chapter 5 the legislative branch section 1:the senate and the house of representatives section 2:how...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 5
The Legislative Branch
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Main Idea
Congress is divided into two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, and its
members have certain qualifications.
Reading Focus• What are the two houses of Congress?• What are the qualifications, salaries, and rules
of conduct for members of Congress?
Section 1: The Senate and the House of RepresentativesSection 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
The Differences [01:31]
Members and terms lengths in the House and the Senate:
• The House of Representatives has 435 members, who serve two-year terms.
• The Senate has 100 members, two for each state, who serve six-year terms.
Section 1: The Senate and the House of RepresentativesSection 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Qualifications and salaries in the House and Senate:
• Representatives: must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a legal resident of the state they represent
• Senators: must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a legal resident of the state they represent
• The yearly salary is $145,100.
Section 1: The Senate and the House of RepresentativesSection 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Misconduct by members of Congress:
• May lead to expulsion, removal from Congress, with a vote of two thirds of other members
• May lead to censure, a written reprimand
Section 1: The Senate and the House of RepresentativesSection 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
SECTION 1
Legislative Misconduct
HOW DESCRIPTION
written reprimand
removing a member from Congress
Censure
Expulsion
Question: In what ways does Congress deal with misconduct by its members?
The Main IdeaCongress is organized in a way that allows its
members to consider and pass legislation without each member having to do everything.
Reading Focus• What are the terms and sessions of
Congress?• How is Congress organized?
Section 2:Section 2: How Congress Is OrganizedHow Congress Is Organized
How Congress Is Organized: The House of Representatives [02:50]
The Senate [01:37]
Congressional Sessions• Two sessions per term
• Sessions begin in January each year, and a date to adjourn is agreed upon.
• Sessions usually adjourn in August or September.
• The president may call a special session when necessary.
Section 2:Section 2: How Congress Is OrganizedHow Congress Is Organized
Congressional Leaders
• Speaker of the House—elected from the majority party• Floor leaders— elected in party caucuses to guide
proposed laws through Congress• Party whips—persuade members to vote for legislation• Vice president —according to the Constitution presides
over the Senate but only votes to break a tie• President pro tempore—fills in for the vice president
when necessary
Section 2:Section 2: How Congress Is OrganizedHow Congress Is Organized
Congressional Committees
• Study all bills before they are presented to Congress• Members are nominated to committee assignments.• Senators serve on at least two standing committees.• Representatives serve on only two standing
committees.• Standing committee membership is proportionate to
party majority in each house.• Heads of Committee are now chosen by secret vote.
Section 2:Section 2: How Congress Is OrganizedHow Congress Is Organized
SECTION 2
When Sessions BeginWhen Sessions Begin How Long They LastHow Long They Last
The first session begins January 3 in odd-numbered years following the congressional election in November. The second session begins January 3 of the following year.
Sessions last as long as Congress wishes.
Adjournment dates are selected by Congress.
Question: When does a session of Congress begin, and how long does it last?
The Main Idea
The Constitution both defines and limits the powers of Congress.
Reading Focus• What types of powers are granted to Congress?• What are some of the limits on the powers of
Congress?
Section 3:Section 3: The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress
Congressional Powers [02:23]
Five major areas in which Congress makes laws:
• Financing government
• Regulating and encouraging American trade and industry
• Defending the country
• Enforcing laws
• Providing for growth
Section 3:Section 3: The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress
The Elastic Clause
• “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers”
• allows Congress to stretch its delegated powers to manage new situations
Section 3:Section 3: The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress
The special powers of Congress:
• House—begins impeachment proceedings, initiates bills to raise money, and selects president when no candidate receives sufficient electoral votes
• Senate—holds impeachment trials, selects vice president when no candidate has sufficient electoral votes, approves treaties, approves high officials
Section 3:Section 3: The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress
Congress is forbidden to:
• Pass ex post facto laws, pass bills of attainder, suspend writ of habeas corpus, tax exports, pass laws violating the Bill of Rights, favor trade of any state, grant titles of nobility, or withdraw money without a law
Section 3:Section 3: The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress
Congressional Powers
regulating and encouraging U.S. trade and industry
enforcing lawsproviding for growth
defending the country
financing government
SECTION 3
Question: What are the five major areas in which Congress has the power to make laws?
The Main IdeaTo become a law, a bill goes through a multistage process involving both houses
of Congress.
Reading Focus• How does a bill begin?• How do the House and the Senate consider a
bill?• In what ways can the president act on the bill?
Section 4: Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law
The Lawmaking Function of Congress [03:24]
Ideas for bills originate from:• U.S. citizens—constituents making requests of their
congress members• Organized groups—businesspeople and labor groups
seeking to protect their interests• Committees of Congress—investigating committees
determine needs for new laws• Members of Congress—experts in certain fields propose
new laws• The president—often introduces ideas for laws in the
State of the Union Address
Section 4: Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills introduced in either house of Congress • Are read and placed in the Congressional Record.• Are sent to a standing committee to be studied.• Receive hearings by the committees and are amended.• The committee majority can recommend that a bill be
passed.• Bills reported out of committee are placed on the
calendar for debate.• The bill is voted on and sent to the other house of
Congress for consideration.• Approved bills are sent to the president.
Section 4: Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law
Actions of the president regarding a bill:
• sign the bill and declare it a law
• veto the bill and send it back to Congress
• hold the bill for 10 days, when it becomes a law or is killed by pocket veto
Section 4: Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law
SECTION 4
Question: What actions can the president take regarding a passed bill?SIGNS THE BILL and it becomes law
REFUSES TO SIGN and sends back to Congress with rejection
reasons – called a VETO.
If Congress is not in session, the bill is killed
by POCKET VETO.
If Congress is in session, the
BILL BECOMES
LAW, even without a signature.
The president
KEEPS the BILL for 10 DAYS without signing or vetoing it:
The president ACTS on a Bill
Chapter 5 Wrap-Up
1. Why did the framers of the Constitution create a bicameral national legislature?
2. What two methods does Congress have to deal with misconduct by its members?
3. Who leads the houses of Congress, and how are these leaders chosen?
4. Why is most of the work of Congress done through committees?
5. What special powers does each house of Congress have?6. How do bills become laws?7. What can the president do with a bill passed by
Congress?
1. Why did the framers of the Constitution create a bicameral national legislature?
2. What two methods does Congress have to deal with misconduct by its members?
3. Who leads the houses of Congress, and how are these leaders chosen?
4. Why is most of the work of Congress done through committees?
5. What special powers does each house of Congress have?6. How do bills become laws?7. What can the president do with a bill passed by
Congress?