The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

A Bicameral LegislatureA Bicameral Legislature• Bicameral = Two Houses• The Senate• The House of Representatives• Together they are the US Congress

Terms of CongressTerms of Congress• Two Year Terms• Begin January 3rd of Odd Number Years• New Term Begins January 3rd, 2013• Terms divided into two 1 year Sessions

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives• Currently 435 Members

• Two Year Terms

• All Representatives up for Election everyTwo Years.

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives• Represent Districts from each State• Districts assigned by population• Redrawn after each census

Gerrymanderying!?!Gerrymanderying!?!

Wisconsin Wisconsin Congressional Congressional

DistrictsDistricts

Paul Ryan – RPaul Ryan – RDistrict 1District 1

Mark Pocan – DMark Pocan – DDistrict 2District 2Ron Kind – DRon Kind – D

District 3District 3Gwen Moore – DGwen Moore – D

District 4District 4Jim Sensenbrenner – RJim Sensenbrenner – R

District 5District 5Tom Petrie – RTom Petrie – R

District 6District 6Sean Duffy – RSean Duffy – R

District 7District 7Reid Ribble – RReid Ribble – R

District 8District 8

WisconsinWisconsinSenatorsSenators

Tammy Baldwin - DTammy Baldwin - D Ron Johnson - RRon Johnson - R

House LeadersHouse Leaders• Speaker of the House: Most powerful• Picks Committee Leaders, Schedules Votes• Next in line for Presidency after VP• Majority and Minority Leaders• Majority and Minority Whips

The SenateThe Senate• Currently 100 Members, 2 per State• Each Senator represents his/her whole State• Six Year Terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years

Senate LeadersSenate Leaders• Vice President = Presiding Officer• Can vote in case of ties• President Pro Tempore: Ceremonial Position• Often the longest serving member of majority• Next in line for Presidency after Speaker

Majority vs MinorityMajority vs Minority• The Party with the most members in a

chamber is the Majority Party• The other Party is in the Minority

HouseHouse

234 Republicans234 Republicans201 Democrats201 Democrats

SenateSenate

53 Democrats53 Democrats47 Republicans47 Republicans

CommitteesCommittees• Detailed work of law making is done in

committees.• Standing Committees: Exist permanently,• Each Committee deals with a specific

area of Legislation: Agriculture, DefenseJudiciary, Commerce, Education, etc

• Select Committees: Temporary, created todeal with specific issues, AssassinationsBudget Crisis, etc

• Committee Chairmen have great power

CommitteesCommittees• Joint Committees: Both House & Senate

members, conduct business of Congress• Conference Committees: Both House and

Senate members. Work out differencesbetween House & Senate versions of Bills

Powers of the LegislaturePowers of the Legislature• Expressed Powers: Article I.8, paras 1-17

Things Congress is specifically able to do• Implied Powers: I.8.18, Necessary & Proper

also called Elastic Clause

• Declare War• Collect Taxes• Post Office• Coin Money• Create Courts• Etc

Limits on PowersLimits on Powers• Article I, Section 9: The Constitution prohibits

Congress from doing certain things

• Prohibit Free Speech• Promote a Religion• Interfere with Worship• Bills of Attainder• Ex Post Facto Laws• Favor one State over

other States

Removing Govt OfficersRemoving Govt Officers• Two Step Process• Applies to President, VP, Cabinet & Judges• The House can Impeach (bring charges)• Then there is a Trial with the Senate as Jury• Requires a 2/3 vote to convict

Advise & ConsentAdvise & Consent• The Senate has the power to Advise and Consent on Presidential appointments

and Treaties signed by the President

Taxing and SpendingTaxing and Spending• All Appropriations Bills (Taxes) must originate

in the House of Representatives• Appropriations Bills cover a budget for a two

year period (biennum)• Two Parts: • An Authorization Bill creates the

budget, including projects like the SpaceShuttle, and how many $$ are to be spent

• An Appropriations Bill specifies how the $$will be raised to pay for the budget