Chapter 6 -Congress

1. Chapter 6 -Congress Section 1- How Congress is organized?

2. How Congress is Organized • Bicameralism • Bicameral: Legislature divided into two houses. • Resulted from WHAT COMPROMISE? Connecticut Compromise! • The House • 435 members, 2 year terms of office. • Initiates all revenue bills, more influential on budget. • House Rules Committee • Limited debates. • The Senate • 100 members, 6 year terms of office. • Gives “advice & consent”, more influential on foreign affairs. • Unlimited debates. (filibuster) Census – population count every 10 years Gerrymandering – oddly shaped districted designed to increase votes

3. How Congress is Organized • Congressional Leadership • The Senate • Formally lead by Vice President. • President pro tempore – “for the time being” • Really lead by Majority Leader- chosen by party members. • Assisted by whips. • Must work with Minority leader. • The House • Lead by Speaker of the House - elected by House members. • Presides over House. • Major role in committee assignments and legislation. • Assisted by majority leader and whips. Majority party – the party to which more than half of the members belong to Minority party – other party

4. How Congress is Organized • The Committees and Subcommittees • Four types of committees: • Standing committees: permanent committees and continue their work form session to session • Joint committees: includes members of both Houses • Conference committees: resolve differences in House and Senate bills. • Select committees: created for a specific purpose for a limited time. • Getting on a Committee • Members want committee assignments that will help them get reelected, gain influence, and make policy. • New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders. • Getting Ahead on the Committee: Chairs and the Seniority System. • The chair is the most important position for controlling legislation. • Chairs were once chosen strictly by the seniority system. • Now seniority is a general rule, and members may choose the chair of their committee.

5. Compare and Contrast: Draw this Chart! Fill it out as you read! Turn it in at the end of class!

6. Chapter 6 -Congress Section 2- The Powers of Congress

7. Legislative Powers • Expressed powers – “Congress shall have the Power…” • Implied powers – Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the power to do anything it deems “Necessary and Proper” to carryout its expressed powers • Not stated explicitly • Clause is also known as the Elastic Clause EXAMPLES OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS • Taxing and Spending • Authorization bills – $ allowed (how much money is authorized for that program to spend) • Appropriation bills - $ actually given to that program • Regulating Commerce - trade • Foreign Relations and Treaties – only Congress can declare war.

8. Nonlegislative Powers • Powers that do not relate to “law-making” • Approving presidential appointees into high positions • House has the sole authority to impeach • Oversight and Investigation: important to ensure Executive branch is carrying out the laws appropriately. Limits on Power • Things Congress may NOT do: • Writ of habeas corpus - cannot stop prisoner form going to court to know why he or she is being held • Bills of attainders – cannot pass laws that punish a person without jury trial. WHAT AMENDMENT!? • Ex post facto laws – cannot make something a crime after it is committed. 7th Amendment – Jury Trial

9. Categorizing Information: Draw this Chart! Fill it out as you read! Turn it in at the end of class!

10. Chapter 6 -Congress Section 4 – How a Bill becomes a Law (Yes… we skipped Section 3!)

11. Types of Bills • Two Types of Bills • Private Bills: concern individual people or places • Public bills: apply to the entire nation and general matters like taxation, etc. • Congress considers many resolutions (formal statements of opinions from lawmakers) • Joint resolution – come from both the House and the Senate, and usually do become laws if the president signs it.

12. From a Bill to a Law STEP 1 – INTRODUCE THE BILL Usually start as an idea, presented either by a person or by special interest groups (organizations made up of people with a common interest that are trying to influence government decisions) • Bills are given a number • Bill #231 in the Senate would be S.231 and in the House would be H.R. 231 STEP 2 - Committee Action • The Committee Chair decides whether to consider the bill or ignore it • Usually controlled by Standing Committees... They can: • 1. they can pass it without changes • 2. mark it up with suggestions • 3. replace it with an alternative • 4. ignore it and let it die out • 5. kill it by a majority vote

13. STEP 3 – Floor Debate • After the Committee action they are ready to be considered by the full House and Senate. • Senate usually goes in the order they are submitted • In the House, the RULES COMMITTEE is like the “traffic cop” and determines the order • The Senate allows riders (amendments that are unrelated to the bill) to be attached to it • Senate can also filibuster • A filibuster can be ended f ¾ of the members vote for cloture. After this no one can speak for more than an hour. STEP 4 – Voting on a Bill • Three types of votes • Voice vote: “yea” or “no” • Standing vote: those in favor stand to be counted • Roll-call vote: a voice vote but in order as they are called • Both the Senate and the House must pass a bill in identical form before it becomes a law if not it is sent to a Conference Committee and gets voted on again. STEP 5 – Presidential Action • The president can do any of 4 things: • Sign the bill and make it a law • Veto it (refusing to sign it) • Ignore it for 10 days and then it automatically becomes a law • If the bill is getting passed close to the end of the Congressional Session, if the president ignores it during the last 10 days of the session it is called a pocket veto and does not get passed.

14. Sequencing Chart