Essential Questions - The Legislative Branch -What is the role of the Legislative Branch? -How doe Gerrymandering affect election outcomes? -What are the powers of the legislative branch? -What influences a legislators vote? -What is the power of incumbency and how would term limits affect legislation? -How are parties organized and power distributed? -How does a bill become law?
Key Objectives Part I -describe the role of the legislative branch -compare and contrast House and Senate requirements -explain how representatives are apportioned to each state -define Gerrymandering and evaluate its impact on elections -identify district alterations after the 2010 census at the federal and state level
Congress: The Legislative Branch! Primary Purpose To legislate or make law and to serve the interests of constituents.!
Congress is Bicameral!! (remember why?)! Madison - father of the Virginia Plan William Paterson - Father of the Jersey Plan
House of Representatives Senate 435 Members 100 Members Based on States Population 2 from each state 25 years old 30 years old US citizen for 7 years US citizen for 9 years Resident of state where elected, but not a a resident of area your represent Salary; $174,200
Division of Representation among the States In the House. Districts reapportioned after each census.
The 2014 election marked the 114th Congress
Division of Representation within States -Until 1964, representation based on Geography; Wesbury vs Sanders
Where to draw the lines for equal representation? Gerrymandering - (Elbridge Gerry, 1811) drawing of political boundaries to favor one political party over another. Racial Gerrymandering -Majority Minority districts -constitutional?
Minnesota 2012? RULES Equal population in congressional districts; no more than 2 percent variation from the ideal among legislative districts. No unwarranted division of racial or ethnic minority populations. Districts should be contiguous, compact and convenient to traverse. No unnecessary division of political subdivisions. As much as possible, communities of interest should be kept intact. No maps drawn with the intention of protecting or defeating incumbents.
Four Plans
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/gerrymandering
Pennsylvania Gerrymandered Examples States with most skewed Representation relative to The popular vote after the 2012 election
Presidential Gerrymandering?
Congressional District Distribution of Electoral Votes
Changes to Congressional Districts post 2010 census. -Minnesota has 8 Federal Congressional Districts. Morrison County lies entirely in District 8
2012 State Government Legislative Districts Minnesota has 67 legislative districts representing your state government. Each is divided into two parts representing members of the state House. Thus there are 67 state senators and 134 House members.
PRE-2010 Legislative Districts
Key Objectives Part II -identify House and Senate composition -define and explain the varying powers of Congress
House Composition
Senate Composition Can you observe Split-ticket voting in the United States? What States are changing Color due to the 2014 Mid-terms?
Where do your Congress Persons come From? http:// www.washingto npost.com/ blogs/the-fix/wp/ 2015/01/05/thenew-congressis-80-percentwhite-80- percent-maleand-92-percentchristian/? tid=trending_stri p_1
Powers of Congress Expressed - specifically listed in the constitution.! Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and p To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United S To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States; To establish post offices and post roads; To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusiv To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; To provide and maintain a navy; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employ
Implied Powers- Elastic Clause; Commerce Clause: Ex. Lopez!
Special Powers!! Impeachment! (House) - to bring formal charges against the accused by the majority. ex. Clinton, Johnson!! (Senate) - votes to remove corrupt official by 2/3 majority!
Ratifying Treaties! - must be approved by 2/3 of Senate!
Approving Appointments! -Senate must confirm presidential choices for Cabinet, Ambassadors, and Supreme Court by a majority vote.! ex. Sotomayor, Yellen..!
Electoral College Selecting the President! -the House is to decide who will be President if a majority of electoral votes not received!