Chapter 11: Lawmakers And Legislation

Vocabulary TERM DEFINITION Constituents Person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official 2. “Pork” Publicly funded projects secured by legislators to benefit their home district or state 3. Standing Committees Permanent committee of legislators from either house or senate responsible for specific policy areas 4. Appropriations Funds allocated by a legislature for a stated purpose as part of a budget or spending bill 5. Joint Resolution Official statement issued by both houses of Congress and becomes a force of law when signed by the president 6. Casework Personal services provided by members of Congress to their constituents

Successful Legislator? What Makes a Successful Legislator? You must be “electable”—charming, at ease speaking to crowds, and willing to tailor your views to match the results of public opinion polls. You must be able to raise money, and lots of it, to finance your election campaign. Once elected, you must become skilled at playing political games When seeking reelection, you must show that you were able to bring taxpayer-funded projects back to your home district or state.

House of Representatives Citizenship Requirement Comparing Congress CATEGORY House of Representatives Senate Age Requirement 25 30 Citizenship Requirement Naturalized Number per State Apportioned by population 2 Total Numbers 435 100 Term 2 years 6 years Election Elected in districts Elected by states Action Quicker to act Slower to act Press Less press coverage More press coverage Prestige Less prestigious More prestigious Staff Smaller staff size Larger staff size Rules Tighter rules Looser rules Floor Debate Limited floor debate Extended floor debate Influence Budgetary and Monetary Foreign Affairs

WHat is a WHip?

“Majority Whip Displays Impaled Senator Outside Capitol Building As Warning To All Who Cross Party Lines” http://www.theonion.com/article/majority-whip-displays-impaled-senator-outside-cap-51789

Leadership in the House TITLE DESCRIPTION Speaker of the House Most powerful and prestigious member of Congress Assigns bills to committee Appoints members to committee “Power of Scheduling” House Majority Leader 2ND in command House Minority Leader Minority party’s 1st in command House Majority Whip Assistant floor leader Informs leadership Persuades party members how to vote House Minority Speaker Republican (WI) Paul Ryan                   Majority Leader Republican (CA)- Kevin McCarthy Democratic (Minority) Leader Democrat (CA)-Nancy Pelosi Majority Whip Republican (LA)- Steve Scalise . Democratic (Minority) Whip Democrat (MD)- Steny Hoyer

Leadership in the Senate Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader               TITLE DESCRIPTION Vice President & President pro tempore The Constitution grants the VP as the President of the Senate VP= Tie breaking vote President pro tempore= Senior member of majority party who acts in place of the VP Senate Majority Leader 2ND in command Senate Minority Leader Minority party’s 1st in command Senate Majority Whip Assistant floor leader Informs leadership Persuades party members how to vote Senate Minority Vice President Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (D-DE) President Pro Tempore Hatch, Orrin G. (R-UT), Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Republican Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) Democratic Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Standing Committees Joint House Senate Special, Select & Other Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and the Workforce Energy and Commerce Ethics Financial Services Foreign Affairs Homeland Security House Administration Judiciary Natural Resources Oversight and Government Reform Rules Science, Space, and Technology Small Business Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans’ Affairs Ways and Means Intelligence Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on the Library Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry  Appropriations  Armed Services  Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget  Commerce, Science, and Transportation  Energy and Natural Resources  Environment and Public Works  Finance  Foreign Relations  Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions  Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs  Judiciary  Rules and Administration  Small Business and Entrepreneurship  Veterans' Affairs  Joint Joint Committee on Printing  Joint Committee on Taxation  Joint Committee on the Library  Joint Economic Committee  Special, Select & Other Indian Affairs  Select Committee on Ethics  Select Committee on Intelligence  Special Committee on Aging 

Congressional Powers Levy and Collect Taxes Borrow Money Regulate Interstate And Foreign Commerce 4. Coin Money 5. Declare War

Congressional Checks & Balances Oversight= oversee executive agencies Confirmation= key officials Impeachment= president, judges Ratification= treaties Override= presidential vetos Amendment= propose