Legislative Branch

Ms. Ramos

The US Congress

House Senate

# Members

Basis of Size

When elected

Age

Citizenship

Legal Residence

Salary

CA MembersMs. Ramos

The US Congress

House Senate

435 # Members 100

Population Basis of Size Equal-2

2yrs all When elected 6 yrs/ 1/3

25 Age 30

US 7 Citizenship US 9

District Legal Residence State

174,000 Salary 174,000

Joe Baca CA Members Boxer & Feinstein Ms. Ramos

Traits of Congress

• Over 40• “Old white men”• Educated• *** It is changing!- but still not

representative of the US pop

Ms. Ramos

Benefits of Congress

• Office staff• Insurance• Pension• Secret service• Immunity• Free travel

• Barber• Cafeteria• Health club• Free parking• Franking

privilege

Ms. Ramos

• House • Speaker-preside over House & spokesperson• Maj/Min Leaders-

maj:schedule leg, min:represent concerns• Maj/Min Whip- close

contact w/part & keep votes

Ms. Ramos

http://riccioli.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/442px-nancy_pelosi_official_portrait.jpg

http://judicial-inc.biz/wh.o_i3.jpg

Speaker Pelosi

Maj Leader Hoyer

http://www.cabr.org/photos/11SealHouse01.jpg

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/congress/members/photos/228/B000589.jpg

Min Leader Boehner

http://antzinpantz.com/kns/images/jan09/clyburn.jpg

Maj Whip Clyburnhttp://rednova8.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/eric_cantor_headshot1.jpg

Min Whip Cantor

HouseLeadership

Ms. Ramos

• Senate • Presiding Officer- V.P.• President Pro Tempore- fill in for VP• Maj/Min Leaders• Maj/Min Whip

Ms. Ramos

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice_president_biden/

http://reid.senate.gov/about/index.cfm

http://durbin.senate.gov/page_images/Durbin0002.jpg

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/official_photos.cfm

http://kyl.senate.gov/constit_center/about.cfm

Pres Biden

Maj Leader ReidMin LeaderMcConnel

Maj Whip Durbin Min Whip Kyle

SenateLeadership

Pres Pro TemporeInouyehttp://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/membervotes.cgi?&lang=&member=HISR&site=afsa&address=&city=&state=HI&zipcode=&plusfour=

Ms. Ramos

Designated PowersHouse• Originate

appropriations ($)

• Impeaching officials

• Decide presidential election

Senate• Approve

treaties• Approve

appointments• Try

impeachments• Decide VP

electionMs. Ramos

Expressed Powers

• Declare War• Approve treaties• Copyright &

patent• Postal power• Coin money

• Create judiciary• Acuire territory• Naturalization• Regulate

interstate commerce

Ms. Ramos

Implied Powers

• Draft• Tax to fund

welfare, schools, housing, etc

• Est minimum wage

• Protect disabled• Ban

discrimination• Bar shipping of x

items

Ms. Ramos

Types of Committees

• Standing– Permanent

• Select– Special issue

• Joint– Both houses

• Conference – Both houses work out bill differences

Ms. Ramos

Committee assignment

• Chair–member of majority part & longest

• Member –reflect how well regarded & knowledge

Ms. Ramos

• Resources

–Personal staff–Cmte staff–Congressional Agencies

• Proposal

–House: Hopper–Senate: Floor

Ms. Ramos

Types of Bills

• Bill– Proposed law

• Joint Resolution– Act w/force of law, often re: temp matter

• Concurrent Resolution– Statement on issue, both houses, w/o force

of law

• Resolution– Statement on issue, one house, w/o force

Ms. Ramos

Intro H1 Intro S1

Cmte Action Standing Sub Full Rules- Conditions for debate & anmend

Cmte Action Standing Sub Full Rules- Conditions for debate & anmend

Floor Action Floor ActionConference Cmte

Congressional Approval

PresidentMs. Ramos

Senate

1789:

Election:

• Create stability• 1/3 elected every 2

yrs

• State legislature• 17th Amendment-

people electMs. Ramos

• Powers denied:

• Ex post facto• Bill of attainder• Suspend habeas

corpus• Tax exports• Laws Violate

Constitution

Ms. Ramos

Conducting Business

• New term begins Jan 3• Quorum: # needed to

conduct business–Senate: 51–House: 218

Ms. Ramos

Congressional District

• Apportionment–avg: 646,946

• CA- 26th District

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_House_of_Representatives,_California_District_26.png

http://dreier.house.gov/cdd_bio.htm

Ms. Ramos

Census: * Every 10 years* Used for redistricting-

Gerrymandering

–“ * “One person, – one vote”

http://www.nospeedbumps.com/wp-images/Alabama_Splitlined.jpg

Ms. Ramos