“Any one who is unfamiliar with what Congress actually does and how it does it, with all its duties and all its occupations, … is very far from a knowledge of the constitutional system under which we live.” --Woodrow Wilson (1885)

1. Legislative Branch Makes the laws Bi-Cameral (two houses – The House of Representatives and the Senate 2. Executive Branch Enforces the laws 3. Judicial Branch Decides if Laws are Constitutional

 The “lower” House of the Legislature  2 year Terms  Total of 435 members  Members represent a district based on population  Considered the “tea-cup”

 The “upper” House of the Legislature  6 year alternating terms  2 Senators for entire state  Known as the “saucer”

 Some consider this Office the most important in Congress  Elected presiding officer of the House and the leader of the majority party.  Keeps House in order – recognizes congressmen to speak, refers bills to committees, interprets House rules, appoints committee chairs, puts motions to a vote, and deciding vote.

 The Senate’s presiding officer – Vice President.  President Pro-tempore is the de facto presiding officer, who is elected by the majority party.  Powers include: recognizing members to speak, putting questions to a vote, voting to break a tie, referring bills to committees, interpreting Rules.

 Appointed by Speaker or President of Senate.  Works on a smaller level than general houses of Congress to debate, hear testimony and change legislation.  Lots of work in the House of Representatives is done in Committees. Make recommendations to Congress on areas of jurisdiction.  Rules and order are up-held by the Committee Chairman who can bring a bill up for a hearing and call for a vote.

 Committee made of both Senators and Congressman to work out differences if two different versions of a bill is passed.  Members are appointed by the presiding officers (Speaker and President of the Senate)

 Interest Group – private organizations that try to persuade public officials to respond to shared attitudes of their members.  Mass Media- Television, internet, social media, propaganda, newspapers etc. It helps set the public agenda by playing a role in electoral politics  Political Parties – group of people who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and holding public office.

 The Constitution gives the President to sign a bill into law or to Veto the bill.  Veto means to refuse to sign a bill and to then return to Congress with the President’s objections.  If the President does not sign a bill within 10 days, the bill automatically becomes law.  Pocket Veto – when Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of the bill passing and the president does not sign the bill.  Congress may over-ride the President’s veto with a 2/3rds vote of both the House and the Senate.

 As a class, we will create our own Life of a Bill Diagram.  Each team will be assigned a step in the process to illustrate.  As we create our class Diagram, you will draw your own Diagram to use as a study- guide for you final.

 What is the most important step of the Legislative process in determining whether a bill “dies” or becomes law? Why? Paragraphs should be 3-5 sentences long. Include an accurate description of the step you choose. Compare your step to at least two other steps in your essay.