The Legislative Branch (Makes Laws) 114th Congress 131st Ohio General Assembly Portage County Commissioners City Council Kent, Ohio 1
U.S. Congress Washington, D.C. 2
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U.S. Capitol Building Holds the meeting chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives Built in 1793 Built, burned down, rebuilt expanded and renovated Capitol Complex: includes 6 office bldgs and 3 Library of Congress bldgs Considered a museum 4
U.S. Capitol Building 5 Levels/1st Floor (Ground) Committee meeting rooms and space for Congressional officers Visitors Hall of Columns (1st Fl of House Wing) the Brumidi Corridors (1st Fl of Senate Wing) the restored Old Supreme Court Chambers Crypt beneath the Rotunda (historical exhibits) 5
Brumidi Corridors, Hall of Columns, Old Supreme Court Chamber and Crypt 6
U.S. Capitol Building 2nd Floor Chambers of House and Senate Offices of Congressional Leadership Visitors Rotunda/National Statuary Hall Old Senate Chamber 7
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Rotunda-Lying In State vs Honor Presidents, military commanders and members of Congress 1998 two Capitol Police Officers shot in line of duty 2005 Rosa Parks (Honor; Capitol Police) 2006 Pres Gerald Ford (State; U S Armed Forces) 2012 Sen Daniel Inouye 9
U.S. Capitol Building 3rd Level Access to galleries to watch House and Senate proceeding Offices, Committee Rooms and Press Galleries 4th and Basement/Terrace Levels Offices, Machinery Rooms, Workshops other Support Areas 10
U.S. Capitol Building 11
The Organization of Congress Chapter 5 12
Congressional Membership Chapter 5 Section 1 13
Congressional Terms Begins January 3 rd in years ending in odd number; lasts for 2 years (2015-2017) 2 sessions per 1 term Sessions last 1 year including breaks for holidays and vacations; similar to school years 14
Congressional Terms Congress stays in session until they adjourn Neither house can adjourn for more than 3 days without approval of the other (President can prorogue) President has authority to call it back for a special session if necessary 15
Membership House 435 # per state based on population Each state gets at least 1 2 year terms Elected Nov of even years Qualifications: 25 yrs old, citizen for 7 yrs, legal resident of state, live in district; elected by district Death/Resign 1 st session: special election Senate 100 = representation 2 per state 6 year terms Staggered elections Qualifications: 30 yrs old, citizen for 9 yrs, legal resident of state, elected at-large Death/Resign: Governor or special election 17th Amendment 16
Congressional Stats 114th Congress; 2nd Session House: 435 Members; 246 R; 188 D; 0 I Senate: 100 Members; 54 R; 44 D; 2 I http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx 17
Salary and Benefits House and Senate set own salary 27 th Amendment (1789-1992) Other benefits/resources Stationery Franking privilege Medical Gymnasium Allowances Income tax deduction Pensions http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/congresspay.htm 18
Privileges of Members Protections to carry out public duties Free from arrest when attending Congress or on way to/from Congress Cannot be sued for comments on House or Senate floor (Slander) Libel for news release or newsletter comments 19
Privileges of Members Judge or decide to seat members Punish members for disorderly conduct Reprimand Censure Expulsion Treasons Accepting bribes 20
Elections House District Elections Districts apportioned every 10 years after the census Senate At-Large Elections 2 Senators per State 21
Representation, Reapportionment and Redistricting Census determines State population Formula determines the number of Congressional districts or representatives given to a State based on population aka Reapportionment States may gain or lose districts/representatives aka Redistricting District maps redrawn Redistricting Controlled by State Legislature State districts shown on State map 22
Gerrymandering Drawing district boundaries to give one party an electoral advantage Packing Cracking 23
Ohio Congressional Districts 2002-2012 24
Congressional Districts 2012-2022 25
Ch 5 Section 2 and 3 The House of Representatives The Senate 26
Congress Bicameral House Senate Formulates national policies; makes laws 27
Both Houses of Congress Main task is to make laws Each house organized to help it carry out main task Complex rules House and Senate print out every 2 years 28
The House and Rules Examples Define actions a individual Rep can take Limit debate speech Move legislation Leaders have more power than Senate Leaders can make key decisions about legislative work without consulting other members 29
The House and Committee Work Committees of Congress perform most legislative work House committees more important than Senate Organizes work of House; Size Has time to study and shape bills Representatives specialize in issues and serve on committees that are important to constituents 30
