1. Basics of the Legislative Branch
Congress
Basics of the Legislative Branch

2. House of Representatives
Structure of Congress
Bicameral
Upper House
Senate
Lower House
House of Representatives

3. Why did our Founding Fathers choose bicameralism?

4. Terms and Sessions
Each term of Congress lasts two years, and follows an election.
Currently 111th Congress
Begins at noon on the 3rd day of January of odd numbered years.
Changed by the 20th Amendment in 1933.
Session – period of time during which Congress meets in a given year.
Currently – 111th Congress, 2st session
At the end of each session, Congress adjourns
Today, congress remains in session most of the year and occasionally takes a recess.

5. Presidential control over the sessions of Congress
President has the power to Prorogue, or adjourn (end), a session of congress when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment.
President may call Congress into a special session to deal with emergency matters.

6. Representation in the Senate
Two senators for each state
(Great Compromise)
100 members total (2 x 50)
Initially, Senators were selected by their state legislatures.
1913, 17th amendment changed election of senators they are now elected at-large
Meaning by all voters in the state.

7. Representation in The House
Based on population
The number will differ from state to state.
California Currently has 53 representatives.
1929 – House limited to 435 members
Elected directly by the people of each Congressional District.

8. Congressional Districts in California
We live in District 2
Approximately 750,000 – 800,000 people per district.
Districts are roughly equal in population.
Each state is broken into Congressional Districts just like the CA example.
We will discuss later how these districts are created.

9. Comparing the House and the Senate
House of Reps
435 Members
100 Members
25 years old - minimum age
30 years old – minimum age
Citizen 7 years
Citizen 9 years
Resident of the state from which he or she is elected
2 year terms
6 year terms
All members reelected every 2 years
1/3 of members reelected every 2 years ( )

10. Comparing the House and the Senate
House of Reps
Leader –
Speaker of the House
Leader – President of the Senate (VP of the US)
Votes whether or not to impeach officials
Votes whether or not to remove impeached officials from office
Introduces all Revenue Bills
Confirms all Presidential Appointments and Treaties
Very Formal, Many Rules
More informal, fewer rules

11. Ponder This! Why is the Senate considered the more prestigious House?
What benefit do the people gain by the Senate serving a 6 year term instead of a 2 year term?
Why do you think that the House has certain powers like impeachment hearings and originating revenue bills while the Senate holds impeachment trials and confirms presidential appointments?

12. Congressional Elections
When are they held?
How are Congressional districts created?
What influences the outcome?

13. General Information
Date — Congressional elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.
100% of House elected, 1/3 of Senate elected
Off-Year Elections —occurring in non-presidential election years
The party holding the presidency often loses seats.
Voter turnout is lower.

14. Reapportionment Occurs every ten years
Based on the census (which is a good job)
Seats in the House are “portioned” or “divided up” among the states.
Seats can be taken away or added to each states.
Total seats equals 435.

17. Redistricting States redraw the Districts for the house
Task is done by state legislatures
Politics are involved.
When the process is outrageously political, it is called gerrymandering and is often struck down by the courts.

18. California Congressional Districts based on 1990 Census

21. Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering: Drawing the lines of congressional districts to favor one party or group over another.
Massachusetts legislature redrew boundaries.
Governor Elbridge Gerry - blamed by Federalists
Cartoon was drawn labeling the redistricting a “Gerry-mander.”

23. What are the major influences on the outcome of national elections?

25. What else influences elections? Money!
No limit on Campaign Spending
a violation of 1st Amendment
Can limit the amounts that individuals/groups contribute
Hard Money – Donations made directly to political candidates.
Must keep records
Soft Money – Money that is spent on any activities, especially “issue advertising”
Not actually received or spent by the candidate's campaign

26. Stability or Change? Incumbents usually win
Creates stable Congress.
Provides more power and expertise.
Representatives in safe-seats (voters overwhelmingly belong to one party) are usually reelected.
Term limits have been introduced
Have never been passed
What Brings Change?
Open-seats
Redistricting
Closest contests occur in close-seats where voters evenly split among political parties.

27. Ponder This!
Do you support or oppose Congressional Term Limits to promote change? Why or why not?
What is gerrymandering? What is the problem with it?
Congressional Reapportionment: When does it happen, who does, who is in charge of redistricting?
How many House seats does California have?
Name 2 major influences on winning a Congressional campaign.

28. The Members of Congress

29. Members of Congress
Congress is older, better educated, whiter, and richer than most of us.
Average member is white, male, mid 50s
Most are married, have children, Christian
Most are lawyers, business, education, journalism or politics
Nearly all attended college
However, this has begun to change over time.

