Non Legislative Powers Congress can propose an Amendment to the Constitution The House of Representatives can elect the President if no candidate gets a majority of electoral votes The Senate can elect a Vice President is no candidate gets a majority of electoral votes Non Legislative Powers Impeachment The House votes to impeach or bring charges against the official The Senate conducts the trial and votes whether the official is guilty or innocent The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial Non Legislative Powers The standard for impeachment and conviction is... Treason Bribery or Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors
Non Legislative Powers Senate must approve all Treaties and Presidential Appointments Congress can also hold hearings and conduct investigation into government related matters Organizing Congress House of Representatives Officer of the House: Presiding Speaker of the House Party Officials: House of Representatives Leadership Speaker of the House John Boehner - R, Ohio Eric Cantor - R,Virginia Kevin McCarthy - R, California Nancy Pelosi - D, California Steny Hoyer - D, Maryland
Senate Officer of the Senate: Presiding President of the Senate (also the VP) Organizing Congress or the President of the Senate Pro Tempore Party Officials: Senate Leadership President of the Senate Joseph Biden - D, Delaware President of the Senate Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy - D,Vermont Harry Reid - D, Nevada Mitch McConnell - R, Kentucky Richard Durbin - D, Illinois John Cornyn - R, Texas Organizing Congress of Congress that Represent Member s Southeast High School Sr. Senator - Richard Durbin (D) Jr. Senator - Mark Kirk (R) Representative - Rodney Davis (R)
How a Bill becomes a Law Introducing a Bill in Congress Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation and by doing so become the sponsor(s). There are four basic types of legislation: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions. The official legislative process begins when a bill or resolution is numbered H.R. signifies a House bill and S. a Senate bill. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 1. Referral to Committee: With few exceptions, bills are referred to standing committees in the House by the Speaker or in the Senate by the Majority Leader. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 2 - Committee Action Both - Bills are assigned to specific committees that review each Bill Both - Committees can request input from govt. agencies, call hearings, or make changes to a Bill with the sponsor s approval Both - Committees must vote on whether the Bill can go to the floor for full vote
How a Bill becomes a Law Step 3 - Floor Action House - Debate is limited on the floor, amendments must be germane. Senate - Debate is unlimited unless cloture is approved, Filibuster is when a Senator tries to kill a bill by talking non stop about a bill until its sponsor removes it Once a Bill is voted on and approved it goes to the other chamber to be voted on How a Bill becomes a Law Step 4 - Conference Committee Members from both the House & Senate form a group to review the Bill passed by both the House & Senate and make any changes needed to make the passed Bill one uniform Bill Once all the details are hammered out the House & Senate must vote again on the Bill How a Bill becomes a Law Step 5 - The President If the President signs the Bill it becomes Law If the President Vetoes the Bill it is sent back to the House & Senate and must get a 2/3 vote in each to become law. If it does not get the needed vote the Bill is dead If the President doesn t sign the Bill and Congress is adjourned it does not become law this is called a Pocket Veto