Chapter 5 The Legislative Branch

1. Chapter 5The Legislative Branch Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives Section 2: How Congress Is Organized Section 3: The Powers of Congress Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. Chapter 5 Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives OBJECTIVES • How many members are in the House and Senate, respectively, and what is the term length for each position? • What are the qualifications and salaries for members of the House and the Senate? • How does Congress deal with misconduct by its members?

3. Chapter 5 Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives Members and terms lengths in the House and the Senate: • The House of Representatives has 435 members, who serve two-year terms. • The Senate has 100 members, two for each state, who serve six-year terms.

4. Chapter 5 Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives Qualifications and salaries in the House and Senate: • Representatives: must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a legal resident of the state they represent • Senators: must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a legal resident of the state they represent • The yearly salary is $145,100.

5. Chapter 5 Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives Misconduct by members of Congress: • May lead to expulsion with a vote of two thirds of other members • May lead to censure

6. Chapter 5 Section 2: How Congress Is Organized OBJECTIVES • When does a session of Congress begin, and how long does the session last? • Who leads the houses of Congress, and how are these leaders chosen? • What is the purpose of congressional committees, and how are committee assignments made?

7. Chapter 5 Section 2: How Congress Is Organized Congressional Sessions • Two sessions per term • Sessions begin in January each year, and a date to adjourn is agreed upon. • Sessions usually adjourn in August or September. • The president may call a special session when necessary.

8. Chapter 5 Section 2: How Congress Is Organized Congressional Leaders • Speaker of the House—elected from the majority party • Floor leaders— elected in party caucuses to guide proposed laws through Congress • Party whips—persuade members to vote for legislation • Vice president —according to the Constitution presides over the Senate but only votes to break a tie • President pro tempore—fills in for the vice president when necessary

9. Chapter 5 Section 2: How Congress Is Organized Congressional Committees • Study all bills before they are presented to Congress • Members are nominated to committee assignments. • Senators serve on at least two standing committees. • Representatives serve on only two standing committees. • Standing committee membership is proportionate to party majority in each house. • Heads of Committee are now chosen by secret vote.

10. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Powers of Congress OBJECTIVES • What are the five major areas in which Congress has the power to make laws? • What is the significance of the elastic clause? • What are the special powers of Congress, and how are congressional powers limited?

11. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Powers of Congress Five major areas in which Congress makes laws: • Financing government • Regulating and encouraging American trade and industry • Defending the country • Enforcing laws • Providing for growth

12. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Powers of Congress The Elastic Clause • “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers” • allows Congress to stretch its delegated powers to manage new situations

13. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Powers of Congress The special powers of Congress: • House—begins impeachment proceedings, initiates bills to raise money, and selects president when no candidate receives sufficient electoral votes • Senate—holds impeachment trials, selects vice president when no candidate has sufficient electoral votes, approves treaties, approves high officials

14. Chapter 5 Section 3: The Powers of Congress Congress is forbidden to: • Pass ex post facto laws, pass bills of attainder, suspend writ of habeas corpus, tax exports, pass laws violating the Bill of Rights, favor trade of any state, grant titles of nobility, or withdraw money without a law

15. Chapter 5 Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law OBJECTIVES • Where do ideas for bills originate? • What happens to a bill once it is introduced in each house of Congress? • Once a bill is passed by both houses, what actions can the president take regarding the bill?

16. Chapter 5 Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law Ideas for bills originate from: • U.S. citizens—constituents making requests of their congressmembers • Organized groups—businesspeople and labor groups seeking to protect their interests • Committees of Congress—investigating committees determine needs for new laws • Members of Congress—experts in certain fields propose new laws • The president—often introduces ideas for laws in the State of the Union Address

17. Chapter 5 Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law Bills introduced in either house of Congress • are read and placed in the Congressional Record. • are sent to a standing committee to be studied. • receive hearings by the committees and are amended. • The committee majority can recommend that a bill be passed. • Bills reported out of committee are placed on the calendar for debate. • The bill is voted on and sent to the other house of Congress for consideration. • Approved bills are sent to the president.

18. Chapter 5 Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law Actions of the president regarding a bill: • sign the bill and declare it a law • veto the bill and send it back to Congress • hold the bill for 10 days, when it becomes a law or is killed by pocket veto