1. The Legislative Branch

2. Legislative Branch Review 1.Function: Make the Laws 2.Congressional Joint Powers A.Levy and collect taxes B.Raise and maintain military C.Grant statehood D.Control national lands E.Regulate interstate trade F.Naturalize citizens G.Declare war H.Control making of currency Where are these Legislative powers found In the Constitution?

3. Legislative Branch House of Representatives 1.Qualifications A.25 years old B.U.S. Citizen for 7 years C.Resident of state elected 2.Method of Selection – Election by the people 3.Term of Office – 2 years 4.Members per State – Based on population – 435 total 5.Powers reserved for the House only A.Originates money bills (taxes) B.Begins impeachment process C.Elects President if Electoral College fails to do so

4. Legislative Branch Senate 1. Qualifications a. 30 Years Old b. American citizen for 9 years c. Resident of state elected 2. Method of Selection – Election by the people 3. Term of office – 6 years 4. Members per state – 2 5. Powers reserved for Senate only a. Confirm Presidential appointments b. Approve/reject treaties c. Jury for impeachment trial

5. The U.S. Congress in Brief Bicameral Senate 100 members Six years More prestigious House 435 2 years Reapportioned after each census

6. Legislative Branch Begins January 3 of every odd-numbered year Numbered Consecutively (07-09 = 110th) Adjournment = end of term (both houses must agree) Two sessions per term/ periodic recesses

7. Minority Leader Appropriations Democrat Policy Committee Democrat Steering Comm. Majority Leader Presiding Officer Finance Majority WhipMinority Whip Other Standing Committees GOP Policy Committee The Senate Republican ConferenceDemocrat Conference

8. Speaker Committee on Rules Minority Whip Democrat Steering Committee Democrat Policy Committee Committee on Ways and Means Committee on Appropriations Majority Whip Minority Leader National Republican Congressional Committee Republican Policy Committee Majority Leader Other Standing Committees Republican Conference Democrat Caucus House of Representatives

9. Legislative Branch Speaker of the House Presiding officer of the House Job: acknowledges speakers, signs bills, appoints committees, calls a vote. Paul Ryan is the current Speaker of the House

10. Legislative Branch 247/188; 1 vancancy Bicameralism = Two houses A. House of Reps = closer to people Elected by the people Smaller districts 2 year term Entire body elected every 2 years Revenue bills must originate in the house

11. Legislative Branch House minority leader The Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives serves as floor leader of the opposition party, and is the minority counterpart to the Majority Leader. The Minority Leader is also the actual head of his or her party in the House The current House minority leader is Nancy Pelosi. Why does she have the title “minority leader?” Kevin McCarthy House Majority Leader

12. A whip in the House of Representatives manages their party's legislative program on the House floor. The Whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon Majority and Minority Whips Steve Scalise House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer House Minority Whip

13. Legislative Branch President of the Senate V.P. Less power than Senators Presiding officer but may not speak or debate President pro tempore Resides in V.P.’s absence Elected by the Senate Majority Party Currently: Orin Hatch

14. Legislative Branch Majority Leader- Mitch McConnell True leader in Senate Recognized first for all debates Leads majority party Influences committee assignments Influences agenda with the minority leader Harry Reid Mitch McConnell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senate Minority Leader

15. The Assistant Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate; Majority and Minority Whips are the second-ranking members of the party leadership of the United States Senate. The main function of the Majority and Minority Whips is to gather votes on major issues. Because he or she is the second ranking member of the Senate, if there is no floor leader present, the whip may become acting floor leader. John Cornyn Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin Senate Minority Leader

16. Legislative Branch SENATE 54/44- Republican/Democrat; 2 Independents that caucus with Dems. Bicameralism = Two houses Senate designed to be removed from the people Originally elected by state legislatures 6 year terms 1/3 up for election every 2 years = more continuity and stability

17. Legislative Branch Compensation Members set own salary (27th amendment =raise takes effect next term) Perks: travel allowance, staff, office space, franking privilege, insurance Legislative immunity: A law that protects legislators from liability in a civil lawsuit for duties that they performed within their office's jurisdiction Cannot be arrested or detained while going to or from a session of Congress

18. Officers of the Legislative Branch Floor leaders: majority and minority in the House and Senate Legislative strategists Committee Chairmen Heads of standing committees Chosen by majority Usually by seniority rule

19. Committees in Congress Standing committee: permanent groups which all similar bills could be sent. (Ex. Budget committee) Select committee- a special group set up for a specific purpose for a limited time. (ex. Senate Watergate Committee) Joint Committees- members from both houses.

