The U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C.

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2 The U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C.

3 Demographics of Congress On the back of your warmup, create the following chart pertaining to the demographics of members of Congress: Percentage of Women Percentage of African Americans Percentage of Hispanic Americans Percentage of Asian Americans Currently serving in Congress 17.9 % 7.8 % 5.8 % 1.7 % Currently living in the United States 50.7 % 13.5 % 16.4 % 4.8 %

4 Section 5.1 Congress

5 I. Congress and the People A. Representing the People 1. Members of Congress represent and are elected by constituents. a. Constituents are the citizens who live within the geographic area (district) which the member of Congress represents. b. Members of Congress must attempt to balance the needs of their constituents along with the general interests of the U.S. as a whole. U.S. Representative Randy Forbes, 4 th District of VA, speaks to constituents in Chesapeake in 2014.

6 Virginia's Congressional Districts Each district is represented by one member in the House of Representatives

7 Virginia's Membership in Congress U.S. Senators: U.S. House of Representatives: 8 Districts are represented by Republicans 3 Districts are represented by Democrats 11 Districts total The average district includes about 750,000 people

8 I. Congress and the People B. Members of Congress 1. The average member of Congress: a. Is a white male. b. Is older than the average person (late 50s or early 60s). c. Is wealthier than the average person. d. Has more education than the average person. e. Is re-elected numerous (sometimes many) times. i.) No term limits exist for members of Congress and members are generally re-elected at an 85 90% rate. A session in the U.S. House of Representatives

9 I. Congress and the People Demographics of the 112 th Congress ( ) Age Groups Gender Ethnicity Source for Congressional Demographics:

10 John Dingell (D Michigan) is the longest serving congressman in U.S. history. Dingell served 29 terms in the House of Representatives from

11 I. Congress and the People B. Members of Congress 2. In recent decades, membership has become more diverse than ever before. a. Increasing numbers of women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and other minorities are being elected to Congress. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D CA) front row, center, poses with other female House members on the steps of the Capitol Building

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13 II. The Structure of Congress A. The Two House Structure 1. A bicameral legislature was created as a result of the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention. a. A bicameral legislature is a law making body which is made up of two chambers. U.S. Capitol Building

14 II. The Structure of Congress House of Representatives + Senate = CONGRESS

15 II. The Structure of Congress A. The Two House Structure (continued) 2. The Senate: a. Is often considered to be the upper house because it has more advanced responsibilities and works closer with the president. b. Was originally less-accountable to the people because senators were selected by the state legislatures and not the voters. i.) The 17 th Amendment (ratified in 1913) now allows voters in every state to directly elect their senators. c. Demonstrates equal representation for each state; regardless of population.

16 II. The Structure of Congress 2. The Senate (continued): d. Is made up of 100 total members. i.) 50 states x 2 senators per state = 100 total senators e. Has members which serve 6 year terms. f. Has one third of its members up for re-election every two years. i.) Senate elections are staggered so that the entire Senate (all 100 members) is not up for re-election at the same time. Virginia s two U.S. Senators: Mark Warner (Left) and Tim Kaine (Right)

17 Election of Senators Elections for Senators are staggered so that all 100 senators are not up for reelection at the same time. Federal Election Years senators are up for election/re-election 33 different senators are up for election/ re-election The remaining 34 senators are up for election/re-election

18 II. The Structure of Congress 3. The House of Representatives: a. Is often considered to be the lower house because it was designed to closely reflect the will of the people. b. Representatives serve two year terms; as a result, they must maintain close ties to their constituents if they wish to get re-elected. c. Is influenced more heavily by states with larger populations. d. Is made up of 435 representatives who are elected every even numbered year (2014, 2016, 2018, etc.)

