Ch 8- Congress

The House of Representatives 435 Members 435 Members Representation is based on population- Census every ten years Representation is based on population- Census every ten years 2 Year term 2 Year term Requirements- Requirements- 25 years of age 25 years of age U.S. citizen for at least 7 years U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Resident of the state he/she represents Resident of the state he/she represents Unique Powers Unique Powers Initiate revenue bills Initiate revenue bills Impeach federal officials Impeach federal officials Choose the president if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral college Choose the president if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral college

The Senate 100 members- 2 from each state 100 members- 2 from each state 6 year term 6 year term Qualifications Qualifications 30 years of age 30 years of age U.S. citizen for at least 9 years U.S. citizen for at least 9 years Resident of the state he/she represents Resident of the state he/she represents Unique Powers Unique Powers Approve presidential appointments Approve presidential appointments Approve treaties with a 2/3 majority Approve treaties with a 2/3 majority Hold an impeachment trial Hold an impeachment trial

Review (hint- this will be on the test) House of Reps. Senate Basis of representation population 2 each state # of members Length of term 2 years 6 years 1/3 are elected every 2 years Age requirement 2530 Citizenship requirement 7 years 9 years Unique powers Initiate revenue bills Initiate revenue bills Impeachment Impeachment Select president if no candidate win a majority of the electoral college Select president if no candidate win a majority of the electoral college Approve presidential appointments Approve presidential appointments Approve treaties by a 2/3 majority Approve treaties by a 2/3 majority Impeachment trial Impeachment trial

Terms bill bill proposed law proposed law veto veto a way the president can prevent a bill from becoming a law; it can be overridden by a 2/3 majority of both houses of Congress a way the president can prevent a bill from becoming a law; it can be overridden by a 2/3 majority of both houses of Congress pocket veto pocket veto the president holds on to a bill until the session of Congress ends (within 10 days), thus killing the bill the president holds on to a bill until the session of Congress ends (within 10 days), thus killing the bill filibuster filibuster the use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill (in the Senate only) the use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill (in the Senate only) cloture cloture a vote to end debate on a bill a vote to end debate on a bill

Terms quorum quorum the smallest number of members who must be present for business to be conducted the smallest number of members who must be present for business to be conducted revenue revenue money raised by government through taxes; bills for this must begin in the House of Representatives money raised by government through taxes; bills for this must begin in the House of Representatives capitation tax capitation tax a tax on individual citizens; a head tax (forbidden by the Constitution) a tax on individual citizens; a head tax (forbidden by the Constitution) appropriations appropriations money Congress has approved to be spent by the government money Congress has approved to be spent by the government duties duties a tariff, or tax on imports a tariff, or tax on imports excises excises taxes on the production or sale of certain goods (gas, tobacco, etc.) taxes on the production or sale of certain goods (gas, tobacco, etc.)

Terms patent patent makes an inventor the sole owner of his or her work makes an inventor the sole owner of his or her work counterfeiting counterfeiting printing fake money printing fake money militia militia a body of citizen soldiers a body of citizen soldiers bankruptcy bankruptcy a business, or person, cannot pay it’s debts a business, or person, cannot pay it’s debts piracy piracy robbing ships at sea robbing ships at sea copyright copyright protects an author protects an author

Terms naturalization naturalization the process of becoming a citizen the process of becoming a citizen bill of attainder bill of attainder a bill declaring a person is guilty of a crime (unconstitutional) a bill declaring a person is guilty of a crime (unconstitutional) ex post facto laws ex post facto laws laws that punishes people for an act that was not illegal when it was committed (unconstitutional) laws that punishes people for an act that was not illegal when it was committed (unconstitutional) “after the fact” “after the fact” writ of habeas corpus writ of habeas corpus a court order requiring government officials to bring a person to court and explain why he or she is being held a court order requiring government officials to bring a person to court and explain why he or she is being held “to have the body” …of evidence “to have the body” …of evidence

Terms lobbyists lobbyists people who represent interest groups people who represent interest groups constituents constituents the people a member of Congress represents the people a member of Congress represents hearings hearings meetings Congress holds to gather information meetings Congress holds to gather information census census the official counting of the population of the U.S. for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives the official counting of the population of the U.S. for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives

Committees Most of the work in Congress is done in committee Most of the work in Congress is done in committee Types of committees: Types of committees: Standing committee- permanent Standing committee- permanent Select committee- temporary Select committee- temporary Joint committee- includes members from both houses Joint committee- includes members from both houses Conference committee- members from both houses to work out a compromise on a bill Conference committee- members from both houses to work out a compromise on a bill

Congressional Leadership Speaker of the House Speaker of the House presides over House sessions, decides who may speak, appoints committee members presides over House sessions, decides who may speak, appoints committee members President of the Senate President of the Senate the Vice President of the United States the Vice President of the United States only has a vote in the case of a tie only has a vote in the case of a tie President pro tempore President pro tempore the official who presides over the Senate most of the time the official who presides over the Senate most of the time Other leadership positions Other leadership positions Majority/ Minority Leader Majority/ Minority Leader Whip- gets party members to vote with the party Whip- gets party members to vote with the party