1. Chapter 5 The Legislative Branch
American Civics
4/16/2017
Chapter 5 The Legislative Branch
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Chapter 5

2. Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
The Main Idea
Congress is divided into two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, and its members have certain qualifications.
Reading Focus
What are the two houses of Congress?
What are the qualifications, salaries, and rules of conduct for members of Congress?

3. Members and terms lengths in the House and the Senate:
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Members and terms lengths in the House and the Senate:
The House of Representatives has 435 members, who serve two-year terms.
The Senate has 100 members, two for each state, who serve six-year terms.

4. Qualifications and salaries in the House and Senate:
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Qualifications and salaries in the House and Senate:
Representatives: must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a legal resident of the state they represent
Senators: must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a legal resident of the state they represent
The yearly salary is $145,100.

5. Misconduct by members of Congress:
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Misconduct by members of Congress:
May lead to expulsion, removal from Congress, with a vote of two thirds of other members
May lead to censure, a written reprimand

6. removing a member from Congress
SECTION 1
Question: In what ways does Congress deal with misconduct by its members?
Legislative Misconduct
HOW
DESCRIPTION
written reprimand
Censure
removing a member from Congress
Expulsion

7. Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
The Main Idea
Congress is organized in a way that allows its members to consider and pass legislation without each member having to do everything.
Reading Focus
What are the terms and sessions of Congress?
How is Congress organized?

8. Congressional Sessions
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Sessions
Two sessions per term
Sessions begin in January each year, and a date to adjourn is agreed upon.
Sessions usually adjourn in August or September.
The president may call a special session when necessary.

9. Congressional Leaders
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Leaders
Speaker of the House—elected from the majority party
Floor leaders— elected in party caucuses to guide proposed laws through Congress
Party whips—persuade members to vote for legislation
Vice president —according to the Constitution presides over the Senate but only votes to break a tie
President pro tempore—fills in for the vice president when necessary

10. Congressional Committees
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Committees
Study all bills before they are presented to Congress
Members are nominated to committee assignments.
Senators serve on at least two standing committees.
Representatives serve on only two standing committees.
Standing committee membership is proportionate to party majority in each house.
Heads of Committee are now chosen by secret vote.

11. SECTION 2
Question: When does a session of Congress begin, and how long does it last?
When Sessions Begin
How Long They Last
The first session begins January 3 in odd-numbered years following the congressional election in November. The second session begins January 3 of the following year.
Sessions last as long as Congress wishes.
Adjournment dates are selected by Congress.

12. The Constitution both defines and limits the powers of Congress.
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
The Main Idea
The Constitution both defines and limits the powers of Congress.
Reading Focus
What types of powers are granted to Congress?
What are some of the limits on the powers of Congress?

13. Five major areas in which Congress makes laws:
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Five major areas in which Congress makes laws:
Financing government
Regulating and encouraging American trade and industry
Defending the country
Enforcing laws
Providing for growth

14. The Elastic Clause Section 3: The Powers of Congress
“to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers”
allows Congress to stretch its delegated powers to manage new situations

15. The special powers of Congress:
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
The special powers of Congress:
House—begins impeachment proceedings, initiates bills to raise money, and selects president when no candidate receives sufficient electoral votes
Senate—holds impeachment trials, selects vice president when no candidate has sufficient electoral votes, approves treaties, approves high officials

16. Congress is forbidden to:
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Congress is forbidden to:
Pass ex post facto laws, pass bills of attainder, suspend writ of habeas corpus, tax exports, pass laws violating the Bill of Rights, favor trade of any state, grant titles of nobility, or withdraw money without a law

17. regulating and encouraging U.S. trade and industry
SECTION 3
Question: What are the five major areas in which Congress has the power to make laws?
defending the country
financing government
Congressional Powers
providing for growth
enforcing laws
regulating and encouraging U.S. trade and industry

18. The Main Idea Reading Focus
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Main Idea
To become a law, a bill goes through a multistage process involving both houses of Congress.
Reading Focus
How does a bill begin?
How do the House and the Senate consider a bill?
In what ways can the president act on the bill?

19. Ideas for bills originate from:
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Ideas for bills originate from:
U.S. citizens—constituents making requests of their congress members
Organized groups—businesspeople and labor groups seeking to protect their interests
Committees of Congress—investigating committees determine needs for new laws
Members of Congress—experts in certain fields propose new laws
The president—often introduces ideas for laws in the State of the Union Address

20. Bills introduced in either house of Congress
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills introduced in either house of Congress
Are read and placed in the Congressional Record.
Are sent to a standing committee to be studied.
Receive hearings by the committees and are amended.
The committee majority can recommend that a bill be passed.
Bills reported out of committee are placed on the calendar for debate.
The bill is voted on and sent to the other house of Congress for consideration.
Approved bills are sent to the president.

21. Actions of the president regarding a bill:
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Actions of the president regarding a bill:
sign the bill and declare it a law
veto the bill and send it back to Congress
hold the bill for 10 days, when it becomes a law or is killed by pocket veto

22. SECTION 4
Question: What actions can the president take regarding a passed bill?
If Congress is in session, the BILL BECOMES LAW,
even without a signature.
SIGNS THE BILL and it becomes law
The president KEEPS the BILL for 10 DAYS without signing or vetoing it:
The president ACTS on a Bill
If Congress is not in session, the bill is killed by POCKET VETO.
REFUSES TO SIGN and sends back to Congress with rejection reasons – called a VETO.

23. Chapter 5 Wrap-Up
1. Why did the framers of the Constitution create a bicameral national legislature?
2. What two methods does Congress have to deal with misconduct by its members?
3. Who leads the houses of Congress, and how are these leaders chosen?
4. Why is most of the work of Congress done through committees?
5. What special powers does each house of Congress have?
6. How do bills become laws?
7. What can the president do with a bill passed by Congress?