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Legislative Branch. 7 th Grade Civics Spring 2014. Capital Building National Mall Washington Monument National Mall Lincoln Memorial. Bicameral Legislature. Bicameral – a two part government body consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate
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Legislative Branch 7th Grade Civics Spring 2014
Capital Building National Mall Washington Monument National Mall Lincoln Memorial
Bicameral Legislature • Bicameral – a two part government body consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate • The Great Compromise: In 1787, states with large populations received representation based on population in the House while less populated states received equal representation in the Senate.
Legislative Branch House of Representatives Senate Size: 100 Length of Term: 6 years Staggered Terms: No more than 1/3 of Senators are up for election in any one election cycle.Class I (2014), Class II (2016), and Class III (2018) Reason for Staggered Terms: Ensures seniority in the Senate. • Size: 435 Representatives • Census: Population count determines the number of House members. • Congressional Districts: Areas with one representative. • Constituents: The people from the district for whom the Representative was elected.
Congressional Leadership House Senate Vice President – Joe Biden President Pro Tempore – Patrick Leahy [D-VT] Majority Leader – Harry Reid [D-NV] Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell [R-KY] • Speaker of the House John Boehner [R- OH] • Majority Leader – Eric Cantor [R-VA] • Minority Leader – Nancy Pelosi [D-CA]
Comparison Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Degree of Power: No true power usually acts as chairperson or ceremonial head of floor discussions/debates. Member of the Majority Party in the Senate. • Degree of Power: Most powerful member in all of Congress. Second in line for the Presidency. • Vice President Joe Biden [D-DE] 2. Speaker John Boehner [R-OH] • Key Spokesperson: Speaks for The House and for constituents living in the 435 districts.
Comparison Speaker of the House Vice President Casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie 50-50 on a Floor Vote. • Speaker Responsibilities: • In charge of floor debates. • Influences all House business. • Steers legislation through the House.
Congressional Leadership Floor Leaders Party Whips Job Description: To track where all party members stand on the issues and round up colleague support to attain the needed votes. House of Representatives - 290 votes 2/3 majority 218 for a simple majority Senate 66 votes 2/3 majority 51 votes simple majority • To make sure the laws passed are in the best interest of their party. • Speak about the major issues as viewed by their political party. • Advance bills through the legislative process. • Persuade undecided representatives to vote a certain way.
Role of Political Parties Majority Party Holds 51% of seats Minority Party Holds 49% or less of seats Minority Whip Minority Secretary • Majority Whip • Majority Secretary
Legislative Committees Congress at Work “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.” - Woodrow Wilson, 1885
Legislative Committees • Standing Committees • A permanent committee that continues work from one session to the next. • # in House 19 • # in Senate 16 • Select Committees • Formed to complete a specific task for a short period of time. • 911 Commission tasked with • Conference Committees • Temporary committee that include members from both houses tasked with resolving differences in two bills to agree on one proposed law. • Joint Committees • Permanent committees that include members from both houses.
Senate Standing Committees • Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry • Armed Services • Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs • Commerce, Science, and Transportation • Foreign Relations • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions • Judiciary
Legislative Powers Expressed Powers • $ $ Money Powers $ $ • Tax, Borrow Money, Print Money • Commerce Powers • Regulate foreign & Interstate Commerce • Military & Foreign Policy Powers • Declare War • Raise & Regulate Army/Navy • Other Legislative Powers • Est. Laws of Naturalization • Est. Post Offices & Build Highways Implied Powers • $ $ Money Powers $ $ • Support Public Schools, Welfare Programs and Public Housing • Maintain the Federal Reserve Board • Commerce Powers • Prohibit discrimination in restaurants, hotels, and public golf courses • Military & Foreign Policy Powers • Raise Army/Navy = Right to draft people • Other Legislative Powers
How a Bill Becomes Law Types of Bills • Private Bills – Concern individual people and places. A Constituent’s claim against the government. Example: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 2. Public Bills – Apply to the entire nation and involve general matters such as taxation, civil rights, or terrorism.
Where Can Bills Come From? • Private Citizens • Special Interest Groups • Lobbyists • The President
What are the 5 things a committee can do? 1. Pass the Bill without changes. 2. Mark up a bill with changes and suggest that it be passed. 3. Replace the original bill with an alternative. 4. Ignore the bill and let it die (which is called “pigeonholing” the bill) 5. Kill the bill outright by majority vote of “Nay.”
What is the difference between the House and the Senate as far as amendments to Bills?
What are the 4 voting methods used by Congress? 1. Voice Vote – Those in favor of the bill say “Yea” and those who oppose say “Nay” 2. Standing Vote – Those in favor of the bill stand to be counted and those who oppose the bill stand to be counted. 3. Roll-Call Vote – In the tradition bound Senate members voice their votes as an official record. 4. Electronic Voting – The House of Representatives cast votes electronically.
What 4 things can a President do to a Bill? 1. Sign the Bill and declare it a new Law. 2. Veto the Bill, or refuse to sign the Bill. • Do nothing for 10 days. If Congress is in session then on the 11th day the Bill becomes Law. • Pocket Veto. President does nothing for 10 days. If Congress is in recess then the Bill is killed.
