their governance.

To provide for a militia (reserving to the states the To provide for a militia (reserving to the states the right to appoint militia officers and to train the militia right to appoint militia officers and to train the militia under congressional rule).under congressional rule).

To exercise exclusive legislative powers over the To exercise exclusive legislative powers over the seat of government (that is, the District of Columbia) seat of government (that is, the District of Columbia) and over places purchased to be federal facilities and over places purchased to be federal facilities (forts, arsenals, dockyards, and "other needful (forts, arsenals, dockyards, and "other needful buildings.")buildings.")

To "make all laws which shall be necessary and To "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for the carrying into execution the foregoing proper for the carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States." Constitution in the government of the United States."

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress ExpressedExpressed vs. vs. ImpliedImplied

– Expressed/Enumerated: Powers listed specifically in Expressed/Enumerated: Powers listed specifically in the Constitutionthe Constitution

– Implied: Powers not listed in the Constitution Implied: Powers not listed in the Constitution specifically, but guaranteed by the “Elastic” or specifically, but guaranteed by the “Elastic” or “Necessary & Proper” Clause“Necessary & Proper” Clause

Example of Implied Power:Example of Implied Power:– Section 8, Clause 18 “Section 8, Clause 18 “Elastic ClauseElastic Clause””““to make all laws which shall be to make all laws which shall be necessary and propernecessary and proper for for

carrying into execution...powers vested by this Constitution carrying into execution...powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States." in the government of the United States."

Ex. Law to limit air/water pollution based on power to regulate Ex. Law to limit air/water pollution based on power to regulate interstate commerceinterstate commerce

Ex. that was challenged by SC: Violence Against Women Act Ex. that was challenged by SC: Violence Against Women Act gave women right to sue attackers in federal court was gave women right to sue attackers in federal court was declared unconstitutional in declared unconstitutional in US v. MorrisonUS v. Morrison, 2000, 2000

Selected Legislative Powers of Selected Legislative Powers of CongressCongress

Money PowersMoney Powers– Levy and collect taxesLevy and collect taxes– Borrow moneyBorrow money– Coin, or create moneyCoin, or create money

Commerce PowersCommerce Powers– Regulate foreign & interstate (between states) tradeRegulate foreign & interstate (between states) trade

Military & Foreign PowersMilitary & Foreign Powers– Declare warDeclare war– Raise, support and regulate an army & navyRaise, support and regulate an army & navy

Other Legislative PowersOther Legislative Powers– Establish laws of naturalizationEstablish laws of naturalization– Establish post officesEstablish post offices– Provide for laws necessary and proper for carrying out other Provide for laws necessary and proper for carrying out other

listed powers (necessary and proper clause)listed powers (necessary and proper clause)

Declaring WarDeclaring War Congress has power to declare war, but President Congress has power to declare war, but President

often sends troops into action without this often sends troops into action without this declarationdeclaration– Examples: Korea, Vietnam, IraqExamples: Korea, Vietnam, Iraq

In 1973 Congress passed War Powers Act during In 1973 Congress passed War Powers Act during Vietnam War which required approval of Congress Vietnam War which required approval of Congress for any overseas troop deployment longer than 90 for any overseas troop deployment longer than 90 daysdays

Afterward, Congress can issue joint resolution, an Afterward, Congress can issue joint resolution, an official statement from both houses, to authorize official statement from both houses, to authorize military actionmilitary action– Example: Oct. 2002 Congress used joint Example: Oct. 2002 Congress used joint

resolution to authorize use of troops in Iraqresolution to authorize use of troops in Iraq

Non-Legislative Powers of Non-Legislative Powers of Congress (Checks Other Congress (Checks Other

Branches)Branches) Oversight: oversees other agencies to Oversight: oversees other agencies to

make sure they carry out laws make sure they carry out laws Confirmation: Senate confirms key officials Confirmation: Senate confirms key officials

appointed by presidentappointed by president Impeachment: Remove from officeImpeachment: Remove from office Ratification: Senate must ratify all treatiesRatification: Senate must ratify all treaties Override: can override president’s vetoOverride: can override president’s veto Amendment: can propose an amendment Amendment: can propose an amendment

to Constitution; can use this power to to Constitution; can use this power to change Constitution, even if it means change Constitution, even if it means reversing a ruling made by Supreme Courtreversing a ruling made by Supreme Court

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Section 3: Representing the Section 3: Representing the PeoplePeople

Requirements Requirements (From Article I of (From Article I of Constitution)Constitution)

RepresentativeRepresentative– At least 25At least 25– Resident of US for 7 yearsResident of US for 7 years

SenatorSenator– At least 30At least 30– Resident of US for 9 yearsResident of US for 9 years– Reside in the stateReside in the state

How much do they get How much do they get paid?paid?

1789-1815 -- $6.00 per diem 1789-1815 -- $6.00 per diem 1815-1817 -- $1,500 per annum 1815-1817 -- $1,500 per annum 1817-1855 -- $8.00 per diem 1817-1855 -- $8.00 per diem

2004 -- $158,100 per annum2004 -- $158,100 per annum 2005 -- $162,100 per annum2005 -- $162,100 per annum 2006 -- $165,200 per annum2006 -- $165,200 per annum

PERKS!PERKS!