32. Education Levels All members
Law Degree – 228
Medical Degree – 17
Doctoral Degree – 19
Master's Degree – 141
Bachelor's Degree - 494

33. Current Political Party Breakdown
House
257 Democrats
178 Republicans
0 Independent
Senate
Democrats – 57
Republicans – 41
Independents – 2
Both caucus w/ Dems

34. Salary
The current salary for all Senators and Members is $162,100. The salary for the Speaker is $208,100 and the salary for the Majority and Minority Leaders is $180,100.

35. Benefits for Members of Congress
Privileges
special tax deduction to offset two residences
travel allowances
medical care at military hospitals
retirement plans
offices in district and D.C.
franking privilege for mail (helps with reelection!)
freedom from arrest except for treason, felony and breach of the peace
speech on floor cannot be questioned

36. Duties of the Job, Members of Congress must act as…
Legislators or lawmakers
Committee members
They must represent the interests of the committee on which they serve
Representatives of their constituents
Constituents are people in a member of Congress's State or district.
Servants of their constituents
Providing the people back home with services, such as making nominations to military academies or helping companies in their districts obtain government contracts
Politicians
Continuously campaigning

37. Representing the People
How should an elected official represent his/her constituents?
Trustee--representatives use their own best judgment
Delegate--representatives vote the way their constituents want them to
Partisan – representatives vote with their party leadership

38. Other Influences on Decisions
Representative
Colleagues
Constituents
Staff
Caucuses
Party
Interest Groups
Political Action Committees

39. Organization of Congress

40. Organization of Congress
Congress is organized along party lines.
Each house of Congress has it’s own leadership positions and it’s own party leaders.

41. Your Representative Wally Herger California 2nd Congressional District
First elected in 1986

42. Wally Herger
California 2nd Congressional District

43. Your Senators Barbara Boxer Diane Feinstein First elected in 1992
Last elected in 2004
Up for election in 2010
Diane Feinstein
First elected in 1992 (special election)
Reelected in 1994
Last elected in 2006

44. House Leadership House Speaker of the House
leader of Majority Party
presides
keeps order
after VP in succession
Currently Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

45. Senate Leadership Senate Pres of Senate – Joe BidenVP
does not debate
votes in tie
President pro tempore
Robert Byrd (D-WV)
elected by majority party
Longest serving member.

46. Leadership Party Leadership
Party caucus: deals with party organization floor leaders membership
Majority Leader: Leader of majority party, legislative strategist, chief spokesman
Minority Leader: Leader of the minority party, legislative strategist, chief spokesman
Assistants or whips: communicates with rank and file members

47. House Party Leadership
Minority Leader
(Republican Leader)
John Boehner (R-OH)
(pronounced BAY-NER)
Majority Leader
(Democratic Leader)
Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

48. Senate Party Leadership
Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV)

50. Committees Chairmen: chosen by majority party based on seniority
Seniority: who has been in Congress the longest
Four types of committees:
Standing committee and sub-committees: handles bills, subject matter specific
Joint committees – Both Houses, studies/researches issues
Select committees – specific problems, Watergate
Conference committee – Both Houses, For the legislative process – reconcile differences in bills

52. Questions on Congressional Organization
Who determines the positions of leadership in each House?
What is seniority and how does it play in the Congressional power game?
Who is your Congressman? What Congressional district do you live in?
Who are your two senators?
Which political party is in control of the House? Senate?

53. Questions on Congressional Organization
Who is the presiding officer of the House? (name & position)
Who is the presiding officer of the Senate? (name & position)
Who presides in the Senate in #2s absence? (position only)
What is the role of the majority & minority leaders of each House?
What is the role of the majority & minority whip of each House?

54. Questions on Congressional Organization
Who are the current majority & minority leaders of the Senate?
Who are the current majority & minority leaders of the House?
Who chooses the chairman of committees? What is it based on?
What are the four types of committees and what does each do?

55. Power of Congress

56. Powers of Congress
The most important constitutional power of Congress is the power to make laws.
This power is shared by the House and the Senate.
In order to become a law, a bill must be passed by both the House and the Senate.

57. "necessary and proper" to carrying out
Declare
War
Powers of
Congress
Taxation
Lawmaking
Regulate
Commerce
Spend
Money
Create
Courts
Make all laws
"necessary and proper" to carrying out
the enumerated powers

58. Lawmaking
Only a member of the House or Senate may introduce a bill but anyone can write a bill.
Over 9,000 bills are proposed and fewer than 5 to 10% are enacted.
Most bills originate in the executive branch.
A bill must survive three stages to become a law: committees, the floor, and the conference committee. A bill can die at any stage.