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Organization of Congress

Organization of Congress. Powers of Congress. Enumerated Powers Article I Section 8 Broad and General “Provide for the common defense and general welfare” Narrow and Specific “Punishment for counterfeiting” List contains over 20 powers Lay and collect taxes Borrow money

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Organization of Congress

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  1. Organization of Congress

  2. Powers of Congress • Enumerated Powers • Article I Section 8 • Broad and General • “Provide for the common defense and general welfare” • Narrow and Specific • “Punishment for counterfeiting” • List contains over 20 powers • Lay and collect taxes • Borrow money • Establish a post office

  3. Powers of Congress • Elastic Clause – Implied Powers • Last paragraph in Section 8 • “To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers” • McCulloch v Maryland 1819 • Congress possess unenumerated powers • Choose any means not prohibited by the Constitution to achieve a constitutional end

  4. Powers of Congress • Limitations – Article I Section 9 • Basic rights of individuals • “mini” Bill of Rights • Guarantees Habeas Corpus • No Bill of Attainder • No ex post facto law

  5. Senate • Two from each state • Six year terms • Three classes • 17th Amendment (1913) • Directly elected by public • 30 years old • U.S. resident for 9 years • Legal resident of state they represent

  6. Senate Leadership • President of Senate – Joe Biden • U.S. Vice-president • Now mainly ceremonial • May vote to break ties • President Pro-Tempore – Daniel Inouye D - HI • Presides in the absence of VP • Usually person with the greatest seniority • Third in line of Presidential Succession

  7. Senate Leadership • Majority Leader: Harry Reid (D) Nevada • Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R) KT • Chosen leader from each party • Schedule business of the Senate • Majority Whip: Richard Durbin (D) Ill • Minority Whip: Jon Kyl (R) Miss. • Assist party leader • Round up members for a vote

  8. Senate Leadership – each party has • Conference Chair • Conference Secretary • Presides over party meetings • Policy Chair • Schedules legislation • Makes recommendations on party policy • Campaign Committee • Provide funds • Advice/assistance to party candidates

  9. House of Representatives • 435 members • Size set in 1921 • Equal representation (Baker v Carr 1962) • Reapportion and redraw after census • Two year terms • At least 25 years old • Resident of U.S. for 7 years • Legal resident of state they represent • Traditionally resident of district (state law)

  10. House Leadership • Speaker of the House • John Boehner R - Ohio • Elected by majority party • Party leader • Presiding officer over entire House • Directs/decides the committees for new bills • Influences what bills are brought up for vote • 2nd in line of Presidential Succession

  11. House Leadership • Majority Leader: Eric Cantor - VA • Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi - CA • Floor leader • Manages debate or appoints manager • Majority Whip: Kevin McCarthy - CA • Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer - MD • Assist leader • Round up votes • Ass’t whips

  12. House Leadership • Conference Chair • Conference Secretary • Presides over party meetings • Policy Chair • Schedules legislation • Makes recommendations on party policy • Campaign Committee • Provide funds • Advice/assistance to party candidates

  13. Leadership and Power • Leadership positions and political power in both the Senate and House are determined by Party. • House and Senate determine their own rules. • Majority control is important. • Representation on all committees is usually in proportion to the majority party’s control of the chamber. • party leaders

  14. Senator Herb Kohl (D) Senior Senator • Born: February 7, 1935 (77) • BA: UW-Madison 1956 • MBA: Harvard 1958 • Ran Kohls Department and Grocery stores (sold in 1979) • Owns Milwaukee Bucks • First elected in 1988 • Re-elected: 1994,2000,2006 • Committees: Appropriations, Select on Aging, Judiciary, Banking Housing & UA, 9 subs

  15. Senator Ron Johnson R Junior Senator • Born: April 8 , 1955 (56) • BS: U of M Twin Cities 1977 • MBA courses @ U of M • Started Business: in 1980 Pacur in Oshkosh • First elected in 2010 • Committees: Appropriations, Budget, Homeland Security and Gov’t Affairs, Aging

  16. Senator Russ Feingold (D) Junior Senator • Born: March 2, 1953 (58) • BA: UW-Madison 1975 • Rhodes Scholar: Oxford 1977 • JD: Harvard Law School 1979 • Attorney, State Senator 1983-1993 • First elected in 1992 • Re-elected: 1998, 2004 • Committees: Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Budget, 10 subs

  17. Congressman Ron Kind 3rd District • Born: March 16, 1963 (48) • BA: Harvard 1985 • MA: London School of Economics 1986 • JD: U of Minnesota Law School 1990 • Attorney, Assistant District Attn LaX • First elected in 1996 • Re-elected: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 • Committees: Ways & Means, Resources, 6 subs

  18. Committee SystemMost of the work of Congress done in committee • House • 19 committees 86 subcommittees • Most work of House done in committee • Most powerful – House Rules sets limits on debate & amendments • Senate • 16 committees 68 subcommittees • Senate views committees as recommendations • No limit on debate in Senate

  19. Types of Committees • Standing – permanent committees • Subcommittees • Mirrors the bureaucracy - oversight • Iron triangles • Joint - members of both Chambers • Specific topic – Economics, Inauguration • Conference – reconciles bills • Bills need to be passed in identical form • Select, special, ad hoc • Investigations, studies, issues • Temporary

  20. Committee membershipMembers seek to join specific committees because . . . • Personal interest or expertise • Access to pork – earmarks (spending in district) • Power and Influence within Congress • Attract campaign funds • Interests of district • Selected by party selection committee • Majority party • Controls majority on every committee • Selects chair: Senate – seniority, House – limited (3)

  21. Constituent Interests(casework) • Serve as intermediary between individual and the government bureaucracy • Solve problems • Social Security • Passports • IRS • Individuals remember favors - vote

  22. Legislative Oversight • Crucial Role – Assess the impact of policy • Determine if administration is following the legislative intent • Correcting, Changing, Eliminating • Public Complaints / Feedback often start the process • Sunset Laws can be used – not common • Legislative Veto – used but ruled unconstitutional (I.N.S v Chadha)

  23. Legislative Oversight • Problems with Oversight • Unrewarding & usually not attention grabbing • Confrontational in nature • Huge and complex task • Can be used for partisan political objectives • Current news article

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