ARTICLE 1 - THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH DAY 2
THE U.S. CONGRESS Article I, Section 1: Creates Congress Bicameral (Great Compromise) Senate - Upper 100 members 6 years House - Lower 435 2 years Reapportioned after each census
CONGRESSIONAL DUTIES Make the Laws Representatives of their constituents People in the districts whom the politicians represent
ENUMERATED POWERS OF CONGRESS ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8 Raise and collect taxes Borrow money Regulate commerce (trade with foreign countries) Set laws for Naturalization and Bankruptcy Coin Money Punish counterfeiting Post office Copyrights and patents Set up courts Punish pirates Declare war Raise and support armies (for no more than 2 years) Provide for and maintain a navy Run Washington D.C. and all federal property Elastic clause- implied power
ELASTIC CLAUSE The necessary and proper clause gives Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper to carry out the delegated duties Also known as the elastic clause it stretches the power given Congress
DENIED POWERS Congress is forbidden to do the following: 1. Could not prevent states from importing slaves (until 1808) Could tax imported slaves (but for no more than $10 per slave) 2. Cannot suspend writ of habeas corpus Cannot hold someone without cause except in emergency (War, revolution, invasion) 3. Cannot pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws Bills of attainder: Cannot pass a law that says a person is guilty of a crime Ex Post Facto: laws that make past actions illegal when they were legal at the time 4. No direct tax on each individual person except when based on census 5. Cannot tax exports (products shipped out of the US) 6. Cannot make laws that favor one state over another 7. Congress cannot spend any money unless appropriated 8. Cannot grant titles of nobility (Ex: duke, duchess, prince), No government official can be granted special favors from any foreign ruler
Term: 2 years REVIEW: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Qualifications: 25 years old 7 years as a U.S. citizen Resident of represented state
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Article I, Section 2 Number of representatives: 435 Leader: Speaker of the House Chosen by the majority party John Boehner (R Ohio) 3 rd in line of succession Decides the committees each member will serve on Decides the order in which bills will be heard http://www.house.gov http://www.speaker.gov
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: OTHER HOUSE LEADERS House Leaders have 6 purposes: 1. Organize and unify the party 2. Schedule work 3. Make certain members are present for key votes 4. Distribute and collect information 5. Keeps the House in touch with the President 6. Influence lawmakers for support Majority/Minority Party leaders Chosen by the party http://www.house.gov/leadership
HOUSE LEADERSHIP Majority Leadership: Republican Party Leader: Eric Cantor (VA) http://majorityleader.gov Helps plan the party s legislative program, floor leader, Party leader Whip: Kevin McCarthy (CA) http://www.majoritywhip.gov Serve as assistant to leaders, watch votes, persuade them to vote with the party, see that the members are present to vote
HOUSE LEADERSHIP Minority Leadership: Democrat party Responsibilities are the same, except they have no power over scheduling work in the House Leader: Nancy Pelosi (CA) http://www.democraticleader.gov Whip: Steny Hoyer (MD) http://www.democraticwhip.gov
SPECIAL POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES All money (appropriations) bills start here Select the President in an Electoral College tie Write the article of impeachment against high ranking officials
Term of office: 6 years SENATE Qualifications: 30 years old 9 years a citizen of the U.S. Resident of the represented state
SENATE Article 1, Section Number of Senators: 100 Head of the Senate: (no speaker) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Powers: Decides committee members and order bill are debated. Cannot vote unless there is a tie and cannot participate in debates
SENATE LEADERSHIP Senate Leadership: Democrat Party President Pro-Tempore: Patrick Leahy (VT) Presides in absence of VP Elected by the Senate and usually most senior member http://www.leahy.senate.gov/biography
SENATE LEADERSHIP Party/Floor Leaders Most important role in Senate Elected by party Act as Party officials Steer bills through the Senate plans work schedule and agenda with the minority leader Makes sure that members are present during key votes Majority Leader: Harry Reid (NV) Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell (KY) http://www.reid.senate.gov http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public
SENATE SPECIAL POWERS Approves all treaties Approves all appointments Chooses the Vice President in an Electoral College tie Acts as the jury in all trials of impeachment