19 California vs. California has the same number of representatives (53) as Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Vermont, Idaho, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, New Mexico, Nebraska, West Virginia, Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Iowa, and Connecticut.COMBINED (22 states total)

20 II. The Structure of Congress 3. The House of Representatives (continued): e. Has one member for every congressional district in the U.S. i.) Congressional districts are drawn by the majority party controlling the state legislature. ii.) The average district is made up of about 750,000 constituents (citizens) and districts within a state must be roughly equal in population. This map shows how many members each state has in the House of Representatives

21 Party Membership of the Senate (2014)

22 III. Congress and Checks and Balances A. The Power of the Purse 1. Congress must approve all spending by the federal government. a. Serving as a major check on the executive branch, Congress can refuse to approve the president s requests for funding. 2. Furthermore, every year the president proposes our nation s budget; however, it must then be approved by Congress.

23 III. Congress and Checks and Balances B. The Power of Advice and Consent 1. Although the president can negotiate treaties and appoint government officials, these actions must be approved (receive advice and consent) of the Senate. a. In order for a treaty to be ratified, two thirds of the Senate must vote to approve it. b. The Senate must also vote with a simple majority (51%) in order to approve presidential appointments.

24 III. Congress and Checks and Balances C. The Power of Impeachment 1. To impeach means to put a public official on trial (it is possible for a public official to be impeached and to not be removed from office). 2. Presidents can be impeached for treason, bribery, and high crimes or misdemeanors. 3. The two step impeachment process: a. First, the House of Representatives initiates the process by voting to bring the charges against the official. i.) This only requires a simple majority vote of 51% or more. b. Next, the trial is conducted and the Senate serves as the jury. i.) A two thirds guilty vote is needed to remove the public official from office.

25 III. Congress and Checks and Balances D. Other Checks and Balances 1. Congress can initiate the two step process of adding amendments to the Constitution. a. Constitutional amendments overrule Supreme Court decisions. b. The amendment process is very difficult; only 17 amendments have been added since the Bill of Rights.

26 III. Congress and Checks and Balances D. Other Checks and Balances (continued) 2. Congress can override a presidential veto with a two thirds vote (super majority) in each chamber. a. This is very difficult to achieve and only 110 vetoes have been overridden since 1789.

27 III. Congress and Checks and Balances D. Other Checks and Balances (continued) 3. Congress has the ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch and various government agencies. a. Oversight allows Congress to review, monitor, and investigate the actions of the president and executive departments. i.) Congressional committees hold hearings and conduct these investigations in order to monitor government operations.

28 February 2006 Ray Nagin, former Mayor of New Orleans, testifies at an oversight hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

29 January 2013 Hilary Clinton, former Secretary of State, testifies before a special House committee investigating the September 2012 attack on the U.S Embassy in Benghazi that killed 4 Americans.

30 June 2014 Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding faulty ignitions switches that have been linked to at least 13 deaths and the recall of more than 20 million vehicles.

31 Section 5.2 The Powers of Congress

32 I. Expressed Powers of Congress A. Financing Powers 1. In controlling the nation s finances, Congress is able to collect taxes and control federal spending. a. Prior to the income tax amendment, most of the government s revenue came from indirect taxes. i.) These taxes are included in the price of the good. ii.) Indirect taxes are hidden from the consumer; as a result, consumers may not realize they are paying these taxes. Cost of gasoline: $2.19 per gallon However, the government taxes gasoline companies. (Exxon, BP, etc.) Those taxes are then indirectly passed on to the consumer by BP or Exxon. Therefore, the consumer pays $3.75 per gallon.

33 I. Expressed Powers of Congress A. Financing Powers (continued) 2. The 16 th Amendment (1913) gave the federal government the ability to 3. collect a direct tax from citizens. a. This is a tax paid by an individual directly to the government. b. It is commonly known as income tax. Income tax is a direct tax which is paid by the individual directly to the government.

34 I. Expressed Powers of Congress B. Commerce Power 1. In the Constitution, Congress is given the power to control business through the Commerce Clause. a. This clause allows Congress to regulate and pass laws affecting economic activity between two or more states. b. Regulating interstate commerce has given Congress great authority in controlling the economy and business activities throughout the United States.

