1. Congress Chapter 11

2. Facts About Congress Current Congress: 112th Members in Congress: 535 VOTING members –250 Democrats –288 Republicans –2 Independents (Vermont, Connecticut) Women in Congress: 92 –House - 75, Senate - 17 Speaker of the House – John Boehner

3. What are we going to discuss… Structure and Organization of Congress Different Congressional Leaders (Party Leaders, Whips, etc.) and their roles What is the role of committees in Congress? How a bill becomes a law Rules and Etiquette of Congress Differences between House and Senate Pork-Barrel Legislation

4. In the Beginning… Great Compromise called for a bicameral legislature The Constitution outlines the powers of Congress (Article I, Section 8)…let’s review

5. House of Representatives Directly elected - Closer to the people 435 Representatives Based upon state population Larger states have more representation o People in larger states are more equally represented Nonvoting Delegates (DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Somoa) Census Apportionment Reapportionment Sole right to ORIGINATE revenue-related legislation Power of impeachment (the power to formally charge)

7. Senate Originally elected by State Legislatures 17th Amendment - Senators Directly Elected 100 Members - 2 Senators per state o All states represented equally Six-Year term w/ 1/3 of seats up for reelection every two years. Act as a court to try impeachments (Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides) –2/3 votes necessary for conviction Power of consent and approval of major presidential appointments (justices, ambassadors, cabinet posts) Power of consent and approval of treaties –2/3 votes necessary

8. Characteristics of the 2 Houses House of Representatives 435 Formal/Rigid Rules Hierarchically Organized Acts more Quickly Concentrated Power Smaller Constituencies Less Prestige Limited Debate One major Committee Assignment Bills of Revenue Senate 100 Less Formal/Rigid Rules Less Hierarchically Organized Acts more Slowly Power Less Concentrated Larger Constituencies More Prestige Unlimited Debate 2 or 3 major Committee Assignments Advise and Consent

9. Powers of Congress Delegated (enumerated) Powers Implied Powers Nonlegislative Powers

10. Delegated/Enumerated Powers Borrowing Power Power to Tax Commerce Power Currency Power Bankruptcies War Powers Other Powers o Patents o Weights and Measures o Acquire Territory

11. Implied Powers Powers not stated specifically in the Constitution Elastic Clause - "necessary and proper" Powers must be based on Delegated Powers

12. Non-legislative Powers Impeachment o Removal of federal officials for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." o House may impeach by majority vote of members o Senate tries impeachment trial presided over by the Chief Justice. 2/3 vote to remove guilty official Oversight & Investigation o Investigating the executive branch policies o Subpoena o Authorization o Appropriation

13. Membership of Congress Congress is older, better educated, whiter, and richer than most of us. Can a man represent a woman? Can a white person adequately represent the views of a black person? Congressional Demographics (112 th Congress) http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demo graphics.tt?catid=allhttp://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demo graphics.tt?catid=all

14. Party Leadership in the House Leadership in the House of Representatives o Speaker of the House (John Boehner-R)  Most important member of Congress  Member of the Majority Party  Usually high in seniority  Rules on questions of procedure  Channels bills to committees  Presides over House debates  If the Speaker does not call on a member, he/she cannot say anything o Floor Leader o Majority Leader (Eric Cantor-R) o Minority Leader (Nancy Pelosi – D) o Whip (Steny Hoyer-D, Kevin McCarthy-R)

16. Party Leadership in the Senate Leadership in the Senate o Vice President  Casts deciding vote in case of a tie o President pro tempore (Daniel Inouye-D)  Acts as leader of the Senate in Vice President's absence  Majority Party o Majority Leader (Harry Reid-D)  Most influential member of the Senate  Speaks first on the floor  Power in committee assignments o Minority Leader (Mitch McConnell) o Whip (Richard Durbin-D, John Kyl-R)  Weaker than their House counterpart since Senators have longer terms and are less tied to their party

18. Committee System Types of Committees o Standing (permanent committees) o Select (temporary; created to discuss issues, ex: situation in Egypt/Middle East) o Joint (includes members from both Houses) o Conference (members from both Houses meet to resolve issues over a particular bill) Committee Assignments o Ratio of parties in the committee mirrors parties in the house o Usually what is best for the state o Media o Personality o Party Connections

19. Standing Committees House Committees Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Banking and Financial Service Budget Commerce Education and the Workforce Government Reform House Administration International Relations Judiciary Resources Rules Science Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Senate Committees Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Governmental Affairs Health, Education, labor, and Pensions Indian Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business Veterans Affairs

20. Congressional Caucuses Informal Groups (task force, study group) Discuss issues Advocate for a political ideology Plan legislative strategies Both Representatives and Senators Belong to more than one Caucus

21. Support Agencies Library of Congress (LOC) Congressional Budget Office (CBO) General Accounting Office (GAO) Government Printing Office (GPO)

22. Controversial Issues 1.Seniority System 2.Incumbents 3.Term Limits 4.Apportionment

23. 1. Seniority System o Members with the highest seniority are given chairmanship over committees o Problems  Ignores ability  Discourages younger members  Can lead to committee chair who is out of touch with public opinion o Defenders of seniority  Easy to apply  Eliminates fighting within the party  Experienced member is the chair  Protects chair from party influence

24. 2. Incumbents o Incumbent – person currently holding an office o Basis of seniority o Raising money is easier for incumbents o Name recognition o Free Publicity o Franking Privilege o Remind constituents of their work for their districts

25. 1.What year had the lowest reelection rate? Why? 2.What do you think happened between 1990 and 1992?

26. 1.Why are senators less secure when discussing incumbency rate?

27. 3. Term Limits Pro Keeps incompetent people from getting elected Democracy fails if offices are not rotated Congress would get new ideas from new members Con Force experienced lawmakers to resign Democracy is maintained as long as citizens vote Term limits are unconstitutional

28. 4. Apportionment Malapportionment – unequal representation Gerrymandering – corrupt political practice of reapportioning districts to create a political advantage

29. Gerrymandering The earmuff shape of Illinois's 4th congressional district connects two Hispanic neighborhoods while remaining contiguous by narrowly tracing Interstate 294. Aided by computer, California District 38 was produced by incumbent gerrymandering, as home to Grace Napolitano, a Democrat, who ran unopposed in 2004.

30. Shaw v. Reno Shaw v. Reno (1993)- majority decision ruled that a North Carolina district that meandered 160 miles from Durham to Charlotte was an example of “political apartheid”

32. Review 1.How many members are there in Congress? 2.Which party has the most women and minorities serving in Congress? 3.Can a bill proposing an increase in general revenue service charges originate in the Senate? 4.In what section of the Constitution can the enumerated powers of Congress be found? 5.What amendment gives Congress the power to tax a person’s income?

33. The question of what powers are appropriate for Congress has generated substantial controversy Analysis of court cases handout and discussions

34. Grouping Court Cases Think about the court cases you analyzed. Using the smart board, drag them under the correct heading

35. Prepare for House Floor Debate