Opening Day In The House Opening Ceremonies Clerk of House of preceding term presides Chamber called to order Roll call of Representatives Members to be choose Speaker -Custom (Caucus) - Who is chosen as Speaker? 31
Opening Day In The House Speaker swears in rest of members -Democrats sit on the right of center aisle (blue) -Republicans sit on the left of center aisle (red) House elects Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, Chief Administrative Officer and Chaplain 32
Party Affiliation Majority party picks leaders of that body Control flow of legislative work Appoint chairs of all committees 33
House Leadership http://www.house.gov/welcome.shtml Leaders coordinate the work of members Six goals: Organize and unify party members Scheduling work Make certain members present for key votes Distribute/collect information Keep House in touch with President Influence members to support party s position 34
Congress Leadership 115th Speaker of the House-Paul Ryan VP/President of Senate-Michael R Pence Majority Whip-Kevin McCarthy Min FL-Nancy Pelosi Pres. Pro Tempore- Orrin Hatch Maj Whip-Steve Scalise Min Whip-Steny Hoyer Min FL-Charles Schumer Maj FL-Mitch McConnell Min Whip-Richard Durbin Maj Whip-John Cornyn 35
Speaker of the House Presiding officer Chosen in caucus (closed meeting) of majority party at start of each session Power Decides which members to recognize Appoint committee members Schedules bills for action Refers bills to proper committee Follows VP in succession to Presidency Persuasion as important as formal powers Favors for support 36
House Floor Leaders Majority Floor Leader Elected by party Plan party s legislative program Steer important bills through House Ensure committee chairs finish work on bills important to party Helped by Whip Minority Floor Leader Minority party counterpart 37
House Floor Leaders Majority Whips/Deputy Whips Assistant floor leaders in House Watch how party members vote on bills Persuade support of party position Make sure party members present to vote Minority Whip Minority party counterpart 38
House Rules Committee Oldest, most powerful House committees Chair has influence over legislative activity and how bills progress through Congress 39
Function of Rules Committee Major bills reach floor for vote by rule (special order) of Rules Committee Entered on Union or House Calendar Can move bills ahead of others Determine length of debate/revision of a bill Settles disputes among other committees Delay or block a bill from vote 40
Business in the House Quorum (min. number) needed for official legislation Majority (218)for regular session Committee of the Whole 100 members needed to debate and amend legislation Speeds consideration of important bills Reports back to full House for vote 41
Congressman Tim Ryan (D) 13 th District Member of Congress since January 7, 2003 Committees House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and the Subcommittee on Readiness House Budget Committee Caucuses Co-chairman, Congressional Manufacturing Caucus Co-chairman, Military Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Caucus http://timryan.house.gov/our-district/map-district 42
Senate Deliberative body Formally discusses public policies Senators expected to be knowledgeable about many issues Smaller body More flexibility in rules and debate 43
Senate Debate: Filibuster Filibuster: a delay to block legislative action Rules Examples
Senate Debate: Cloture Cloture: Senate rule that limits debate in Senate Not a regular rule; done by special procedure 16 members of Senate submit petition to invoke cloture vote must be taken 2 days after petition submitted 60 or 3/5 of Senators must vote for motion for rule to become effective If evoked, no more that 30 hours of floor time may be spent on a measure then it must be brought to vote
Senate Leadership Parallels leadership roles in House No Speaker Less influence of party leaders over members because of freedoms 46
The Vice President Not elected to Senate Presides over Senate Recognize members Put question to vote Cannot vote except to break tie No debate Can influence members Replaced by President Pro Tempore when absent 47
Senator Sherrod Brown (D) Member of Senate since November 7, 2006 Committees Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Appropriations Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Veterans' Affairs 48
Senator Rob Portman ( R ) Member of Senate since 2010 Committees: Budget Armed Services Energy and Natural Resources Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 49
Ch 5 Section 4 Congressional Committees 50
Purposes of Committees Allows members of Congress to divide work into smaller groups; specialists Choose bills that are to receive further consideration Hold public hearings and investigations 51