35 I. Expressed Powers of Congress The president serves as commander in chief of the military. Congress declares war with a two thirds vote. C. Defense Related Powers 1. The president is commander in chief of the military; however, Congress must vote in order to declare war. a. Historically, this situation has created lots of controversy. b. As a result, Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973 in an attempt to decrease the war making power of the president. c. The War Powers Act requires the president to end international military action within 60 days unless Congress declares war or extends that time. d. The War Powers Act includes many loopholes and has been largely unsuccessful.

36 I. Expressed Powers of Congress The War Powers Act was passed as a result of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The U.S. fought in the conflict for over 9 years, however, war was never technically declared.

37 II. Implied Powers of Congress A. Necessary and Proper Clause Today 1. This clause allows Congress to make laws which are necessary and proper for the government to fulfill its duties. a. This clause is commonly referred to as the Elastic Clause, because it allows Congress to expand and stretch its power. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution permitted the regulation of food and drugs, environmental protection, or aviation. However, during the 20 th Century, these agencies were created through the use of the Implied powers of Congress. Food & Drug Administration Environmental Protection Agency Federal Aviation Administration

38 III. Non legislative Powers A. Powers Common to Both Houses 1. Both chambers of Congress can: a. Initiate the amendment process. b. Conduct oversight of the executive branch. c. Vote on legislation and approve budget requests (appropriations).

39 III. Non legislative Powers B. Powers of the House 1. The House of Representatives can: a. Select the president if no candidate receives a majority of the Electoral College. b. Vote for the impeachment (initiate the process) of members of the executive or judicial branches. Only two presidents have ever been impeached in U.S. history.

40 III. Non legislative Powers C. Powers of the Senate 1. The Senate can: a. Select the vice president if no candidate receives a majority of the Electoral College. b. Act as the jury in the impeachment trial of a government official. c. Approve treaties and presidential appointments. President Clinton was impeached in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice.

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42 IV. Limits on the Powers of Congress A. Checks on Congressional Power 1. Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to strike down laws which are found to be unconstitutional. 2. The president can veto bills; although Congress can override (reverse) vetoes with a two thirds vote in each chamber. Citizens cannot be jailed indefinitely without being brought to a trial.

43 IV. Limits on the Powers of Congress B. Congress Cannot: 1. Suspend the writ of habeas corpus (except in cases of rebellion or invasion). a. This means a person cannot be jailed indefinitely without being charged. 2. Pass a bill of attainder. a. This means a person cannot be punished or sentenced without first being found guilty in a court of law. 3. Pass ex post facto laws. a. This means a law cannot criminalize an action which took place during a time when it was legal. You cannot: Before a:

44 V. The Changing Power of Congress A. Growing Power of Congress 1. Congressional power has increased greatly during the 20 th and 21 st centuries. 2. The Necessary and Proper Clause allowed Congress to expand its authority extensively during the 1900s. a. Social Security Programs b. Unemployment Benefits c. Medicare and Medicaid d. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) e. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) f. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

45 5.3 Warm up: House of Representatives Answer the following questions below. You do not have to write each question but you should reflect the question in your response. 113 th Congress (January 2013 January 2015) Current composition of the U.S. House of Representatives 1. What do the red dots stand for? Republicans 2. What do the blue dots stand for? Democrats 3. What do you think the white dots stand for? Vacant Seats 4. Which political party is the majority party? Republicans 5. Which political party is the minority party? Democrats 6. How many total members are in the House of Representatives? How many of those members do you think are Republican? How many of those members do you think are Democratic? How many vacancies are there currently in the House? Which party has the most law-making power in the House? Republicans

46 Section 5.3 The House of Representatives

47 I. Membership in the House A. Formal Qualifications 1. As stated in the U.S. Constitution, members of the House must be: a. At least 25 years of age. b. A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years. c. A resident of the state which he/she represents. i.) Nearly all representatives live in the district which they represent.

48 I. Membership in the House $ 174,000 $ 223,500 $ 193,400 B. Informal Qualifications 1. In order to be considered a serious contender for Congress, most congressional candidates generally have: a. Wealth (lots of money for the campaign). b. Fame, popularity and name recognition. i.) Former actors, athletes, celebrities, military heroes, etc. c. Previous experience at the local, state, or federal level. d. An advanced education. i.) Many members of Congress hold law degrees.

