The United States Congress

The United States Congress

Overview Bicameral Legislative Body Lower House – The U.S. House of Representatives Representation based on population Upper House - The U.S. Senate Equal representation All members of Congress are chosen by direct election.

U.S. House of Representatives There are 435 members of the House Each member serves for a 2 year term Each state has representation in the House The Number of Representatives per state is determined by the U.S. Census every 10 years (apportionment)

U.S. House of Representatives • Qualifications • 25 years of age • 7 years of U.S. citizenship • 1 year of residency in the district you are running for prior to the election

U.S. House of Representatives • Officers • Speaker of the House • Speaker Pro Tempore • Majority Floor Leader • Majority Whip • Minority Floor Leader • Minority Whip

Make–Up of Congress

U.S. Senate • There are 100 members of the Senate • 2 per state – equal representation • Senators serve a 6 year term • 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election every 2 years • Continuous body

U.S. Senate • Qualifications • 30 years of age • 9 years of U.S. citizenship • Resident of the state for 1 year prior to the election

Officers • President of the Senate • President Pro Tempore • Majority Floor Leader • Majority Whip • Minority Floor Leader • Minority Whip

Powers and Duties of Congress • Types of Powers • Expressed – Clearly defined in the Constitution (the power to declare war) • Implied – Hinted at in the Constitution (the Necessary and Proper Clause) • Denied – Forbidden in the Constitution (the power to grant titles of nobility) • All of the powers of Congress are in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution

The Expressed Powers Power to lay and collect taxes To borrow money To regulate commerce To establish a uniform laws on naturalization To establish uniform laws on bankruptcies To coin money To fix the standard of weights and measures To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting To establish Post Offices To promote the Arts and Sciences To punish piracy on the high seas To declare war To maintain the military and militias

The Implied Powers To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper (necessary and proper clause, elastic clause)

The Denied Powers May not violate the Bill of Rights May not impose export taxes among states May not use money from the Treasury without the passage and approval of an appropriations bill May not change state boundaries May not choose a port of preference Grant titles of nobility Permit slavery (13th Amendment) Deny citizens the right to vote due to race, color, or previous servitude (15th Amendment) Deny citizens the right to vote because of gender (19th Amendment)

Checks and Balances The Legislative Branch is given the powers to make the laws. It has the following checks over the Executive Branch: May override presidential vetoes with a two-thirds vote Has the power over the purse strings to actually fund any executive actions May remove the president through impeachment Senate approves treaties Senate approves presidential appointments

Checks and Balances The Legislative Branch has the following checks over the Judicial Branch: Creates lower courts May remove judges through impeachment Senate approves appointments of judges

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Lawmaking???

Committee System • Types of Committees • Standing - ongoing • Select/Special – short term • Joint (Conference) – both House and Senate • Subcommittee – committee within a committee

Committee System Examples of Senate Standing Committees Committees of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryArmed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public WorksForeign Relations Labor and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Rules and Administration Business Veterans' Affairs

Sessions A term of Congress is divided into two "sessions", one for each year. The Current Congress is the 112th Congress in its 1st Session.

Special Interest Groups also know as pressure groups, lobby groups groups of people who share a singular common purpose N.O.W., F.O.P., N.R.A., Oil Companies try to influence the government

Library of Congress The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. It is the largest library in the world by shelf space and number of books.

Library of Congress It was established by Congress in 1800. Much of the original collection had been destroyed during the War of 1812. In 1815, Thomas Jefferson sold 6487 books, his entire personal collection, to the library.

Congressional Record The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session.

Pay Determined by Congress itself. Currently - $174,000 per year The 27th Amendment prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of the Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives. It is the most recent amendment to the United States Constitution, having been ratified in 1992, more than 202 years after its initial submission in 1789.

Typical Congressman White Male 40 – 60 years old Married Christian

Demographics The average age is 58.2 years. 95 women serve in the 111th Congress: 78 in the House of Representatives and 17 in the Senate. 41 African American members of the House and none in the Senate. 31 Latino members serving: 28 in the House and three in the Senate. 11 members (seven Representatives, two Delegates, and two Senators) are Asian or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander. 1 Native American serves in Congress (in the House).

Capital Building

Congressional Terminology http://www.uscongresshandbook.com/Congressional-Glossary.aspx

The United States Congress