• The House of Representatives has 435 Representatives– Proportional representation– Representatives are elected for a 2 year term– Requirements to become a Representative (Article

1, Section 2):• at least 25 years of age.• a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years prior to

election.• a resident of the state he or she is chosen to represent.

• The Presiding Officer over the House of Representatives

• Currently: John Boehner

• Second in line to be President after Vice President

• The Senate has 100 Senators – Two Senators for each state– Senators are elected for a 6 year term– Requirements to become a Senator (Article

1, Section 3):• at least 30 years old.• a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years at the time of

election to the Senate.• a resident of the state he or she is chosen to

represent.

• The chief Senate spokespeople for their parties

• Majority Leader: Harry Reid (Nevada)

• Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell (Kentucky)– The Senate is currently composed

of 55 Democrats (2 Independents - Sanders and King) and 45 Republicans

• How many members of the House of Representatives? Senate?

• Requirements to be a Representative? Senator?

• Leader of the House of Representatives?

• Two leaders of the Senate?

• The idea for a bill can come from a variety of sources:– Individual citizens, – Special interest groups/lobbyists – Corporations

• BUT, only a member of Congress can introduce the bill

• A bill can start in either House or Senate.

• Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have standing committees that consider bills.

• They “mark-up” (edit) the bill so it will pass on the floor of either house.

• They can also “pigeonhole” or kill the bill in committee.

• Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry• Armed Services• Foreign Relations• Health, Education, Labor & Pensions• Finance• Homeland Security & Governmentt Affairs • Judiciary

• If the bill is passed by the committee, it is sent to the whole House of Representatives for debate and a vote.– If this occurs, the committee has “reported the

bill favorably to the floor.”

• The Speaker of the House (the overall leader) determines which bills are discussed and for how long.

• Votes are done electronically in the House. – This is called a role call vote

• A tote board on the wall shows the tally. – Red = Oppose– Green = Agree – Yellow = Abstain

• Votes can also be taken by voice “yeas and nays” or a “teller vote” where members file past a “sergeant at arms” and give their vote individually.

• If a bill passes the House, the bill is sent to the US Senate. (and vice versa) – Here the Senate will create their own version of the bill– A Senate version is written with the letter S and a number– House bills have HR and a number

• As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate committee.

• Committees hold hearings and make changes to the bill.

• The committee can then “report” the bill to the Senate floor.

• The Senate Majority Leader determines which bills are scheduled, when and for how long.

• Debate in the Senate is unlimited. • Filibusters can be used by the minority to block

bills.– Filibuster - the use of obstructive tactics,

especially super long speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.

• 3/5 (60) of the Senate must agree to end debate, this is called “cloture”

• A simple majority in both houses is needed to pass the bill (51%).

• In the House: 218 needed to pass the Houses

• In the Senate: 51 senators needed to pass the bill

• Each house has passed its own bill.• Any differences must be ironed out and made into

one bill.• The bill is considered by a joint committee, made

up of both House and Senate members.• They negotiate and compromise and send the

combined bill back to both houses.• NOW, another vote on the must be taken and

passed by both Houses for the bill to be sent to the President.

• The president can sign the bill if he wants it to become law.

• He can include “signing statements” that say how the law should be enforced or if parts will not be enforced.

• The president can veto or reject the bill. He must include his reasons and recommendations for correction.

• The president can choose not to act on the bill. If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law after 10 days.

• If Congress is not in session, the bill dies after 10 days. This is called a “pocket veto.”

Bill Introduced

Standing Committee

House Floor

Debate & Vote

Introduced in Senate

Senate Committee

Debate & Vote

Joint Committee

President Signs or Vetoes

• If the president vetoes the bill, both Houses can reconsider the bill.

• Two-thirds (67%) of both Houses are needed to override the President’s veto.– In the House: 369 needed for override. – In the Senate: 67.

• If president signs the bill, it is a federal law that each state must follow.

Governmental Procedure is Awesome!

Holla!

• Please read the Senate Bill we will be debating Monday (your sheet will indicate which side you will be taking)

• Compose 3 key arguments based on your stance for the debate– If possible, pull statistics and concrete

examples from current events and the news to support your position(s)

1. Sit on the appropriate side of the room:– 1s on the side by the door– 2s on the side by the windows

2. Please review the rules for the simulation. You will be graded on your participation and behavior during the debates (10 points). – Those individuals who do not participate or

talk throughout the period will receive a zero.

• I gave you a number: 1s & 2s– This determined your stance on the bills we will

debate today

• We chose a leader who will be responsible for:– Keeping order and quiet– Addressing males and females correctly– Calling for votes– Amending the bill should an amendment arise

• You were each responsible for preparing arguments for 2 different bills.

• You will deliver your arguments in front of the Congress (in this case the Senate)

• You will cast a final vote for each bill brought before the Congress

• You will be respectful and mature in delivering your arguments!

• If the group does not like the bills, the Congress may amend the bills as written.

• Procedures to amend:– Seek to be recognized by the Speaker/Leader

– Make sure you have the EXACT wording before proposing

– Read the amendment EXACTLY as it stands

– Speaker/Leader calls for a vote

– Make sure that the opposite house gets the exact bill.

• Senate Bill #1(S1): This law would abolish all ratings systems for movie theaters. This means that any person could view essentially any movie that they choose no matter their age. It is hoped that this law will encourage individuals to develop a broader outlook on society by being exposed to new forms of culture and language.