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50 Examples of Second Career Politicians The fame, name recognition, and money which these people had were strong factors in their political success. Hillary Clinton Former First Lady U.S. Senator from NY from U.S. Secretary of State from Arnold Schwarzenegger Former Actor and Body Builder Governor of CA from Jesse Ventura Former Professional Wrestler (WWF) Governor of Minnesota from John Glenn Former Astronaut Former U.S. Senator from OH from

51 II. Reapportionment and Redistricting A. Changes in Population 1. A national census is taken every 10 years (2010, 2020, etc.) to account for population increases and shifts. a. After calculating the population, the House of Representatives must undergo reapportionment. i.) Reapportionment is the redistributing of House seats among the states based on changes in population. b. States experiencing significant population growth/decline may experience a gain/loss of seats in the House of Representatives.

52 II. Reapportionment and Redistricting B. Gerrymandering 1. State legislatures (governments) control the process of redistricting within each state. a. Redistricting is the process of redrawing district boundaries at the state or local level. b. This process is controlled by the majority party in each state legislature. 2. Gerrymandering occurs when one political party redraws the boundaries unfairly to punish the other political party.

53 II. Reapportionment and Redistricting C. One Person, One Vote 1. In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts must be roughly equal in population. 2. This case established that one person s vote should be worth as much as another s. 3. The Supreme Court, along with other federal courts, monitors for gerrymandering today; however, this practice is still fairly common.

54 Each district has a total of 16 dots Each district still has a total of 16 dots B D A C B D District A: 8 Reds and 8 Blues District B: 8 Reds and 8 Blues District C: 8 Reds and 8 Blues District D: 8 Reds and 8 Blues A District A: 14 Reds and 2 Blues District B: 6 Reds and 10 Blues District C: 6 Reds and 10 Blues District D: 6 Reds and 10 Blues C

55 III. Leadership in the House A. The Speaker of the House 1. This person is the most powerful member and presiding officer of the House of Representatives. a. He/she is elected by fellow members of Congress and is always a member of the majority party. i.) The majority party is the political party which holds the most seats. b. The Speaker has tremendous influence over procedures in the House and the law making process. i.) The speaker sets the agenda, controls the terms of debate, and assigns bills to be studied in committee (if he feels like it). John Boehner (R Ohio) currently serves as Speaker of the House.

56 III. Leadership in the House B. Other Leadership Positions 1. The party with the most seats in the House is known as being the majority party. a. This party elects a leader; this person is known as the majority leader. 2. The party with the second most seats in the House is known as the minority party. a. This party also elects a leader; this person is known as the minority leader. Kevin McCarthy (R California) serves as the House Majority Leader. Nancy Pelosi (D California) serves as the House Minority Leader.

57 III. Leadership in the House B. Other Leadership Positions (continued) 3. Each party also selects a party whip. a. The job of the party whip is to inform, guide, and motivate members within their political party. b. Whips serve as a link between the party leadership and the party members and also encourage party members to vote as the party leadership wishes. Stephen Scalise (R Louisiana) serves as the House Majority Whip. Steny Hoyer (D Maryland) serves as the House Minority Whip.

58 Party Whips In what ways do party whips act as team captains?

59 III. Leadership in the House C. The House Rules Committee 1. This committee is controlled by the majority party and is able to exercise great influence over the fate of the bill. 2. The House Rules Committee: a. Sets the conditions for allowing amendments (revisions and changes) to the bill. b. Sets the debate terms for the bill and schedules it on the calendar. 3. This committee acts as a traffic cop and all bills must pass through this committee. All House Bills must pass through the Rules Committee (traffic cop function). Bills not favored by the Rules Committee (Majority Party) will eventually die.

