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Congress

Explore the origins of the legislative branch outlined in the U.S. Constitution, the demographic attributes of members of Congress, the role of the committee system and political parties, and the powers and decision-making process of Congress.

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Congress

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  1. 6 Congress

  2. 6 LearningObjectives Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution 6.1 Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection 6.2

  3. 6 LearningObjectives Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress 6.3 Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress 6.4

  4. 6 LearningObjectives Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions 6.5 Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, the courts, and the people 6.6

  5. Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government 6.1 • Bicameral legislature • House • Representatives based on population • Two-year term • Senate • Two from each state • Six-year term

  6. 6.1 TABLE 6.1: What are the powers of Congress?

  7. Eligibility and Apportionment Members of the House Twenty-five years old and a citizen for at least seven years Senators Thirty years old and a citizen for at least nine years Census Conducted every ten years 6.1

  8. Key Powers Make laws Both House and Senate must pass bills Raise and spend revenue Impeachment Other powers “as necessary and proper” to carry out the functions of Congress 6.1

  9. 6.1 TABLE 6.2: What are the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?

  10. 6.1 6.1According to the Constitution, where must all revenue bills originate? • Executive Branch • Senate • House of Representatives • A joint committee of the House and Senate

  11. Members of Congress 6.2 • Congressional Demographics • Running for and Staying in Office • Incumbency • Redistricting

  12. 6.2 TABLE 6.3 A Typical Day for a Member of Congress

  13. Congressional Demographics Better educated than general population Two-thirds of members hold advanced degrees Wealthier than general population Senate “Millionaires Club” Recent increases in minority representation 6.2

  14. Running for and Staying in Office 6.2 • Political party membership • Republican or Democrat • Incumbency

  15. 6.2 Who are the nonvoting members representing Washington, D.C.?

  16. 6.2 TABLE 6.4: What are the advantages to incumbency?

  17. Redistricting Follows census State Legislatures redraw districts Often political in nature Party in power controls the process Gerrymandering Drawing a district to favor a party or candidate 6.2

  18. 6.2 FIGURE 6.1: What is Gerrymandering?

  19. 6.2 6.2Responsibility for redistricting most often belongs to: • Congress • State legislatures • Political parties • Independent commissions

  20. How Congress Is Organized 6.3 • Leadership in the House of Representatives • Leadership in the Senate • The Committee System

  21. 6.3 FIGURE 6.2 How are the House of Representatives and the Senate Organized?

  22. Leadership in the House of Representatives 6.3 • Speaker of the House • Most powerful position in the House • Leadership Teams • Majority Leader • Minority Leader • Whips

  23. 6.3 FIGURE 6.3: What is the partisan composition of the 113th Congress?

  24. 6.3 Who was the first female speaker of the House?

  25. Leadership in the Senate 6.3 • Presiding Officer • Majority Leader • Leadership Teams

  26. The Committee System 6.3 • Types of committees • Standing Committees • Joint Committees • Conference Committees • Select (or Special) Committees • Committee chairs • Committee membership

  27. 6.3 TABLE 6.5: What were the committees of the 112th Congress?

  28. 6.3 6.3Which committees are responsible for hammering out differences in House and Senate bills? • Standing Committees • Joint Committees • Special Committees • Conference Committees

  29. Powers of Congress 6.4 • The Law-making Function • The Budgetary Function • The Oversight Function

  30. The Law-making Function Committee Referral Floor Debate Final Approval 6.4

  31. 6.4 FIGURE 6.4: How does a bill become a law?

  32. 6.4 What is the president’s role in lawmaking?

  33. The Budgetary Function 6.4 • Congressional Budget Act of 1974 • Establishes levels of spending • Reconciliation process to limit debates • Pork and Programmatic Requests

  34. 6.4 TABLE 6.6: What is the timeline for the congressional budgetary process?

  35. The Oversight Function 6.4 • The War Powers Resolution • Congressional Review • Confirmation of Presidential Appointees • Impeachment

  36. War Powers Resolution 6.4 • Passed over President Nixon’s veto • Requires Congressional approval to commit troops • Limits power of president as commander in chief

  37. Congressional ReviewConfirmation of Presidential Appointees 6.4 • Congressional review allows Congress to overrule regulations for federal agencies • Senate confirms Supreme Court, federal district court, and Cabinet nominations

  38. Impeachment 6.4 • Power to remove official from office • House votes to impeach • Senate conducts trial

  39. 6.4 6.4Which of these is among Congress’s oversight authority? • Impeachment • Congressional review • Senate confirmations • All of the above

  40. How Members Make Decisions 6.5 • Political Parties • Constituents • Colleagues and Caucuses • Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees • Staff and Support Agencies

  41. Political Parties Influence of political parties on the passage of legislation Divided government Different political parties control presidency and Congress Unified government Same political party controls presidency and Congress 6.5

  42. Constituents 6.5 • People who live, work and vote in a member’s district • Wedge issues

  43. 6.5 How do members of Congress learn about their constituents’ opinions on political issues?

  44. Colleagues and Caucuses 6.5 • Logrolling • Supporting another member’s legislation in exchange for future support • Special Interest Caucuses • Informal groups based on shared interest

  45. Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees 6.5 • Research and Data • Provide information to justify members’ positions on legislation • Persuade constituents to contact or pressure members • Fundraising • PACS

  46. Staff and Support Agencies 6.5 • Congressional staffers • Agency staffers • Committee staffers

  47. 6.5 TABLE 6.7: What are the Congressional Support Agencies?

  48. 6.5 6.5When a member votes the way his constituents want, he is voting as a: • Trustee • Delegate • Politico • Logroller

  49. Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional Power 6.6 • Congress and the Executive • Congress and the Judiciary • Congress and the People

  50. Congress and the Executive 6.6 • Tenure of Office Act • Weakened the power of the executive • Fluctuations in power • Strong executive versus strong legislative

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