1. Lawmakers and Legislators
Chapter 11
Essential Question:
What makes an effective legislator?

2. Legislators Def. = person who legislates/makes laws or policy
The people who elected them are their constituents
Legislators must keep their constituency happy, or…
…they’re voted out!
Formal qualifications (Congress)
House: 25 yrs Senate: 30 yrs
House: citizen 7 yrs Senate: citizen 9 yrs
House: live in district Senate: live in state
That’s all that’s required, but…

3. Cont. Informal qualifications help
These are what voters look for, they change over time.
Age?
Race & gender? (see graphs)
Education?
Experience?
Charm?
Appearance?
Other?

4. Who gets your vote?

5. Apportionment Def. = how the 535 Congress seats are distributed
100 Senators – 2 per state
435 Rep’s in House depends on…
…each state’s population
…changes every 10 years with census count (see next slide)
Role of legislators
Rep the voters of my district first?
Rep the USA first?
Mix the two?

7. Getting re-elected Once in office, you’re called an incumbent
Incumbents usually get re-elected (80 to 90% of the time). Why?...
Name recognition
Office resources
Money/donations
“pork” = projects that help your district and keep your constituency happy (your people back home)

8. Organization of Congress
Congress is bicameral = 2 houses
House of Representatives
Senate
House of Rep’s
Speaker of the House – majority party picks speaker; speaker picks bills to be debated
Majority & minority leaders – chosen by each party to lead them
Majority & minority whip – try to keep party members voting with party

9. Cont.
Senate
President of the Senate – is V.P. of the U.S.; only votes in ties
President pro tempore – senior, majority Senator; helps run Senate on day-to-day basis
Majority & minority leaders
Majority & minority whips

10. Committees This is where most things happen in Congress
Standing committees – permanent
Subcommittees – research/report to committee
Select committees – chosen for special purposes
Joint committees – made of both House & Senate members
Conference committee – temporary joint committee
Bills often die in committee

11. Congress’ work Constitution – Article I… Tax us Borrow money
Regulate trade
Coin money
Declare war
Laws “necessary and proper” for powers above
Checks & balances = make sure no 1 branch gets too much power
Congress can override president’s veto with 2/3 vote; Senate approves pres. appointments
Congress (Senate) approves federal judges

12. Bill-to-Law process
Must get through (1) House, (2) Senate, (3) president*
Starts in committee (Pass/Fail?)
Then to entire 1st house (P/F?)
Committee of 2nd house (P/F?)
Then to entire 2nd house (P/F?)
Goes to president (sign/veto?)
Sign  law
Veto  *back to Congress for 2/3 vote (P/F?)
By far, most bills fail