Congressman for Alabama’s 3rd district including Jacksonville: Important Alabama Representatives Alabama Senators: Jeff Sessions Richard Shelby Congressman for Alabama’s 3rd district including Jacksonville: Mike Rogers

Senate Majority Leader Congressional Leadership Speaker of the House John Boehner Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Short Answers Is Congress bicameral and unicameral? Name the house (s). Name the three branches of government. What is the main job of each? Who/what is included in each branch? Who is the Speaker of the House? Who is the Majority Leader of the Senate? Which political party is currently in the majority in Congress?

The legislative or lawmaking What is Congress? The legislative or lawmaking branch of government. It is made up of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress is housed in the United States Capitol.

What is the Main Job of Congress? To make laws!! Congressman and Senators write bills (suggested Laws), try to get the bills approved by the rest of the Congress, and then signed by the President so that they can become laws.

Congressional Terms Each regular term begins on January 3rd of odd numbered years. It lasts for two years. It is divided into two sessions.

Congressional Terms Regular sessions are a part of the Congressional term. Special Sessions can be called during times of crisis. Joint Sessions are when members of the House of Representatives and the Senate meet together. One such session happens each year for the President’s State of the Union Address.

House of Representatives Senate

House of Representatives 435 members serve 2 year terms. The members of the House of Representatives are called Congressmen or Congresswomen. Each state’s representation (# of votes) is based on population. Each state is divided into one or more Congressional Districts with one representative. District lines are drawn with about the same number of constituents (voters).

Senate Its members are called Senators. serve 6 year terms. Its members are called Senators. 100 members (2 Senators for each state). Senators serve six year terms. 1/3 of the senators are elected every two years to keep the Senate stable.

Requirements for Congress House of Representatives You must be at least 25 years old. You must have lived in the state you wish to represent for at least 7 years. You must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years. Senate You must be at least 30 years old. You must have lived in the state you want to represent for at least 9 years. You must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.

Congressional district lines are drawn with about the same number of constituents (voters) in them. Gerrymandering Gerrymandering is drawing district lines to benefit one group politically.

Senate Majority Leader Congressional Leadership President of the Senate also Vice President Speaker of the House Leader of the House of Representatives. Joe Biden Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid John Boehner

Congressional Leadership (Continued) President Pro Tempore Because the Vice President is so busy, the Framers also created the position of Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tempore rules the Senate when the Vice President is absent. Because the Vice President is often not involved with Senate matters, the Majority leader of the Senate also enjoys significant power.

Majority Party Minority Party Democratic Party Republican Party

Other Congressional Leaders… Majority party- the political party that has the most members in Congress Majority Leader – member of the majority party that guides legislation Majority Whip – member of majority party that raises support for bills. Minority party- the party that has fewer members in Congress than the majority party. Minority Leader – Member of the minority party that guides legislation Minority Whip – Member of the minority party that helps raise support for bills.

Congressional Committees Most of the work of Congress is done in committees. They are smaller groups of Congressman or Senators. Types of Committees Standing Committees – always active Joint-Committees – members of both Houses of Congress meet to discuss issues Select Committees – created to do a special job for a limited period of time Conference Committee – Members of the House of Representatives and Senate meet together when two versions of a bill have been passed. They come up with a Compromise bill.

Powers of Congress Chapter 6 Section 2 Notes

Article I Section 8 Clause 18 gives Congress Implied power Congress has DELEGATED and IMPLIED powers. Article I Section 8 Clause 18 gives Congress Implied power The Elastic Clause Delegated – given in the Constitution Implied – Congress can pass all of the laws they need to in order to do their job.

Legislative (lawmaking) Powers Taxing and Spending – Congress can raise money through taxes. Regulating Commerce (Trade) – make laws dealing with all interstate and foreign trade including laws about radio, TV, trucking, etc. Foreign Relations – Power to declare war and maintain the army Senate has to approve all treaties that the President makes with other nations.

Non-Legislative Powers Resolutions are formal statements about the decisions or opinions of lawmakers. They are not laws. Joint Resolutions- opinions that have passed both Houses of Congress and can become law if the President signs them.

LIMITS ON CONGRESS’ POWER Checks and Balances A system in which each branch of government has a way to limit the power of the other two branches.

Other Limits on Congressional Power Congress cannot suspend a Writ of Habeas Corpus (it requires the police to take a prisoner to court to explain the charges). Congress cannot pass a Bill of Attainder (they are laws that punish people without a jury trial). Congress cannot pass Ex Post Facto laws (they make an act a crime after it has happened). Congress cannot interfere with Reserved Powers (powers given only to the state).

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Introduction Standing Committee. Debate Vote Presidential Action A proposed law. What is a bill? How a Bill becomes a Law Introduction Standing Committee. Debate Vote Presidential Action

1. Introduction A bill is introduced by a member of Congress to an entire session (either all of the House or all of the Senate) and given a title and a number. Example: HR-102 or S-231

2. Standing Committee The chairperson of the committee decides whether or not to discuss a bill. The committee chooses whether or not to send the bill to the floor for a vote. If a bill is not sent to the floor for a vote, it “dies in committee,” and doesn’t become law.

The actions a committee takes towards a bill Committee Action The actions a committee takes towards a bill They can pass the bill without changes. They can change a bill and suggest it be passed by the house. They can replace the original bill with an alternative bill that is slightly different. They can ignore the bill or “pigeonhole” it which kills the bill, and it will not become law. They can kill the bill by a majority vote of the committee.

The unlimited debate of a bill. 3. Floor Debate The Congressmen and Senators discuss the parts of a bill before they vote on it. If a bill is approved by the committee, it is debated by the full House or Senate. In the House of Representatives, the Rules Committee limits debates, but in the Senate there are no time limits. Senators can filibuster! Filibuster The unlimited debate of a bill. A filibuster can go on so long that a bill is never sent to the floor for the vote. The filibuster can only be ended by Cloture Rule. 3/5ths of the Senate has to vote to invoke the Cloture Rule and end the debate.

The Congressmen and Senators vote to pass or reject the bill. When a bill is approved by one house it goes to the other to begin the process again. When it has passed both houses, it goes to the President. If two versons of a bill pass, a conference committee decides a compromise. If a bill is not passed, it must start at the beginning to be rewritten and reintroduced to become law.

5. Presidential Action When a bill passes both houses of Congress, it is sent to the President. The president has three choices: Sign the bill and make it a law Veto (refuse to sign) the bill, and it does not become law. If the President vetoes a law, the Congress can override it with a 2/3rds majority. Pocket-Vet0 – If the President ignores the bill for 10 days and Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law. If Congress is not in session, the bill dies.

Executive Branch Judicial Branch Legislative Branch The Constitution created three Branches of Government Executive Branch Who? The President, Vice-President, and Cabinet What? The main job is to enforce laws Judicial Branch Who? The Supreme Court and federal courts What? The main job is to interpret laws Legislative Branch Who? The Congress What? The main job is to make laws

Executive Branch Judicial Branch Legislative Branch Checks and Balances Draw arrows to show the way each branch of government limits the power of the other branches. Can appoint judges Executive Branch Judicial Branch Can declare Presidential actions unconstitutional VETO LAWS Approve judges Override a Veto Impeach Impeach Legislative Branch Approve all of the people nominated for jobs Approve all treaties Declare laws unconstitutional