Lawmakers and Legislators Chapter 11 Essential Question: What makes an effective legislator?

Legislators Def. = person who legislates/makes laws or policy The people who elected them are their constituents Legislators must keep their constituency happy, or… …they’re voted out! Formal qualifications (Congress) House: 25 yrs Senate: 30 yrs House: citizen 7 yrs Senate: citizen 9 yrs House: live in district Senate: live in state That’s all that’s required, but…

Cont. Informal qualifications help These are what voters look for, they change over time. Age? Race & gender? (see graphs) Education? Experience? Charm? Appearance? Other?

Who gets your vote?

Apportionment Def. = how the 535 Congress seats are distributed 100 Senators – 2 per state 435 Rep’s in House depends on… …each state’s population …changes every 10 years with census count (see next slide) Role of legislators Rep the voters of my district first? Rep the USA first? Mix the two?

Getting re-elected Once in office, you’re called an incumbent Incumbents usually get re-elected (80 to 90% of the time). Why?... Name recognition Office resources Money/donations “pork” = projects that help your district and keep your constituency happy (your people back home)

Organization of Congress Congress is bicameral = 2 houses House of Representatives Senate House of Rep’s Speaker of the House – majority party picks speaker; speaker picks bills to be debated Majority & minority leaders – chosen by each party to lead them Majority & minority whip – try to keep party members voting with party

Cont. Senate President of the Senate – is V.P. of the U.S.; only votes in ties President pro tempore – senior, majority Senator; helps run Senate on day-to-day basis Majority & minority leaders Majority & minority whips

Committees This is where most things happen in Congress Standing committees – permanent Subcommittees – research/report to committee Select committees – chosen for special purposes Joint committees – made of both House & Senate members Conference committee – temporary joint committee Bills often die in committee

Congress’ work Constitution – Article I… Tax us Borrow money Regulate trade Coin money Declare war Laws “necessary and proper” for powers above Checks & balances = make sure no 1 branch gets too much power Congress can override president’s veto with 2/3 vote; Senate approves pres. appointments Congress (Senate) approves federal judges

Bill-to-Law process Must get through (1) House, (2) Senate, (3) president* Starts in committee (Pass/Fail?) Then to entire 1st house (P/F?) Committee of 2nd house (P/F?) Then to entire 2nd house (P/F?) Goes to president (sign/veto?) Sign  law Veto  *back to Congress for 2/3 vote (P/F?) By far, most bills fail