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Camera (Latin) = room or chamber

Camera (Latin) = room or chamber. Legislative Branch. AKA: Congress The Peoples ’ House Legislature House of Representatives Senate House Trivia. Background & Basics. Where Laws and Policies are made Two Houses (Bicameral) – Why?

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Camera (Latin) = room or chamber

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  1. Camera (Latin) = room or chamber

  2. Legislative Branch AKA: Congress The Peoples’ House Legislature House of Representatives Senate House Trivia

  3. Background & Basics • Where Laws and Policies are made • Two Houses (Bicameral) – Why? • Conflict over representation during ratification of the Constitution. • House of Representatives (435 members) • the Senate (100 members) • Serve the people (constituents)

  4. Responsibilities Make laws Serve local districts and states Serve interests of nation Support political party Serve the People

  5. Powers • Article 1, Section 8 (Delegated/Enumerated Powers) • “Power of the purse” – Budget • Declare War • Collect Taxes and Borrow $ • Regulate Foreign and Domestic Trade. • Implied Powers (“Necessary and Proper”) • Non-legislative Powers - Checks and Balances

  6. Non-Legislative Powers • Confirm appointments and treaties • Propose amendments • Admit new states • Impeach (house) • Hold impeachment trial (senate)

  7. Limits to Congress • Checks and Balances • Presidential Veto • Judicial Review • Cannot deny habeas corpus • No bill of attainder • No ex post facto

  8. The Federal Budget • Mandatory Spending: • Social Security • Medicare and Medicaid • Interest on National Debt • Discretionary Spending • National Defense • Dept. of Homeland Security • Dept. of Agriculture • Deficits = when government spending exceeds revenues. • Public Debt = accumulation of years of deficits

  9. House of Representatives • Currently the 113th Congress, First Congress in 1789. • Two Year Terms, unlimited number of terms • Elected on the basis of population • 435 seats total in the House • Each state is divided into as many congressional districtsas it has representatives in the House. • PA is now has 18 districts, we are district 4. • District 4 is now Represented by Scott Perry.

  10. Senate • Each state has 2 senators • How many total? • Senators focus on the state as a whole, not each district. • 6 year terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years. • Expected to prevent hasty unwise laws.

  11. Leadership in Congress • House Leader = Speaker of the House • Senate Leader = Vice President • president pro tempore (in VPs absence) • Majority Party, Minority Party • Majority Party selects Speaker • Minority Leaders • Floor leaders, whips. • House Leadership • Senate Leadership

  12. Lawmaking • Bill = Proposed Law • Anyone can propose a bill, but most by sponsored by member of Congress. • About 10,000 bills are introduced each term of Congress. About 2% actually become law. • Standing Committees recommend or “kill” the bill before it “hits the floor” • Committees for diff. areas (edu, banking) • Committee Chairpersons are from the Maj. Party • Filibuster (Staling) and Cloture (3/5s = 60 votes)

  13. Bills… • Bills must be same from both Houses. • Conference Committee • To President who can sign, hold or veto. • Override Veto with 2/3s vote • Examples

  14. http://www.house.gov/ • http://www.senate.gov/ • http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/21/AR2010032100943.html • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503742.html • http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55320.html • usatoday least productive Congress

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