1. U.S. National Government
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6

2. From the Reading When Does Congress Meet?
What types of bills does Congress decide?
How is the president elected?
What are the rules for presidential succession?
What types of cases are heard in federal courts?

3. Responses
Each term starts on Jan 3 in odd-numbered years and lasts for 2 years – is divided into 2 sessions – Congress may also meet in special sessions
Private bills, public bills, resolutions
Through Electoral College – each state appoints electors who vote for one of the major candidates
1947 Presidential Succession Act – Vice Pres., Speaker of House, President Pro Tempore of Senate, Sec of State, then other members of cabinet
Federal, state, or Constitution-related cases

4. Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government
Motivation
The role of each branch of our government is outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
The government has also had to adapt to changes over time.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

5. What is the function of the legislative branch?
Legislative branch has 535 members.
Primary role is to make new laws, impose taxes, and address issues.
Elected representatives are known as members of Congress.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

6. When does Congress meet?
Each term of Congress
Starts on January 3 in odd-numbered years
Lasts for two years
Is divided into two sessions
Congress may also meet in special sessions.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

7. What are the two parts of Congress?
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the delegates decided that Congress would be a bicameral body.
The two parts of Congress became the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

8. What are the two parts of Congress? (cont’d)
House of Representatives
Larger body of Congress
435 voting members, allotted to the states according to population
One representative for each district in a state
Two-year terms
Focusing on concerns in individual districts
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

9. What are the two parts of Congress? (cont’d)
Senate
100 members, 2 from each state
Each senator represents entire state
Terms of 6 years
No more than one-third of senators up for reelection at same time
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

10. What are the roles of Congressional leaders?
At beginning of each term, party members in each house choose leaders.
Speaker of the House
Is most powerful leader within the House of Representatives
Steers legislation
Takes charge of floor debates
Is in line of presidential succession
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

11. What are the roles of congressional leaders? (cont’d)
Senate has no leader with power comparable to that of the Speaker of the House.
The Vice President, rarely attends Senate debates and votes only in case of a tie.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the President Pro-Tempore.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

12. What are the roles of congressional leaders? (cont’d)
Floor leaders
In the Senate: the real leaders
In the House: most powerful besides the Speaker
Speak for their parties on issues
Push bills along
Try to sway votes
Party “whips”
Help the floor leaders
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

13. What is the function of congressional committees?
Detailed work of lawmaking is done in committee.
Standing committees—permanent committees that continue their work from session to session
Select committees—committees created to do a special job for a limited period
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

14. What is the function of congressional committees? (cont’d)
Joint committees—committees that include members of both houses
Conference committees—temporary committees that help the House and Senate agree on the details of proposed laws
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

15. What is the function of congressional committees? (cont’d)
Longest-serving committee member from majority party usually becomes chairperson.
A chairperson of a standing committee decides
When and if a committee will meet
What bills will be studied
Who will serve on which subcommittees
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

16. What types of bills does Congress consider?
Private bills concern individual people or places.
Public bills apply to the entire nation and involve general matters.
Congress also considers resolutions.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

17. How does a bill become a law? (cont’d)
Only senators and representatives can introduce bills.
Every bill is given a title and number.
The bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee.
The chairperson of the committee decides if the bill merits attention.
Standing committees have life-and-death power over bills.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

18. How does a bill become a law? (cont’d)
Bills approved in committee are considered by the full House or Senate.
Bills are put on calendars in chronological order.
The Rules Committee controls the House schedule.
When bills reach the floor, members debate the pros and cons.
They may also discuss amendments.
The Senate allows riders to be tacked onto a bill.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

19. How does a bill become a law? (cont’d)
Members of Congress may vote on a law in several ways:
Voice vote
Standing vote
Computerized voting system
Roll-call vote (Senate)
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

20. How does a bill become a law? (cont’d)
A simple majority of all members that are present is needed to pass a bill.
If a bill passes in one house, it is sent to the other.
If either house rejects a bill, it dies.
The Senate and House must pass a bill in identical form. (2/3 majority needed)
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

21. How does a bill become a law? (cont’d)
After both houses of Congress approve a bill, it goes to the president.
Four possibilities
President signs bill, and it becomes law.
President vetoes bill.
President does nothing for ten days.
Result depends on whether Congress is in session.
Congress can override a presidential veto.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

22. What are the requirements for the presidency?
To become president, a person must be
At least 35 years old
A native-born American citizen
A resident of the United States for at least 14 years
Most U.S. presidents have shared certain characteristics.
Only in the past few decades has the presidency become a possibility for a broader group of Americans.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

23. How is the president elected? (cont’d)
To elect a president, the United States uses an indirect method called the Electoral College.
Each state appoints electors.
They will vote for one of the major candidates.
When people vote for a candidate, they are voting for the electors pledged to that candidate.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

24. How is the president elected? (cont’d)
Each state has as many electoral votes as the total of its U.S. senators and representatives.
The Electoral College includes 538 electors.
To be elected president or vice president, a candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes.
The formal election by the Electoral College takes place in December.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

25. How are federal judges selected?
Federal judges are chief decision makers in judicial branch.
More than 550 judges preside over district courts.
Each appeals court has 6–27 judges.
Supreme Court has 9 justices.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

26. How are federal judges selected?
President appoints federal judges, with approval of Senate.
President usually follows senatorial courtesy.
Applies mainly to selection of judges for district courts and other trial courts
Federal judges may have their jobs for life, unless they are removed through impeachment.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

27. What is the function of the Supreme Court? (cont’d)
The Supreme Court is made up of eight justices led by one chief justice.
Justices’ main duty is to hear and rule on cases.
Chief justice has additional duties.
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

28. What is the function of the Supreme Court? (cont’d)
Supreme Court justices are always lawyers.
Political support and agreement with president’s ideas are important.
Thurgood Marshall
First African American justice
Sandra Day O’Connor
First female justice
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

29. Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court
Marbury v. Madison - Judicial Review
Dred Scot v. United States - Slaves and Property
Brown v. Board of Education
Gideon v. Wainwright - Right to Council
Miranda v. Arizona - Rights upon Arrest
brown v. board short video – media (next slide – click on picture)

30. Brown v. Board of Education
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government

31. Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government
How Many Votes?
Are needed to pass a bill from the Senate to the House? (2/3 of members)
Are needed to pass a bill from the House to the Senate? (2/3 of members)
Are needed to pass a bill from the House and Senate to the President?
Are needed for states to agree? (3/4)
Foundations of United States Citizenship
Lesson 5, Chapter 6, U.S. National Government