60 IV. The Role of Committees A. Standing Committees 1. These are the permanent committees that last from one Congress to the next and deal with ever present issues. a. There are 20 standing committees in the House of Representatives. 2. The committee system allows members of Congress to specialize in certain areas (Foreign affairs, agriculture, armed services, etc.). a. Most committees have 3 5 subcommittees, which provide a more narrow focus on specific issues within that committee.

61 IV. The Role of Committees B. Other Committees 1. Special committees are temporarily created committees to carry out investigations or handle specific issues. 2. Joint committees are created with members of the House and the Senate in order to address common issues. a. Joint committees and joint sessions include BOTH chambers of Congress. The Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities was launched in 1973 in order to investigate the Watergate allegations against President Nixon.

62 Randy Forbes (R) represents the 4 th District of Virginia Subcommittee on Readiness Subcommittee on the Constitution Committee on Armed Services Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Seapower and Projective Forces Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Randy Forbes Current Committee Assignments

63 IV. The Role of Committees C. Committee Chairs 1. Each committee has a chairperson; this person is always a member of the majority party. a. The committee chairperson is able to exercise substantial power in controlling the actions and affairs of the committee. D. Committee Membership 1. Each representative typically serves on 1 2 committees and 3 4 subcommittees. a. Committee membership is heavily influenced by seniority. Former Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Charles Rangel (D New York) sits in his office.

64 5.4 Warm up: The U.S. Senate Answer the following questions below. You do not have to write each question but you should reflect the question in your response. 113 th Congress (January 2013 January 2015) Current composition of the U.S. Senate 1. Which political party is the majority party? Democrats 2. Which political party is the minority party? Republicans 3. What do you think the light blue dots stand for? Independents 4. How many total members are in the U.S. Senate? How many of those members do you think are Democratic? 53 (55) 6. How many of those members do you think are Republicans? Which party has the most law-making power in the Senate? Democrats

65 Section 5.4 The Senate

66 I. The Senate and its Membership $ 174,000 $ 193,400 $ 193,400 A. Formal Qualifications 1. The Constitution states that members of the Senate must: a. Be at least 30 years old. b. Have been a U.S. citizen for no less than 9 years. c. Be a resident of the state in which he/she represents. i.) Sometimes, politicians relocate so that they can run for office in that state. Hillary Clinton was elected Senator from New York in 200.

67 I. The Senate and its Membership B. Informal Qualifications 1. Senators are typically older and wealthier than their counterparts in the House of Representatives. a. Senatorial campaigns are much more expensive. i.) The Senate is sometimes nicknamed the millionaires club. 2. The Senate is less diverse than the House of Representatives. a. It currently has 80 males, 20 females, and 2 African Americans.

68 I. The Senate and its Membership C. Election of Senators 1. The 17 th Amendment (1913) permits voters to directly elect senators through a state wide popular vote. a. Before 1913, state legislatures selected U.S. Senators and citizens had no direct input. b. Americans eventually called to reform this system in order to limit the possibility of bribery and corruption. c. Also, the direct election of senators is much more democratic.

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70 II. Senate Leadership Joe Biden (D Delaware) serves as the vice president. A. Constitutional Positions 1. The Constitution assigns the vice president to the role of presiding officer of the Senate. a. The position is mostly ceremonial; the vice president rarely attends Senate sessions. b. The vice president s greatest power is the ability to cast the tie breaking vote in the event of a tie. i.) This happens very rarely. Patrick Leahy (D Vermont) currently serves as the president pro tempore of the Senate. 2. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate when the vice president is absent. a. This person is a member of the majority party and usually has the most seniority.

71 II. Senate Leadership Current Party Leadership B. Party Leaders 1. As in the House, the Senate has a majority leader and a minority leader. a. The majority leader is the most powerful position in the Senate. 2. Both the majority and minority parties also have their own party whips. a. Whips serve as a link between the party leadership and the party members. b. Whips guide and inform party members to vote as the party leadership desires. Current Party Whips Harry Reid (D Nevada) Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R Kentucky) Minority Leader Dick Dubrin (D Illinois) Majority Whip John Cornyn (R Texas) Minority Whip

72 III. Committees in the Senate A. Types of Senate Committees 1. There are 16 standing committees in the Senate. a. As in the House, these standing committees exist for permanent issues which must be addressed. B. Membership in Committees 1. Since there are less members to go around, senators serve on more committees and subcommittees than their counterparts in the House. a. On average, senators serve on 3 committees and 5 subcommittees.

