1. Unit 4:
Congress

2. 1. Creation and Function of Congress

3. Main Function of Congress?
to create laws and pass budget
Legislate: to pass laws

4. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE

5. Why Bicameral?
Historical---we stole the idea from British Parliament (House of Commons, House of Lords)
Practical---compromise between big states (Virginia) & small states (NJ)
Theoretical---each will check each other’s power

6. Congress: “Coming Together”
Congress vs Parliament:
US Congress members have to win back home, often with little party support.
MPs only win with party listings.
MCs have more independence in office than MPs.
Party in power in P. chooses Prime Minister, not the case in our system

7. 2. The Senate

8. “The Gentlemen’s Club”
100 Senators, two from each state, serve a 6 year term (no term limits)
Only 1/3 of Senate up for re-election every 2 years

9. “Gentlemen’s Club” The Senate
Longer terms, less turnover, more media attention, more prestigious
Less rules, more open talk
Major committees: Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Appropriations
Senator serve on 2-3 committees
Leaders Majority and Minority
Qualification: 30 yrs, live in state your rep.

10. The Filibuster
The Filibuster: Talking until majority of Senate agrees to abandon or modify a bill.
OLD STROM: Record filibuster 24 h, 18 min
Filibusters have included corn bread recipes, phone book readings, fishing stories, etc.
Cloture: 60 senator vote to limit debate to 30 hours

11. Filibuster: Often used by minority party to stall judicial appointments

13. 3. The House of Representatives

14. The People’s House The House
435 members, running every two years=always running
Responsible for Federal Budget
Strict rules on debate, amendments
Major committees: Appropriations, Oversight and Gov’t Reform, Budget
Leader: Speaker of House, Majority/Minority Leader

15. The House Qualifications for House members: 25 years old
citizen for 7 years
live in the district you represent.
Youngest Rep:
Aaron Schock

16. 53 2 Apportionment Idaho
House: 435 seats divided up based on a state’s population (~670,000 per district)
Senate: 2 Senators per state
53
Idaho 2

17. Apportionment: Districts redrawn every 10 years

18. January 20, 2012 Supreme Court sides with Texas on redistricting plan

19. Gerrymandering
practice of drawing House district boundaries to benefit a certain party or group-shame, shame, shame!
Go to:
Then Now

20. Redistricting Game

21. D R R R R R D R R D D D D D D D D R Pack’em and Crack’ em R D R
                                                                                                                                                                                                          
1 STATE of 3 DISTRICTS
21 VOTERS TOTAL
D R R R R
R D R R
D D
D D D
D D D R
R D R
Pack’em and Crack’ em

22. 4. Powers of Congress

23. Legislative Powers (Expressed- specifically mentioned Constitution):
1.  Tax and Spend, (and Spend, and Spend)
2.  Borrow
3.  Coin Money
4.  Regulate Commerce
5.  Foreign Relations (approve treaties, declare war, etc.)
6.  Create courts, post offices, copyrights, & patents
7. Manage and rule territories

24. Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Recent Expenditures
$1 Trillion
Total Cost of
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
$819 Billion
Stimulus Package
$3.7 Trillion
FY 2012 Budget
($1.1 deficit)
$700 Billion
Bank Bailout

26. B-2 Bomber:
1 billion dollars

27. Newest US Carrier:
6 billion dollars

28. Strict Constructionists: Loose Constructionists:
Legislative Powers
Implied Powers- not specifically mentioned but implied (by elastic clause). Too many to name---is this ok?
Strict Constructionists:
NO!
Loose Constructionists:
YES!

29. Nonlegislative Powers
1.  Impeachment
2.  Propose Amendments
3.  Choose a President
RARE

30. Nonlegislative Powers
4.  Give Advise & Consent
5.  Investigate
6. Oversight
COMMON

31. EARMARKS
An earmark is a congressional provision that directs appropriated funds to be spent on specific projects or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees.

32. PIG BOOK RULES
This year’s Congressional Pig Book Summary symbolize the most egregious and blatant examples of pork. 
Meet at least one of CAGW’s seven criteria, but most satisfy at least two:
Requested by only one chamber of Congress
Not specifically authorized;
Not competitively awarded;
Not requested by the President;
Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding;
Not the subject of congressional hearings; or
Serves only a local or special interest.

33. EARMARS

34. Pick your 3 favorite PORKY projects (biggest waste of taxpayer money)
Pick your 3 favorite PORKY projects (biggest waste of taxpayer money). Briefly explain why you picked each.
List 2 at least somewhat justifiable projects. Describe how the Congress member might defend these.
Check out the historical trends. What has been happening recently. What could be a reason for this?
How could Congress reduce wasteful spending? Give 3 ideas.

35. 5. Who is in Congress?

36. DIVERSITY

37. DIVERSITY

38. Leadership of Congress
Split Leadership
Senate
Democrats 51
Republicans 47
Independents 2
House
Republicans 241
Democrats 192

39. Leadership of Congress
Speaker of the House: Presiding officer in the House--- assigns bills to committees, plans schedule, presides over sessions
John Boehner R- OH

40. Leadership of Congress
Majority Leaders (House and Senate): Spokesmen for dominant party
Senate-Harry Reid (D-NV) Eric Cantor (R-VA)

41. Leadership of Congress
Minority Leaders (House and Senate): Spokesmen for opposition party
Senate- Mitch McConnell (R-KY) House- Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
               

42. Leadership of Congress
Whips: vote counters in House, assist M&M leaders
Vice President of US: President of Senate: breaks ties
President pro tem of Senate: Presiding officer in Senate in VPs absence

43. Leadership of Congress
Whips: vote counters in House, assist M&M leaders
Vice President of US: President of Senate, breaks ties
President pro tem of Senate: Presiding officer in Senate in VPs absence
Sen. Dan Inouye

44. 6. Making Laws
Just like
sausage making!

45. TYPES OF LEGISLATION
Bills: draft of a law presented to H or S by a member.
Resolutions: formal declaration of opinion.
Riders: Attachment to bill, usually controversial and not directly related to the bill and it wouldn’t pass on its own as a bill.
Earmarks: provision to a bill including local spending items.

46. THE BILL TO LAW PROCESS (Simplified)
1. Bill introduced in H/S
2. Sent to committee
3. Voted on by H or S
4. Sent to Conference with other chamber
5. Sent to President
6. Signed or Vetoed (if vetoed, override possible with 2/3s vote)