Legislative Branch (Congress) Organization of Congress

Starter: Vocabulary Quiz Bicameral Census Constituent Gerrymander Majority Party Minority Party Standing committee Seniority Express powers Implied powers Elastic clause Impeach Writ of habeas corpus Bill of attainder Ex post facto law Lobbyist Veto Pocket veto Fillabuster

House of Representatives Requirement: 25years old, U.S. citizen for 7 years, resident of state representing Terms: 2years terms, focus on concerns in their district Larger Body--Total size: 435, representation based on size of state Make laws Article I Section 2 Constitution Republican or Democratic Elected by the people Sole Power of Impeachment

House of Representatives Speaker of the House: Most powerful leader in House. He steers legislation, chooses who belongs to which committees, & other duties. He is always a member of the majority party (political party with the most members in Congress) Majority Party Floor Leader: person in charge of the majority party (party with the most members in Congress). Tries to sway votes that support the political goals of that party. Minority Party Floor Leader: person in charge of the minority party (party with the 2nd most members in Congress). Tries to sway votes that support the political goals of that party. Party Whips: Helps the floor leader. The Democrats have a party whip and the Republicans have a party whip. The Party Whips help keep track of the members of Congress and how they vote on issues.

Senate Requirements: 30years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, resident of state representing Terms: 6 years terms, unlimited amount Total size: 100, two per state Article I Section 3 Meets in secret sessions Republican or Democratic

Senate Vice President of the United States: the official leader of Senate. The presiding officer. Rarely attends debates over legislation. Votes in case of a tie only. President Pro Tempore: acts as chairperson and monitors debates. Member of the majority party. Title means “for the time being”; in charge when vice president is absent. Majority Party Floor Leader: person in charge of the majority party (party with the most members in Congress). Tries to sway votes that support the political goals of that party. Minority Party Floor Leader: person in charge of the minority party (party with the 2nd most members in Congress). Tries to sway votes that support the political goals of that party. Party Whips: Helps the floor leader. The Democrats have a party whip and the Republicans have a party whip. The Party Whips help keep track of the members of Congress and how they vote on issues.

Congressional Leaders House and the Senate Majority party- political party to which more than half the members belong Minority party- fewer members Speaker of the House-most powerful with the House of Representatives President pro tempore-chairperson of the Senate

Congressional Committees Committees study, revise, and debate bills that could become a law, a budget, resolution, or act. Their job is to decide if this is good for America and is it possible. Committee assignments are chosen by the leader of each house of Congress often based on seniority

Congressional Committees Type of Committee Purpose of committee Duration of committee Examples Standing Committee Education Veterans Affairs Commerce Permanent Senate 17 House 19 Chart 181 Select Committee Special Jobs Limited Period Assassinations death/ JFK MLK Joint Committee (4) Economic conditions Federal tax policy Library of Congress Government Printing Temporary Conference Committee Helps the House and Senate Agree on details of a proposed law

Non-Legislative Powers Powers Denied to Congress Chart 186 Non-Legislative Powers Powers Denied to Congress Collect taxes Approve bills spend money Impeach federal officials Can’t favor one state over another Expressed powers Power of Approval and Removal Can’t pass laws violate Constitution Implied powers Oversight and Investigation Writ of habeas corpus- requires police bring prisoners Elastic clause Check other government branches Bills of attainder- laws punish person without a jury trial Regulate Commerce Ex post facto laws- make an act a crime after the act been committed Foreign Relations and Treaties Supreme Court – declare laws unconstitutional

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Step 1 Starts with an idea from a citizen, member of Congress, or the president. idea sponsored by member of Congress, put into draft form, & introduced into Congress Assigned a number (S.123) (HR 123)

Step 2 Bill assigned to Committee. The committee studies, researches, and revises the bill. They can: Send the bill to next step Kill the bill (bill will not become a law) Pigeonhole the bill (set it aside for later)

Step 3 Subcommittee studies bill, gets citizen input, then has the same options as Step 2 (send, kill, or pigeonhole)

Step 4 Full committee: votes to sent to full House or Senate (which ever one it started in)

Step 5 Bill read to full House or Senate Debated vote (voice, standing, or roll-call)-must have a 2/3 approval to go to next step

Step 6 If passes, must go to other house Bill must pass in the same form (no changes can be made) If changes are made must call a Conference committee to work out compromises If changes are approved by both House and Senate, goes to next step

Step 7 *sign bill into law/declare it law Sent to President for final approval ,he/she can: *sign bill into law/declare it law *Pocket veto (put aside, if after 10 days Congress is in session it becomes a law, if not in session it dies) *Veto (refusal to sign it into law)

Step 8 If vetoed by president, Congress can override the veto but 2/3 vote in each house. Very difficult to achieve.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE GOVERNMENT Chapter 13 Section 1 Legislative Branch of North Carolina

SHARING OF POWER BETWEEN NATIONAL (FEDERAL) AND STATE GOVERNMENTS FEDERALISM SHARING OF POWER BETWEEN NATIONAL (FEDERAL) AND STATE GOVERNMENTS

THE TWO GOVERNMENTS FEDERAL: USA STATE: NORTH CAROLINA

SEPARATION OF POWERS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH

SEPARATION OF POWERS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH Senate House of Representatives Passes state laws Passes state budget Terms: 2 yrs for both houses EXECUTIVE BRANCH Governor Lt governor Is chief of state national guard Has line item veto power JUDICIAL BRANCH NC State Supreme Court NC Court of Appeals NC Superior Courts NC District Court

SEPARATION OF POWERS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH

NC STATE CONSTITUTION PG 355 3/5 VOTE OF PROPOSAL IN HOUSE & SENATE “FIRST IN FREEDOM” NC FREEDOM FOR ENGLAND NC CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES PREAMBLE: INTRODUCTION: WE THE PEOPLE PG 355 AMENDMENT PROCESS (2 TIERED) 3/5 VOTE OF PROPOSAL IN HOUSE & SENATE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE NC CITIZENS DECLARATION OF RIGHTS 25 GUARANTEES OF FREEDOM POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY PEOPLE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF POWER GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT LIMITED GOVERNMENT SEPARATION OF POWERS CHECKS AND BALANCES

NC LEGISLATIVE Called General Assembly 2 house legislature (bicameral)- Senate and House of Representatives

N.C. LEGISLATURE 435 MEMBERS, SPEAKER NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY SERVE 2 YR TERMS WITHOUT LIMITS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATE 120 MEMBERS, SPEAKER SENATE 50 MEMBERS, LT. GOV & PRESIDENT PRO TEMP POWERS LONG SESSION (JAN-JUN) SHORT SESSION (MAY-6WK) NEW BUDGET YEAR OR FISCAL YEAR 6/1 US CONGRESS 2 YR TERMS HOUSE 6 YR TERMS SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATE 435 MEMBERS, SPEAKER SENATE 100 MEMBERS, V.P. & PRESIDENT PRO TEMP POWERS SESSION LAST 2 YRS NO LONG OR SHORT NEW BUDGET OR FISCAL YEAR: 10/1

Activity Venn Diagram: Comparison Chart: Legislative Branches U.S. Legislative and N.C. Legislative

Requirements To be a member of the General Assembly, you must be a citizen of the state, live in district they represent and meet an age requirement. (Senator-25 yrs old, Representative- 18 yrs. old) Elected every two years

Function of General Assembly Main job is to make laws Each house has a leader; Lieutenant governor resides over Senate and President Pro Tempore is in charge if Lt. Governor is not there. Introduce, sent to committee, study, revise, debate and pass or kill bills.