73 Mark Warner (D), U.S. Senator from Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Virginia Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion Subcommittee on Science and Space Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Committee on the Budget Committee on Rules and Administration Select Committee on Intelligence Joint Economic Committee Mark Warner s Current Committee Assignments

74 Tim Kaine (D), U.S. Senator from Subcommittee on Personnel Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support Virginia Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower Committee on Foreign Relations Committee on the Budget Tim Kaine s Current Committee Assignments

75 III. Committees in the Senate C. Committee Chairs 1. Like in the House, the chairperson of each committee is always a member of the majority party. a. Because of this, the majority party holds great power and control over the law making process.

76 III. Committees in the Senate D. Senate Committee Power 1. Several committees which only exist in the Senate hold the ability to: a. Approve treaties (Foreign Relations Committee). b. Approve federal judge nominees (Judiciary Committee).

77 IV. Rules and Traditions A. The Filibuster 1. Because the Senate permits unlimited debate, senators opposed to a bill may debate about it endlessly in order to prevent a final vote. 2. A senator (or group of senators) may engage in unlimited debate. a. A vote on the bill cannot occur until all debate has concluded. b. Filibusters can only occur in the Senate.

78 IV. Rules and Traditions A. The Filibuster (continued) 3. Senators conduct filibusters as an attempt to kill the bill by talking it to death in the hope that a final vote may never occur. 4. Filibusters can only be ended by a motion of cloture. a. A cloture vote of three fifths of the Senate (60 senators) ends all debate and brings the bill to a final vote. Strom Thurmond (R South Carolina) spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in the longest filibuster in the history of the U.S. Senate.

79 IV. Rules and Traditions B. Discipline in the Senate 1. Members of either chamber may face expulsion for disorderly behavior. 2. Although this rarely occurs, a senator or representative may be removed from office if two thirds of their peers in that chamber vote to expel them. 3. Also, members of either chamber may censure one of their members. a. This action is merely a formal reprimand; there are no real consequences that accompany it. Anthony Weiner (D New York) resigned from the House in June 2011.

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81 IV. Rules and Traditions C. Filling Vacancies 1. When Senate seats becomes vacant, the governor of that state usually holds the responsibility of appointing a replacement senator until a special election can be held. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich (D Illinois) was found guilty of trying to sell Barack Obama s vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder in 2008.

82 5.5 Warm up: Committees in Congress Look at the chart below and create it on your paper. Include the three examples of standing (permanent) committees as they are shown below. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Armed Services Committee on Energy and National Resources Next, look at the six subcommittees below. Correctly place each subcommittee under the committee which you think it belongs Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance Subcommittee on Water and Power Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

83 5.5 Warm up: Referring Bills to Committees Look at the chart below and create it on your paper. Include the three examples of standing (permanent) committees as they are shown below. Committee on Homeland Security Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Next, look at the six bills below. Correctly refer or assign each bill to the appropriate committee where it can be analyzed Schoolhouse Rock I m Just A Bill Video A bill enabling states to maintain strict protection of international borders A bill requiring schools to offer equal opportunities for male and female athletes A bill requiring school buses to stop at all railroad crossings A bill requiring annual safety inspections of all bridges 30 years or older A bill requiring a background check and safety screening prior to riding an airplane A bill allowing employees to file for compensation if injured on the job

84 Section 5.5 Congress at Work

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87 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 1: Introducing Bills 1. Only members of Congress may introduce bills. a. Bills are proposed laws. 2. Only members of the House of Representatives may introduce tax or revenue bills. 3. Nearly all bills die and fail to become law.

88 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 1a: Other Types of Action 1. Similar to a bill, but used in out of the ordinary circumstances, a joint resolution can be passed by both houses, signed by the president and have the force of law. a. An example was a joint resolution in 2002 authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq. October 2002 President Bush, surrounded by leaders of the House and the Senate, announces a joint resolution to use military force against Iraq.