20. Committees in Congress Informal groupings- Black caucus, democratic study group, House Republican study group, pro-Life caucus, etc. Conference Committee- temporary joint body to iron out different versions of a measure

21. How does a bill become law Bills- proposed laws, or drafts of laws presented to the House or Senate for enactment. Two types: Public- measure applying to the nation as a whole- (tax bills) Private-only apply to certain persons or places rather than to the nation generally.

22. Number of Women in U.S. Congress

23. How a Bill Becomes a Law The Journey of a Bill

24. Introduction of the Bill The bill can come from a variety of sources: Individual citizens, Special interest groups Corporations, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Only a member of Congress can introduce the bill A bill can start in either House.

25. The Bill is Assigned to Committee Each House has standing committees that consider their bills. Each committee has a chair (from the Majority) and a ranking member (from the minority). They “mark-up” (edit) the bill so it will pass on the floor. They can “pigeonhole” or kill the bill in committee. The bill must also pass through the House Rules Committee.

26. The Bill is Reported To the Floor If the bill is passed by the committee, it is sent to the whole House for debate and vote. The committee has “reported the bill favorably to the floor.” The Speaker determines which bills are discussed and for how long. Committee chairs and ranking members give out time to debate to other members.

27. The Bill is Debated and Voted in the House Bills can be considered by the whole House at once: called “Committee of the Whole” Votes are done electronically in the House, a role call vote. A board on the wall shows the tally. Red = oppose. Green = Agree Yellow = Abstain Votes can be taken by voice “yeas and nays” or a “teller vote” where members file past the sergeant at arms.

28. The Bill Goes to the Senate The bill is sent to the US Senate. A Senate version is written with the letter S. and a number. House bills have HR. As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. Committees hold hearings and make changes to the bill. The committee can ‘report” the bill to the Senate floor.

29. The Bill is Debated and Voted On in the Senate The Senate Majority Leader determines which bills are scheduled, when and for how long. As in the House, the bill must be referred to the appropriate standing committee. Debate in the Senate is unlimited. Filibusters can be used by the minority to block bills. 3/5 (60) of the Senate must agree to end debate (this is called “cloture”) The Senate Rules committee is much weaker than the House’s.

30. Both Houses Must Pass the Bill A simple majority in both houses is needed to pass the bill (51%). In the House: 218 needed to control the House. In the Senate: 51 senators needed to pass the bill (and control the Senate).

31. Differences Between Houses Must Be Reconciled Each house passes its own bill. Any differences must be ironed out and made into one bill. The bill is considered by a conference committee, made up of both House and Senate members. They negotiate and compromise and send the combined bill back to both houses. A vote on the “conference report” must be taken and passed by both Houses.

32. The Bill is Sent to the President The president can sign the bill if he wants it to become law. He can include “signing statements” that say how the law should be enforced or if parts will not be enforced. The president can veto or reject the bill. He must include his reasons and recommendations for correction. The president can choose not to act on the bill. If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill dies after 10 days. This is called a “pocket veto.”

33. The Bill Becomes Law If the president vetoes the bill, both Houses can reconsider the bill. Two-thirds (67%) of both Houses are needed to override the President’s veto. In the House: 369 needed for override. Senate: 67. If president signs the bill, it is a federal law that each state must follow.

34. How does a bill become law Filibuster: an attempt to “talk a bill to death.” in the Senate. Record: Democrat Senator Strom Thurmond: held the floor for 24 hours in an attempt to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1957. What is a filibuster proof Senate?

35. Which part of Congress has 100 members, two from each state? Which part of Congress has 435 members, with the number from each state proportional to the state's population? The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature. What does the word bicameral mean? Name two powers the legislative branch has over the judicial branch. Name two powers the legislative branch has over the executive branch.

36. Some terms to know and apply Senator Representative Filibuster Term Session Bicameral Unicameral Committee Majority Minority Whip Immunity Debate