113 th Congress: Senate and House of Representatives

Congress consists of… Two houses this is called a bicameral legislature 435 members, in addition there are 5 non voting members. Number of representatives each state sends to the House is determined by state population. 100 members. Each state sends two Senators regardless of population.

Congressional Sessions Each term of Congress starts on January 3 rd of odd-numbered years and lasts for two years. 112 th Congress started January th Congress started January 2013

How can someone become a member of Congress? House of Representatives: 1. Must be at least 25 years old 2. Citizen of U.S. for 7 years 3. Resident of the state that is being represented. Directly elected, thus more responsible to the people Senate: 1. Must be at least 30 years old 2. Citizen of the U.S. for 9 years 3. Resident of the state that is being represented. Originally chosen by state legislators, until 17 th Amendment (1913) Both legislative bodies have unlimited terms.

What else is needed to become a member of Congress? Have a background in law, public service, or business. Name recognition Fundraise=MONEY If you are an incumbent you have a greater chance of being reelected. What does one get when they become a member of congress? –Franking privilege –Salary: Salary of $174,000 (2009) ($193,400 for leaders, $223,500 for the Speaker) –Immunity while in Congress

The Representatives and Senators The Job –Travel allowances and franking (see below and next slide) privileges. –Often requires 10 to 14 hour days, lots of time away from the family, and lots of pressure from different people to “do the right thing.”

Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbents –Advertising: The goal is to be visible to your voters. Frequent trips home & newsletters are used. –Credit Claiming: Service to individuals in their district. Casework: specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right to. Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made available in a congressional district or state.

Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbents –Position Taking: Portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individuals. Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issue. –Weak Opponents: Most opponents are inexperienced in politics. Most opponents are unorganized and underfunded. –Campaign Spending : Challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an incumbent. PACs give most of their money to incumbents. Why? Does PAC money “buy” votes in Congress?

House of Representatives Serve for only 2 years before all 435 members need to be reelected. Elections are held in even number years. Special to the House: –Bring impeachment charges –Decides the president if they don’t receive 270 votes. –Policy Specialists –Initiates all revenue bills, more influential on budget. –House Rules Committee –Limited debates.

Leadership Speaker of the House Allows people to speak on floor Assigns bills to committees Influences which bills are brought to a vote Appoints members of special and select committees Majority leader –Serves as assistant to the Speaker: Schedules legislation –Presides in case of absence Minority Leader –Same duties as the Majority leader, except they can not schedule legislation Whips –Keep records of where people are and how they will vote on bills.

The Senate Elected for six years, during even numbered years. (1/3 rd of the Senators are elected every two years) Special to the Senate: –Confirm Appointments –Try impeachment charges –Filibuster –Policy Generalists –Gives “advice & consent”, more influential on foreign affairs.

Filibuster A technique in which debate is extended in order to take up time and try and kill a bill Longest filibuster: Senator Strom Thurmond: Civil Rights legislation Cloture: motion to end debate 3/5 th vote

Leadership in the Senate The Vice-President –Serves as chairman of the Senate –Has no vote unless there is a tie President Pro-Tempore –Presides over the Senate when the VP is not present Majority Leader –Schedules meetings –Recognizes the speakers Minority Leader –Recognize the opposition in negotiations.

Committee System Standing Committees –Continue from one Congress to the next—bills referred here for consideration Joint Committees –Includes members from both houses of Congress, conducts investigations or special studies Conference Committees –Joint committee created to iron out differences between Senate and House versions of a specific piece of legislation Select (or special) Committees –Temporary committee appointed for specific purpose, such as conducting a special investigation or study

Purpose of Committees 1.Divides Congress into smaller groups. 2. Consider bills as they come into Congress. Most bills don’t make it out of committee. 3. Hold public hearing to help learn about key issues the nation is facing.

How Congress is Organized to Make Policy The Committees and Subcommittees –The Committees at Work: Legislation and Oversight Committees work on the 11,000 bills every session. Some hold hearings and “mark up” meetings. Oversight involves hearings and other methods of checking the actions of the executive branch and the bureaucracy. As the size of government grows, oversight grows too.

How Congress is Organized to Make Policy The Committees and Subcommittees –Getting on a Committee Members want committee assignments that will help them get reelected, gain influence, and make policy. New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders. Support of the party is important in getting on the right committee. Parties try to grant committee preferences.

Committee Membership Members often seek assignments to committees based on –Their own interests or expertise –A committee’s ability to help their prospects for reelection Pork/ earmarks: legislation that allows representatives to bring home the “bacon” to their districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs designed to benefit their districts directly. Access to large campaign contributors

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How a Bill Becomes a Law Watch the following clip and record how a bill becomes a law. We will watch the clip 2 times. The first time ONLY watch the clip and the second time record the steps on how a bill becomes a law. v-oQ