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90 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 2: Referral 1. Once submitted, each bill will then be referred (assigned) to a committee where it will be analyzed and studied. a. Each bill is assigned to the committee that is most appropriate for its content. 2. Upon arriving in committee, many bills are then referred to the appropriate subcommittee. 3. Most bills do not get past this step and eventually die in committee.

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92 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 3: Committee and Subcommittee Hearings 1. Next, hearings may occur in order to discuss the merits of the bill. a. Hearings are court like procedures which may involve expert testimony and the presentation of data and statistics, etc. b. These hearings are generally conducted at the subcommittee level.

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94 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 4: The Subcommittee s Report 1. Once the hearings and investigations are complete, the subcommittee will report its findings on the bill to the full committee. 2. The subcommittee may report on a bill favorably, unfavorably, or without comment (neutral). Very few bills are actually reported upon.

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96 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 5: The Markup Process 1. This takes place when the full committee reviews, and possibly recommends changes, to the content of the bill. 2. Once again, the committee may report favorably, unfavorably, or without comment on the bill to the full chamber. A bill with the mark up notes of a congressman

97 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 6: The House Rules Committee 1. The Rules Committee only exists in the House of Representatives. a. This committee is always controlled by the majority party. 2. It serves a traffic cop function and allows the majority party to exercise control over the fate of bills. a. In the House, all bills must pass through this committee before reaching the full chamber for a possible vote. The House Rules Committee, controlled by the majority party, controls the fate of most bills.

98 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 7: Debate of the Bill in the House and Senate 1. Once a bill is out of committee and is to be considered by the full House or Senate, it is known to be on the floor. 2. In the House of Representatives: a. Debates are strictly timed. b. Each side has an equal amount of time to debate and discuss the bill before a final vote. Debates are limited and timed in the House.

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100 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 7: Debate of the Bill in the House and Senate (continued) 3. In the Senate: a. Unlimited debate is permitted. b. Therefore, the possibility of a filibuster exists. i.) This is an attempt by one or more senators to engage in endless debate in order to delay/prevent a final vote on the bill. 4. In both chambers, once all debate has concluded, a final vote on the bill is then taken. a. Members then vote yay or nay in favor of, or against the bill. Filibusters can only occur in the Senate.

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102 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 8: The Opposite Chamber 1. If a bill passes in the original chamber, then the entire process starts over in the opposite chamber. 2. Bills cannot be sent to the president unless identical versions are passed in each chamber.

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104 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 9: Conference Committees 1. If similar (but not identical) versions of the same bill are passed, then a conference committee works to iron out the differences between the two versions. a. Both senators and representatives serve on this committee. b. They work to draft a single compromised version of the bill. c. If both chambers vote favorably on the compromised version of the bill, it is then sent to the president. October 2013 A conference committee, made up of members from the Senate and the House, holds a meeting to discuss a plan for the federal budget.

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106 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 10: Presidential Action on the Bill 2 Ways Which the Bill Becomes Law: a. The president may sign the bill, which makes it a law. b. The bill can become law without the president s signature; if he fails to sign or veto it within 10 business days and Congress remains in session and has not adjourned.

107 Steps of How A Bills Becomes Law Step 10: Presidential Action on the Bill 2 Ways Which the President Can Kill the Bill: a. The president may veto the bill and return it to Congress. i.) However, vetoes may be overridden by a two thirds vote in each chamber. b. If Congress has adjourned (is no longer in session) after 10 business days, the president can kill the bill by refusing to take action on it. i). This tactic is called a pocket veto.