Kinds of Committees Standing (143) Subcommittees Select (temporary and/or specific) Joint (temporary or permanent) Coordinate work of 2 houses Conference (temporary) Reconcile a bill between House and Senate 52
Choosing Committee Members Career of Congress member can be influenced by committee assignments Right committee assignment can result in reelection Influence national policy Influence other members House: Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations Senate: Foreign Relations, Finance, Appropriations 53
Choosing Committee Members Parties assign members to committees Committee chairs are from majority party; powerful Set meetings and hearings Hire staff members and control budget Manage floor debates on bills from committee Seniority 54
Powerful Congressional Committees HOUSE Appropriations Ways and Means Energy and Commerce Transportation SENATE Appropriations Finance Foreign Relations Judiciary 55
Chapter 5 Section 5 Staff and Support Agencies 56
Congressional Support Trained Staff Support Agencies 57
Congressional Staff Role Help handle growing work load Communicate with voters Run committee hearings & floor sessions Draft new bills Write committee reports Attend committee meetings Help with reelection Watch political developments Speeches, newsletters (blogs) & websites Meet with lobbyists 58
Congressional Staff Personal (direct lawmaker) Administrative Assistant (AA) Runs office, schedule, advice Legislative Assistant (LA) Keeps lawmaker well informed about bills Research, draft bills, studies bills, speech/article writer Assist in committee meetings Tracks action on Congress floor and bills Caseworkers Handles requests from constituents 59
Congressional Staff Committee Draft bills Study issues Collect information Plan committee hearings Write memos Prepare committee reports 60
Support Agencies Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/about/ Research arm for Congress Burned during War of 1812; Jefferson library purchased to rebuild Largest library in the world 61
Support Agencies Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Coordinate the budget work of Congress Study budget proposals by president Project costs of proposed programs Balances Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Executive Branch 62
Support Agencies Government Accountability Office (GAO) Watchdog over Congressional fund appropriations Run by appointed comptroller general for 15-year term Review financial management of government programs that Congress creates Collect government debts Settle claims Provide legal services 63
Support Agencies Government Printing Office (GPO) Largest multipurpose printing plant in the world Printing for entire federal government Daily Congressional Record Bills in both houses, speeches (edited) Statistical Abstract of the United States Info on various topics Used by congressional staff and general public 64
Ohio General Assembly Columbus, Ohio 65
Ohio General Assembly 66
Ohio General Assembly 132 st Bicameral House/Senate 99 House/33 Senate Members elected from districts Annual sessions Special session by Governor and 2/3 of State Legislature 67
Ohio General Assembly House Qualifications=21 yrs old Informal qualifications apply 4 Terms of 2 years=8 years total Term limits Compensation: Salary and Nonsalary Senate Qualifications=25 yrs old Informal qualifications apply 2 Terms of 4 years=8 years total Term limits Compensation: Salary and Non- Salary 68
Ohio General Assembly Legislative Process similar to Congress Bills come from lawmakers, public and interest groups Process carried out through committee 69
State Senator John Eklund (R) Member since 2011 (appointed) Term 2012-2016 (1 more term) 18 th District Committees: Civil Justice Commerce and Labor Criminal Justice Energy & Natural Resources General Government Finance Subcommittee Public Utilities Ways and Means 70
State Representative Kathleen Clyde (D) Term 2012-2014 ( 1 more term) 75 th District Committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources Finance and Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee Policy and Legislative Oversight State and Local Government 71
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Portage County City of Kent, Ohio 74
Board of Commissioners Vicki Kline, Maureen Frederick, Sabrina Christian-Bennett Execute public policy Annual appropriations County budget Hold title/maintain County property Contracting Authority Purchasing/Personnel/Employee Benefits Administrative Services Grant Application Documentation Annexation/Property Hearings 75
City Council Council-Manager form of government Nine members Three at-large and six represent Wards Council members are elected in staggered terms Each council member and the Mayor serve four-year terms Kent City Council committees oversee various aspects of City government Committees recommend actions to the full Council No action is official until adopted by Kent City Council http://www.kentohio.org/gov2/council.asp http://www.kentohio.org/gov/2012-wards.pdf 76