UNIT 2

1. UNIT 2 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

2. CHAPTER 6: CONGRESS • Bicameral: Two houses • House of Representatives and Senate • House of Representatives • Census every 10 years for population count so Congress can adjust the number of representatives given to each state. • Constituents are people with in a boundary that are represented. • Gerrymander is an oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group. • 2 year terms.

3. The Senate • 100 seats, 2 from each state • 6 year terms • Elections are staggered so that no more than one third of the senators are up for reelection at any one time. • Congressional Leaders • Majority party- party of which more than half the members belong. • Minority party-less than majority • Speaker of the House is the most powerful leader within the House of Representatives. • President pro tempore for time being-ceremonial more than influential.

4. Committees: Little Legislatures • Types: • Standing: on Going. • Select Committees: Special job for limited time. • Joint Committees: members from both houses • Conference Committees: Helps the House and Senate agree on the details of a proposed law.

5. Chapter 6, Section 2 • Legislative Powers • Expressed powers-Specific powers spelled out in the Constitution. • Implied powers-not stated explicitly. • Elastic Clause-allows Congress to stretch powers to meet new needs. • Taxing and Spending-power to collect taxes, all bills start in the House of Representatives because they are closer to citizens. • Authorization bills-i.e. Space Shuttle program and funding. • Appropriations-i.e. provides money for each program or activity, must get approval.

6. Regulating Commerce-interstate and foreign trade. • Air traffic, railroads, radio, tv, stock market. • Foreign Relations and Treaties-***ONLY CONGRESS CAN DECLARE WAR*** • Has the power to create, maintain and oversee an army and navy. • Senate must approve any treaties the president makes with other countries.

7. Non-legislative Powers • Constitutional amendments by a two-thirds vote of both Houses. • Counts electoral votes in the presidential elections. • Checks the other branches of government. • Senate has the power to approve or reject the president’s nominees for various high-ranking officials • Supreme Court Justices, federal judges and embasadors. • The House has the sole authority to impeach or accuse officials of misconduct in office. • The Senate then tries the case and decides whether to convict and remove the person from office.

8. Limits on Power-some stated in the Bill of Rights • i.e. can not pass laws that ban freedom of speech or religion. • Writ of habeas corpus-court order that requires police to bring prisoner to court to explain why they are holding a person. • Bills of attainder- laws that punish a person without a jury trial. • Ex post facto laws-laws that make an act a crime after the act has been committed. • Other restrictions come from the checks and balances. • Each branch has some control over the other.

9. Chapter 6, Section 3 • Requirements and Benefits of Congress • Senator-qualifications • Must be at least 30 years old • Live in the state you plan to represent • Been a U.S. resident for 9 years before being elected • Representative-qualifications • Must be at least 25 years old • Live in the state you plan to represent • Been a citizen for at least 7 years before being elected • Usually live in the district they represent (not required)

10. Congressional Staff • Personal staff: gather information on new bills and issues that are to be discussed in Congress. • Washington D.C. • Home office. • Committee Staff: knowledge about taxes, military defense, and health care. • Draft bills, gather information, organize hearings, and negotiate with lobbyists. • Support Services: • CRS-Congressional Research Service • General Accounting Office-reviews spending of federal agencies • Congressional Budget Office-provides Congress with information such as estimates of costs and effects

11. Members of Congress at Work • Lawmaking • Casework • Act as trouble shooters for problems • Congress gets about 80,000 e-mails each day. Some offices receive 10,000 requests for information or services. • Most handled by staff members. • Helping the District or State • Protect the interests of district or state • Local projects- i.e.: post offices, dams, offshore, etc.

12. Chapter 6, Section 4How a Bill Becomes a Law • Types of Bills • Private: concerns people or places, deals with claims against government. • Public: entire nation, involves taxation, civil rights, terrorism. • Joint resolutions are passed by both houses of Congress, becomes law if signed by the president.

13. From Bill to Law • Starts with idea • From Congress, people, special interest groups or White House • Committee Action • Some bills get ignored and some get studied. • Ones that need attention get researched and reported on by a subcommittee. • Standing committees have ultimate power over bills. • Pass bill without changes • Mark up a bill with changes and suggest that it be passed • Replace the original bill with a new alternative • Ignore the bill • Kill the bill with vote

14. The House or Senate can overrule committee. • If committee is against a bill, it almost never becomes law • Floor Debate • The House: controlled by Rules Committee, prioritizes bills, can kill a bill by not letting it get to the floor, sets terms for debate • The Senate: takes bills in order, members argue pros and cons, attach riders (unrelated), speak as long as they want, filibuster ( talk it to death), cloture (no one can speak for more than an hour).

15. Voting on a Bill • Voice • Standing-those in favor stand and are counted • Roll-call vote (Senate), official calls name, they vote • Presidential Action • Veto-refuse to sign • If Vetoed Congress can override with 2/3 vote. • Pocket Veto-do nothing for 10 days, if Congress is in session the bill becomes law without president’s signature, if not it dies. • Sign the bill