3. Responsibilities of Lawmaking
Legislative Branch
Responsibilities of Lawmaking

4. Warm Up:
What is the most important job of those that make laws for our country?

5. Think About It..?
What factors should a lawmaker consider when voting on a bill?

6. Think About It..?
What factors should a lawmaker consider when voting on a bill?
Dilemma:
You believe that abortion is wrong and that under no circumstance should you be given the right to terminate a pregnancy. However, many of the people in the state that you represent believe that it should be left up to those personally involved.
What do you do? Stick to your beliefs and vote on legislation that will make it difficult to get abortions in your state or go against your own values and vote in favor of the majority of those whom you represent?

7. Factors Influencing Lawmakers
Local vs. National Needs (Constituents)
Political Parties
Interest Groups (Lobbyists)
Personal Values/ Conscience

8. Decision-Making in Action
Western Pennsylvania
Important issues?
(Steel industry vs. Environment in 1900s)
You are a representative from Pennsylvania, what factors would you consider when voting on environmental bills?

9. Making Laws Not all decisions are easy to make
There are four factors that influence decision-making:
Personal Beliefs
Constituents Interests
Interest Groups (National Rifle Assoc.)
Political Party Loyalty

10. 1. Personal Beliefs Our beliefs heavily influence the way we vote
Sometimes members of Congress choose personal beliefs over what their constituents want
Constituents are those who are represented by a member of congress because they reside in his/her district or state

11. 2. Constituents Interests
You expect your representative to bring home the bacon for you!
Pork Barrel Spending
What does that mean?

12. 2. Constituents Interests Continued
Should members of Congress support local interests (district/state) over the general nations interests?
Should you do what is good for the country even if it will hurt your constituents?

13. 3. Interest Groups
Interest groups are people acting together to achieve political goals
Provide information on issues
Suggest legislation
Contribute to campaigns through political action committees (PAC’s)

14. 4. Political Party Loyalty
Most Congress members play the party game
Ignoring the party can make life difficult
Most members stick to the ideals of their party

15. How is Congress structured? http://electedlist.com/Pennsylvania.html
House of Representatives
Senators
Members: 435
Members: 100
Representation based on population:
Virginia Plan
Representation based on equality: New Jersey Plan
(PA currently has 18 Representatives)
13 are Republican and 5 are Democrat
Our State Senators are Bob Casey, Jr. (D) and Pat Toomey (R)
Our Representative in the 18th district is Tim Murphy (R)
Representatives serve 2 year terms
Senators serve 6 year terms
1 representative for every 674,000 people
Election every 2 years for 1/3 of the Senate

16. Allocation of congressional districts in the House of Representatives

17. PA Congressional Districts

18. Red = Republicans (13) Blue = Democrats (5)
Breakdown of PA Reps
Red = Republicans (13) Blue = Democrats (5)

19. House floor seating

20. Qualifications and Benefits
House of Representatives
Senate
At least 25 years of age
At least 30 years of age
United States Citizen for 7 years
United States Citizen for 9 years
Legal resident in the state you represent
$174,000, great pensions, life insurance, health care, etc.

21. Benefits Continued All members of Congress get a “franking” privilege
Allows them to send official mail for free
Also get special tax deductions, medical services, free library research facilities, ect.
Immunity – protection from being sued for anything they say during congressional business

22. Profile of Congress
Most are white, highly-educated, wealthy men over 40
Tend to be former lawyers, businessmen, and politicians
Approximately 14% are Female and 7% African American