108 5.1 Review Use your class notes or textbook to answer the following questions as a review from last class. 1. Who are constituents? 3. All of the following are true about a. Delegates elected to the state members of Congress, except: legislature a. They are wealthier than the average b. Government officials which cast person. electoral ballots b. Women, African Americans and Hispanic c. Citizens living with the district which is Americans tend to be under represented. being represented c. Most members of Congress are male. d. Candidates seeking nomination for d. Most members of Congress are younger political office than the average person. 2. The U.S. Constitution states that each state should have how many senators? a. one b. two c. three d. The number varies based on that state s population 4. All of the following are true about the House of Representatives, except: a. The House must ratify all treaties and approve presidential appointments. b. Members are up for re election every two years. c. The House initiates the impeachment process by voting for impeachment. d. The number of House members is determined by that state population.

109 5.2 Review Use your class notes or textbook to answer the following questions as a review from last class. 1. The 16 th Amendment is also known as 3. Which of the following establishes the the amendment. implied powers of Congress? a. voting rights a. Full Faith and Credit Clause b. income tax b. Supremacy Clause c. indirect tax c. Commerce Clause d. direct election of senators d. Necessary and Proper Clause 2. All of the following are non legislative powers of the Senate, except: a. Selecting the president if no candidate wins the Electoral College b. Approving treaties which the president has negotiated c. Serving as the jury in an impeachment trial of a government official d. Approving presidential appointments 4. According to the War Powers Act (1974): a. Congress acts as commander in chief and the president declares war. b. The president must end international military action within 60 days unless Congress declares war. c. The president has ultimate authority in the commanding U.S. military action. d. Congress must first request permission from the president prior to declaring war.

110 5.3 Review Use your class notes or textbook to answer the following questions as a review from last class. 1. Permanent committees dealing with 3. The presiding officer and the most ever lasting issues such as the powerful person in the House of economy, military and education are Representatives is the known as committees.. a. joint a. Vice President b. conference b. President Pro Tempore c. standing c. Whip of the Majority Party d. special d. Speaker of the House 2. When one political party tries to manipulate the redistricting process in order to benefit their own party or punish the other party, it is known as: a. reapportionment b. gerrymandering c. filibustering d. appropriation 4. The majority party in the House of Representatives controls all of the following, except: a. Selecting the Speaker of the House b. Holding the committee chair position on all committees c. Controlling the House Rules Committee d. Appointing the leadership of the minority party

111 5.4 Review Use your class notes or textbook to answer the following questions as a review from last class. 1. Which of the following accurately 3. All of the following are requirements for summarizes the 17 th Amendment? being elected as a U.S. Senator, except: a. It created a system by which senators a. Must be at least 30 years old are directly elected by the citizens of a b. Must have previous experience as a state. government official b. It allowed the federal government to c. Must be a citizen for at least 9 years collect a direct tax from the citizens. d. Must be a resident of the state which is c. It established a term limit for members being represented of Congress. d. It allows Congress to increase its own salary, but the raises do not take effect until the next term begins. 2. In the absence of the vice president, who presides over the U.S. Senate? a. Speaker of the House b. Majority party whip c. Minority party leader d. President Pro Tempore 4. A group of senators who are conducting a filibuster are attempting to. a. reach a compromise between members of the House and the Senate b. expel a member from the Senate c. continue debate of a bill in hopes of delaying or preventing a final vote on it d. end all debate on a bill and bring the bill to a final vote

112 5.5 Review Use your class notes or textbook to answer the following questions as a review from last class. 1. Endless debate on a bill (known as a 3. Shortly after a bill is introduced, filibuster) is.. a. allowed in both chambers of Congress a. it is voted upon in that chamber b. only allowed in the House of b. hearings are held and witnesses testify Representatives for or against the bill c. only allowed in the Senate c. debates are held on the floor of that d. not permitted in either chamber of chamber Congress d. it is referred to the appropriate committee to be reviewed and studied 2. If similar (but not identical) versions of a bill are passed in each chamber, the bill is sent to. a. a conference committee b. a standing committee c. a special committee d. the trash can 4. What must happen in order for a presidential veto to be overridden? a. both houses must vote in favor of the bill by a simple majority (51% or more) b. both houses must vote in favor of the bill by a two thirds vote c. both houses must vote in favor of the bill by a three fourths vote d. the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader must approve the bill