Franking PrivilegesFranking Privileges- free postage- free postage Low-cost InsuranceLow-cost Insurance Use of gyms, special restaurants and Use of gyms, special restaurants and

medical clinicmedical clinic Congressional Staff (assist Congressional Staff (assist

congressmen/women)congressmen/women)– Arrange meetingsArrange meetings– Deal with reporters & Deal with reporters & lobbyists: people hired lobbyists: people hired

by special groups to influence government by special groups to influence government decision makersdecision makers

– Reelection supportReelection support

Congressional SupportsCongressional Supports

Committee Staff (assist committees)Committee Staff (assist committees)– Draft bills, gather information, organize Draft bills, gather information, organize

hearings, negotiate with lobbyists, etc.hearings, negotiate with lobbyists, etc. Support ServicesSupport Services

– Examples: Congressional Research Examples: Congressional Research Service, General Accounting Office, etc. Service, General Accounting Office, etc.

Three Major Roles of Three Major Roles of CongressmenCongressmen

LawmakingLawmaking Casework Casework (80,000 e-mails/day!)(80,000 e-mails/day!) Representing District/StateRepresenting District/State

– Pork-barrel projects: projects that Pork-barrel projects: projects that only benefit the congressman’s only benefit the congressman’s state or districtstate or district

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Section 4: How a Bill Becomes Section 4: How a Bill Becomes LawLaw

ResolutionsResolutions

Formal statements expressing Formal statements expressing opinions or decisions; many don’t opinions or decisions; many don’t become laws.become laws.

Joint Resolutions: Joint Resolutions: may become laws if may become laws if signed by the president; used to signed by the president; used to propose amendments, designate propose amendments, designate money to special purposes, correct money to special purposes, correct errors in bills previously passederrors in bills previously passed

Categories of BillsCategories of Bills

Private:Private: dealing with people/usually dealing with people/usually people’s claims against the people’s claims against the governmentgovernment

Public:Public: dealing with entire dealing with entire nation/general matters such as nation/general matters such as taxation, civil rights, terrorism, etc.taxation, civil rights, terrorism, etc.– May be debated for months and receive May be debated for months and receive

a lot of media coveragea lot of media coverage

Types of BillsTypes of Bills

Authorization-Authorization-creates the creates the programprogram– Example: Creation of Example: Creation of

Space ProgramSpace Program

Appropriation-Appropriation-provides the money provides the money for the billfor the bill– Example: Funds for Example: Funds for

Space ProgramSpace ProgramBottom line: Must have $!Bottom line: Must have $!

Enacting LawsEnacting Laws

A law begins as a bill introduced A law begins as a bill introduced either in the Senate or the Houseeither in the Senate or the House– If the bill deals with money/taxes, it If the bill deals with money/taxes, it

must begin in the House. This gives the must begin in the House. This gives the House the “power of the purse.”House the “power of the purse.”

Bills must be passed in the same Bills must be passed in the same format by both houses before going format by both houses before going to the President to be passed into to the President to be passed into lawlaw

How a bill becomes lawHow a bill becomes law

Go to page 160Go to page 160 All money bills must begin in All money bills must begin in

HOUSEHOUSE

Rep/Sen introduces (in House or Senate)Rep/Sen introduces (in House or Senate) Given House or Senate bill numberGiven House or Senate bill number Referred to Referred to committee/subcommitteecommittee/subcommittee If passed, reported to House/Senate by If passed, reported to House/Senate by

committeecommittee– (If in HOR, (If in HOR, House Rules CommitteeHouse Rules Committee sets rules for sets rules for

debate)debate) Floor DebateFloor Debate If passed, sent to If passed, sent to House/Senate (second House/Senate (second

house)house)– (May be revised by Conference Committee if not (May be revised by Conference Committee if not

passed by one or both houses)passed by one or both houses) If passed by both, sent to If passed by both, sent to PresidentPresident to sign to sign If vetoed by If vetoed by PresidentPresident, must be passed by , must be passed by

2/3 majority in 2/3 majority in bothboth houses to become a law houses to become a law

Quick Caveat!Quick Caveat!

BILL MUST BE PASSED IN IDENTICAL BILL MUST BE PASSED IN IDENTICAL FORM BY BOTH HOUSES!FORM BY BOTH HOUSES!

A few more terms…A few more terms…

Riders: completely unrelated Riders: completely unrelated amendments tacked onto a bill sent amendments tacked onto a bill sent to floorto floor

Filibuster: talking a bill to death (only Filibuster: talking a bill to death (only possible in Senate)possible in Senate)

Cloture: ending a filibuster with 3/5 Cloture: ending a filibuster with 3/5 member consentmember consent

PRESIDENTIAL VETOINGPRESIDENTIAL VETOING

If the president doesn’t approve of the bill, If the president doesn’t approve of the bill, he/she can reject it through a he/she can reject it through a veto.veto.

TWO TYPES OF VETOESTWO TYPES OF VETOES

Veto: President doesn’t sign, may be Veto: President doesn’t sign, may be passed by 2/3 of both houses (If not, bill passed by 2/3 of both houses (If not, bill dies.)dies.)

Pocket Veto: After Congress has adjourned, Pocket Veto: After Congress has adjourned, president doesn’t sign…bill dies.president doesn’t sign…bill dies.