Legislative Branch

Chapter 5: Organization of Congress

The most basic government function

Making Laws

Article I: “The first branch”

Congress: our national legislature

Bicameral*

Because . . .

historical Britain had 2 houses

a compromise Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

practical Could on each other

* 2 houses

Terms and Sessions• A __ __ __ __ lasts for two

years.

• Terms are numbered. We are in the __ __ __ th Congress.

• A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is the period of time each year when Congress does its business.

• 1 session + 1 session = 1 term

112

Congress is in the 1st session of the 112th Congress.

Special Sessions

The __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ has the power to call special sessions. It hasn’t happened since 1948 because Congress is usually around.

I wanna go home!

• Congress can __ __ __ __ __ __ whenever they want.

adjourn

Prorogue: the President can adjourn CongressIf they can’t agree on a date.

Congress

House of Representatives

435 members based on population

2 year term No limits on # of terms

Single member district

Elected by popular vote of people in district

25 years old

Citizen for 7 years

Must live in the state

(often in the district)

Senate

100 members Gives each state equality

6 years A continuous body; 1/3 of seats up every 2 years

“at large” A state-wide election* by popular vote

30 years old

Citizen for 9 years

Must live in the state

*17th AmendmentUsed to be elected by state legislators

Representatives

• Because their term is only 2 years, they are MORE concerned about the will of the people

Senators

• Because their term is 6 years, they can focus on the BIG PICTURE –not as concerned about public opinion.

constituents

• The people who a Senator or Representative represents.

• Who has the larger constituency? Why?

A Senator—his constituency is the whole state.

Election DayTuesdayAfter the first MondayIn November of even years

LeadersHouse of Representatives

Speaker of the House

Majority Floor Leader

Minority Floor Leader

Majority Whip

Minority Whip

SenatePresident of the Senate

President Pro Tempore

Majority Floor Leader

Minority Floor Leader

Majority Whip

Minority Whip

Speaker of the House

The most powerful person in Congress

John Boehner ®

Members of Congress• 435 members + 4 non-voting delegates

• The Job:– > Legislator (make laws)– > Committee member (each serves on at least 1)– > Servants (they serve their constituency)

Re ap por tion ment

• Reapportionment Act of 1929

• House membership is set at __ __ __ . • Seats are reapportioned (shifted)

after each __ __ __ __ __ __ .• Each seat represents about __ __ __,

000 people.

435 Census 700

gerrymandering

To draw district lines to favor one party

House RULES Committee

• Because it has many members, the House needs __________ rules.

• The House _________ Committee is the “traffic cop” to make legislation move quickly.

• It is the most powerful committee.

In the Senate

The Senate has _________ rules and _____________ freedom.

They can talk (debate) a lot.

few, much

Filibuster

To talk a bill to death

Cloture

to end the filibuster by a 60/100 voter