Slide 1

1FLORIDA

1

To the1Upper ChamberLower ChamberUnited States Congress

Table of ContentsIntroductionUnited States CongressPresent US congress at a glance The United States SenateTerms of SenateQualifications to be a member of SenateWhen a member is disqualifiedElectionsMid-term vacanciesCurrent party standingsComposition of US SenatePresiding over the SenateCommittees of SenatePowers and Functions of Senate

ContentsSessions of Senate or CongressPresent Senate at a glanceThe House of RepresentativeComposition of the HouseQualifications and Limitations to be MemberElections and TermsMembers of the HouseThe SpeakerPowers and FunctionsSalary and benefitsExpulsion and other disciplinary actionsConclusion

U.S. Congressbicamerallegislature of U.S.consisting of two houses: House of Representatives&theSenate

Congress meets in theCapitolinWashington, D.C.must assemble at least once a year The date for assemble is January 3beginning of session, thepresident delivers aState of union addressCourts implied power to invalidate legislation .Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 Senators.Both representatives and senators are chosen through direct election.

Meeting placeUnited States Capitol

Present US congress at a glance113th United States CongressSenate President: Joe Biden(D)Senate Pres. pro tem : Patrick Leahy(D)House Speaker: John Boehner(R)Members: 100 Senators435 Representatives6Non-voting members Senate Majority: Democratic PartyHouse Majority: Republican PartySessions: January 3, 2014 present

The United States Senate Upper Chamber

Terms of Senate:Senators serve terms of six years. The terms of about one-third of the Senate membership expire every two years.

Qualifications to be a member:A Senator must:--1. be a US citizen for at least nine years when elected to the Senate.2. be at least 30 years of age.3.be inhabitants of the states they seek to represent at the time of their election.

DisqualificationsNo person holding any office of profit under the Govt. of the United States No Senator or Representative may during the time for which he or she is elected, be appointed to any civil office which have been created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time.Elections:held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday November.

Current party standings:

AffiliationMembersDemocratic Party

53Republican Party

45Independent

2Total 100Composition of US Senate:The U.S.A. is now a federation of 50 States and the Senate represents all the States send two Senators irrespective of its size and population. The senate constitutes 100 Senators.Presiding over the Senate:The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they are equally divided.

Powers and Functions of SenateLEGISLATIVE POWER1) The right to propose legislation2) Right of amendment

B)EXECUTIVE POWERS1.International treaties2.Nominations:

C) JUDICIAL POWERS1) Impeachment:2)Appointment:D) ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONSE) INVESTIGATIVE POWERSF) Miscellaneous Powers:1.The Senate shares with the House of Representative the power to propose amendments to the constitution.2.The Senate decides the Vice-President, election when no candidate gets an absolute majority of votes in the election and elects one out of the two candidates securing highest votes.

3rd January of each year

SESSIONS OF SENATE OR CONGRESS

House of RepresentativesLower Chamber

Composition of the House:*The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 435.*no Representative shall represent less than 30,000 citizens. *The most populous state, California currently has 53.representatives. *Each representative serves for a two-years term.*The Speaker presides over the House, is elected by the members of the House. *The House meets in the south wing of the U.S. Capitol.

Qualifications and Limitations to be Member:

1.He must be at least 25 years old.2.He must have been a citizen of USA for the past 7 years.3.He must be an inhabitant of the State from which he wants to contest election.Limitations 1.No person holding any office of profit under the Govt. of the United States 2.No Senator or Representative may during the time for which he or she is elected, be appointed to any civil office which have been created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time.

The Speaker:

The Speaker #The Speaker is the commanding figure in the House and many important duties belong to the office.#He presides over the sittings of the House.#As a member of the House, the Speaker has the same right to speak and vote as other members, although he does not vote, except when the House is voting by ballot or when there is a tie.

Powers and FunctionsLegislative powers: Judicial powers:Electoral Powers:Constitution amending Powers:Declaration of war by Congress:Salary and benefitsThe Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their service.In addition to it, travelling allowance is paid for one trip in each session from the Members home to Washington.Every member has a franking privilege too- that is to write and sent letter in his constituency free of postage.Free medical service.Retirement annuities have been provided since 1946.Exemption1.Congressman are exempt from process in all civil actions while attending the sessions of Congress and when going to or returning thereto.This immunity, however, does not cover indictable criminal offences.2.They are also legally immune from prosecution or suit, as for libel and slender for anything they may say on the floor of the House.

Chittagong University25Any Questions?Chittagong University26THANK YOUHonourable ViewersGroup MembersMd. Harun Ar Rashid (L)Farzana Tabassum Mary (D.L) Israfil HosenMd.Jamal UddinYusuf AliAbul Kalam MaumdarM.Eakub Ali ForaziMd.Zahedul IslamMd.Rakib Hassan-------X-------