Legislative Branch

1. Legislative Branch

2. CONGRESS • Congress is in charge of the Legislative Branch • BICAMERAL: Made up of two houses • House of Representatives - Representation is based on population • Senate - Representation is equal (2 per state)

3. Qualifications and Terms • Qualifications and Terms

4. Unit 11 W-T-L • Why are the qualifications for Senators more rigid than for the House of Representatives?

5. Congressional Districts • If a state has more than one representative, district lines are drawn. • Determined every 10 years by the CENSUS • All districts must have the same number of CONSTITUENTS (voters).

7. GERRYMANDERING: Drawing of odd shaped districts to skew representation. • This is gives one group of people (political party, race, socioeconomic status, etc.) an unfair advantage • This is illegal

11. North Carolina Congressional Districts

12. NC Representatives • Senator Richard Burr • Senator Kay Hagan • Representative Virginia Foxx (District 5) • Representative Patrick McHenry (District 10)

13. Congressional Leaders • The party with the most members is the majority party. • The party with the least members is the minority party. • Floor leaders: Chief spokesperson for their party • Party whip: Keeps track of voting attendance and party loyalty.

14. Write-To-Learn 2. Why are representatives encouraged to vote in favor of their political party?

15. HOUSE OF REPS Majority Floor Leader: Eric Cantor Minority Floor Leader: Nancy Pelosi Majority Whip: Kevin McCarthy Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer

16. SENATE Majority Floor Leader: Harry Reid Minority Floor Leader: Mitch McConnell Majority Whip: Richard Durbin Minority Whip: John Cornyn

17. Congressional Leaders continued… • Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives. • John Boehner (R) from OH • According to the constitution, the vice-president is the leader of the Senate. • Joseph Biden (D) from CA • President pro tempore: Day to day leader of the Senate. • Patrick Leahy (D) from VT • age 73, served 39 years

18. Perks • Franking Privilege • Free trips to home state • Great life insurance and medical benefits • $174,000 salary (for regular member) • 193,400 for Congressional Leaders • 223,500 for Speaker of the House

19. Punishments • Expulsion • James Traficant OH 2002 • Censure • Charles Rangel NY 2010 • Reprimand • Joe Wilson SC 2009

20. Congressional Committees • Discuss, research, and revise bills. • “Congress at work”. • 90% of bills die in committee • Standing: Permanent committees specializing in a certain area. Divided into subcommittees. • Select: Temporary committees formed to complete a task. • Joint: Members of both houses meet together. • pg181

21. Committee Membership • Seniority system: Desirable positions are given to those members who have served the longest. • Majority party has the majority on all committees.

22. How a Bill Becomes a Law • Where do bills come from?? • Grassroots • President • Special interest groups (M.A.A.D.) • Only Senator/Representative can present

23. Stepping Stone Project

24. Stepping Stones • You are assigned a step in the process of how a bill becomes a law • Create a stepping stone that has a visual symbol of your step. • Some people may need to create several stones • On the back of your stone, explain how your step works in your own words

25. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 1: Introduction • In the House of Reps., a bill is dropped into the “hopper” box and assigned to a committee. • In the Senate, a senator submits a bill to the clerk for a reading and committee assignment.

26. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 2: Committee Action • They can reject the bill immediately. • They can pigeonhole a bill. (Set it aside). • They can research and approve the bill. • They can change any and all aspects of a bill. • Can add to it: • Pork-barrel appropriation (“bringing home the bacon”) • Riders • Earmarks

27. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 3: Floor Debates • Representatives in the house have a time limitation. • Senators can filibuster a bill. (Talk it to death). • Cloture: Limit the time senators may talk. Requires a 3/5 vote. • Step 4: Voting • Must have a simple majority (51%) for the bill to continue • Otherwise it dies

28. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 5: Sent to other house of Congress • Step 6: Committee Action (again) • Step 7: Floor Debates (again) • Step 8: Voting (again) • Step 9: Conference Committee • Members of both houses meet to make a single version of a bill. • Step 10: Final Vote • Both houses must vote to approve the final draft

29. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 11: Presidential Action • Sign a bill into law. = Process is done! • Veto a bill (reject). = Back to Congress • Pocket veto: Take no action for 10 days. • Congress is in session after 10 days = the bill becomes a law and process is done • Congress is not in session after 10 days = the bill is rejected and process is done

30. How a Bill Becomes a Law continued • Step 12 (Sometimes) • If the president chooses to veto the bill, it goes back to Congress • They vote to decide if they want to override the veto and pass the law without the president’s approval • Requires a 2/3 majority to override

32. Step 1 Step 2 Step 6 Step 3 Step 7 Step 4 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10 Step 11 (?)

33. School House Rocks!! • http://www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6866404f4baab7/Im-Just-a-Bill