1. Organization
Congress

2. Congress = Legislature
535 members total
Bicameral = 2 houses
House of Representatives (HoR)
Senate
Congressional terms begin Jan. 3 in years ending in an odd number and lasts two years
Each term is made up of 2 sessions (meetings) lasting 1 year
Cannot adjourn for more than 3 days w/o approval of other house
Pres. Has authority to call it back for a special session

3. Characteristics of Congressmen
Almost ½ lawyers
Typically white, middle-aged males
Congress slowly has begun to reflect more racial, ethnic, and gender diversity
: 17% women

4. Membership Senate 30 yrs old Citizen of U.S. min. of 9 yrs
House of Representatives
30 yrs old
Citizen of U.S. min. of 9 yrs
Legal resident of state they represent
Term = 6 yrs
1/3 senators run for reelection every 2 yrs
If senator dies or resigns before end of term, state legislature can authorize governor to appoint
Voters elect senators at-large (statewide– they have no particular district(
25 yrs old
Citizen of U.S. min. of 7 yrs
Legal resident of state they represent
Term = 2 yrs
If a representative dies or resigns in 1st session, the state must hold special election to fill vacancy
Voters elect representatives from their district

5. Reelection to congress
Incumbent= members who are already in office
90% of incumbents win reelections
Incumbent advantages
Raise campaign funds more easily
Gerrymandering
Better known to voters
Credit taking (use position to solve problems of voters)
Most voters believe they represent their views

6. Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering = drawing district boundaries to give one party and electoral advantage
Results in odd shaped districts
Types of gerrymandering includes “packing” and “cracking”
Packing = draw the lines so they include as many of the opposing party’s voters as possible
Cracking = dividing an opponent’s voters into other districts to weaken the opponent’s voter base

7. Organization of Congress
Senate
House
100 members
Based on state equality
Lead by President of the Senate (V.P of U.S)
Joe Biden
In absence, lead by President Pro Tempore
Patrick Leachy
Allowed unlimited debate
Filibuster = to extend debate to prevent a bill from coming to vote
435 members
Based on state population
Lead by Speaker of the House
chosen by members of House
From the majority party
John Boehner
Seats divided w/Republicans on right and Democrats on left
Debate limited by House Rules Committee

8. House of Reps Very powerful committee
Leadership
House Rules Committee
Speaker of the House
Influences proceedings by deciding which members to recognize first, appointing members to committees, and scheduling bills for action,
House Floor Leader
Majority leader and top assistant to S of H
Whip
Assistant floor leaders watch how majority members intend to vote on bills and persuade them to vote as the party wishes and ensure members are present to vote
Very powerful committee
Can move bills ahead of other bills on calendar
Set how long a bill can be debated and revised
Settles disputes among other House committees
May delay or block bills that reps and House leaders do not want to come to a vote on the floor

9. Senate Leadership Filibuster
Vice Pres. of US presides but cannot vote except to break a tie
May recognize members and put questions to vote and may influence members through personal contact
In VP’s absence, lead by president pro tempore “pro tem” for short (for the time being)
Elected from majority party, often longest serving member
Majority leader
Steer party’s bills through senate
Minority leader
Critique majority party’s bills and keeping party united
Whip
Ensure legislators are present when key votes come up
Historically extended debate for weeks or months
Only 41 senators have to say they intend to filibuster for it to achieve its purpose today
Can only be stopped by a vote for cloture
Cloture = limits the debate by allowing each senator only one hour for speaking on a bill, but 60 senators must vote for cloture

10. Purposes of Committees
Consider thousands of bills that are proposed each session and select the few that will actually be considered
Help ease the workload by dividing work among many smaller groups with members who may develop into specialists over years of service
Hold public hearings and investigations to help public learn about key problems and issues facing nation (organized crime, drugs, hunger, etc.)

11. Types of Committees Standing Committee Select Committee
Stand or continue from one Congress to the next
Subcommittees specializes in a subcategory of its standing committees responsibility
Select Committee
Temporary committee created to study one specific issue and report findings
Joint Committee
Temporary or permanent with representation from both parties from both houses
Should coordinate work of two houses but tend to be limited to routine matters such as LoC and printing
Conference Committee
Temporary committee set up when the House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill
Members from both houses resolve differences and work out a bill that both house and senate can accept

12. Congressional Staff
Help to do much of the work on legislation, communicate w/voters, run committee hearings and floor sessions, draft new bills, write committee reports, and attend committee meetings, and help lawmakers get reelected
Personal staff = work directly for individual congressmen
Committee staff = work for House and Senate committees

13. Support Agencies
Provide services that support the Congress. Some services available to the other two branches of gov’t and public
Library of Congres (LoC)- Largest library in world; Administrator of copyright law; Does research for lawmakers
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)- studies presidential budget
Government Accountability Office (GAO)- watchdog for Congressional spending
Government Printing Office (GPO)- largest multipurpose printing plant in world

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law
See Outline

15. Powers
Congress

16. Article I Section 8 Clauses 1-14 Expressed/Enumerated Powers
Money Powers
Lay and collect taxes
Borrow money
Establish bankruptcy laws
Coin, print, and regulate money
Punish counterfeiters of American currency
Commerce Powers
Regulate foreign and interstate commerce

17. Military and Foreign Policy Powers
Declare war
Raise, support, and regulate an army and navy
Provide, regulate, and call into service a militia known as the National Guard
Punish acts committed on international waters and against the laws of nations
Other Legislative Powers
Establish laws of naturalization
Establish post offices
Grant copyrights and patents
Create lower federal courts
Govern Washington, D.C.
Provide for laws necessary and proper for carrying out all other listed powers

18. Non-legislative Powers
Power to choose President (Electoral College)
Removal Power (Impeachment= formal accusation of misconduct in office)
House starts impeachment proceedings with majority vote
Senate conducts trial; 2/3 vote of senators required to convict
Confirmation Power (approve presidential appts)
Ratification Power (treaties w/other nations)
Amendment Power (propose Constitutional Amendments)

19. Article I, Section 9- Denied Powers
May not suspend a writ of habeas corpus– court order to release a person accused of a crime to court to determine whether he or she has been legally detained
May not pass bills of attainder- laws that establish guilt and punish people w/o trial
Cannot pass ex post facto laws- cannot make an act criminal that was legal when it was committed
Cannot tax exports
Cannot bestow titles of nobility

20. Power to investigate
A standing committee or a select committee may conduct investigations
May lead to new laws to deal w/a problem, reforms in gov’t programs, or officials being fired

21. Legislative Oversight
Limits Executive
Requires executive agencies to report to it
Uses support agencies to study an agency’s work and see if public money is being spent appropriately and legally
Power of the purse