Roots of the Legislative Branch: Tracing the Origins of U.S. Congress

2. Chapter 7Congress

3. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government LO 7.1: Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution. The Members of Congress LO 7.2: Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection.

4. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives How Congress Is Organized LO 7.3: Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress. Powers of Congress LO 7.4: Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress.

5. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives How Members Make Decisions LO 7.5: Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions. Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional Power LO 7.6: Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, and the courts.

6. Roots of the Legislative BranchLO 7.1: Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined bythe U.S. Constitution. Great Compromise – bicameral legislature Two representatives per state in Senate House by population House district size determined by apportionment House district shape determined by redistricting Senators must be at least 30 Serve a six-year term Representatives must be 25 Serve a two-year term To Learning Objectives

7. A bill, or proposed law, cannot become law without the consent of what entity? The Senate The House Both the House and Senate The Bill Committee The people To Learning Objectives LO 7.1

8. A bill, or proposed law, cannot become law without the consent of what entity? The Senate The House Both the House and Senate The Bill Committee The people To Learning Objectives LO 7.1

9. The Members of CongressLO 7.2: Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress,and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection. Congressional demographics Richer, better educated, more male, few minorities Senate – no African Americans, two Hispanic Americans, and 17 women Running for and staying in office Incumbency Name recognition Fundraising Redistricting Gerrymandering To Learning Objectives

10. In 2003, Texas Democrats left the state in order to hold off the necessary quorum needed by Republicans to do what? Take control of the legislature Pass an affirmative action bill End the death penalty in Texas Pass a Republican-sponsored redistricting bill Pass a bill requiring the state board of education to stay out of the process of textbook selection To Learning Objectives LO 7.2

11. In 2003, Texas Democrats left the state in order to hold off the necessary quorum needed by Republicans to do what? Take control of the legislature Pass an affirmative action bill End the death penalty in Texas Pass a Republican-sponsored redistricting bill Pass a bill requiring the state board of education to stay out of the process of textbook selection To Learning Objectives LO 7.2

12. Leadership in the House of Representatives Speaker of the House Leadership teams Majority and minority leaders Whips Leadership in the Senate Presiding officer: president pro tempore Leadership teams Majority and minority leaders Whips To Learning Objectives How Congress Is OrganizedLO 7.3: Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress.

13. The Committee System Types of committees Standing committees Joint committees Conference committees Select (or special) committees Committee chairs Committee membership To Learning Objectives LO 7.3

14. Bills can be forced out of a House committee by what? A majority vote A two-thirds vote A chairperson A discharge petition A majority leader To Learning Objectives LO 7.3

15. Bills can be forced out of a House committee by what? A majority vote A two-thirds vote A chairperson A discharge petition A majority leader To Learning Objectives LO 7.3

16. Lawmaking Budgetary Oversight To Learning Objectives Powers of CongressLO 7.4: Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress.

17. Committee referral Markups Floor debate Holds Filibusters Cloture Final approval Vetoes Pocket vetoes To Learning Objectives LO 7.4 The Law-Making Function How a bill becomes a law

18. The Budgetary Function Congressional Budget Act of 1974 Reconciliation Timeline on budget process Pork and earmarks To Learning Objectives LO 7.4

19. The Oversight Function War Powers Act (1973) Congressional review Confirmation of presidential appointments Senatorial courtesy Impeachment To Learning Objectives LO 7.4

20. The War Powers Act of 1973 has been considered by many to be what? Quite powerful A success Largely ineffective Unconstitutional Both C and D To Learning Objectives LO 7.4

21. The War Powers Act of 1973 has been considered by many to be what? Quite powerful A success Largely ineffective Unconstitutional Both C and D To Learning Objectives LO 7.4

22. Political parties Divided/unified government Constituents Colleagues and caucuses Logrolling Interest groups, lobbyists, and political action committees Staff and support agencies To Learning Objectives How Members Make DecisionsLO 7.5: Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congressmake decisions.

23. Despite thinking better of their own representatives in Congress, currently about _____ of constituents approve of Congress as a whole. twenty percent fifty percent seventy percent ninety percent five percent To Learning Objectives LO 7.5

24. Despite thinking better of their own representatives in Congress, currently about _____ of constituents approve of Congress as a whole. twenty percent fifty percent seventy percent ninety percent five percent To Learning Objectives LO 7.5

25. Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional PowerLO 6.6: Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, and the courts. Congress and the executive Balance of power has shifted to executive Congress and the judiciary Judicial review To Learning Objectives

26. The Tenure of Office Act was passed to do what? Ensure tenure of members of Congress Prevent Franklin D. Roosevelt from removing Supreme Court justices he disagreed with Prevent President Andrew Johnson from removing Lincoln cabinet appointees Prevent President Bill Clinton from firing insubordinate bureaucrats Ensure that Supreme Court justices would have their positions for life To Learning Objectives LO 7.6

27. The Tenure of Office Act was passed to do what? Ensure tenure of members of Congress Prevent Franklin D. Roosevelt from removing Supreme Court justices he disagreed with Prevent President Andrew Johnson from removing Lincoln cabinet appointees Prevent President Bill Clinton from firing insubordinate bureaucrats Ensure that Supreme Court justices would have their positions for life To Learning Objectives LO 7.6

28. To Learning Objectives Figure 7.1: How many women and minorities serve in Congress? Back

29. To Learning Objectives Figure 7.2: What is gerrymandering? Back

30. To Learning Objectives Figure 7.3: How are the House of Representatives and the Senate organized? Back

31. To Learning Objectives Figure 7.4: What is the partisan composition of the 112th Congress?

32. To Learning Objectives Figure 7.5: How does a bill become a law? Back

33. To Learning Objectives

34. To Learning Objectives Table 7.1: What are the powers of Congress? Back

35. To Learning Objectives Table 7.2: What are the key differences between the House of Representativesand the Senate?

36. To Learning Objectives Table 7.3: What is a typical day like for a member of Congress?

37. To Learning Objectives Table 7.4: What are the advantages of incumbency? Back

38. To Learning Objectives Table 7.5: What were the committees of the 111th Congress? Back

39. To Learning Objectives Table 7.6: What are the congressional support agencies? Back