THE LEGISLATIVE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHBRANCHGovernment, Unit 2Government, Unit 2

Mr. DowsettMr. Dowsett

VOCABULARY OF THE VOCABULARY OF THE CONGRESSCONGRESS

• Term—lasts for two years, are numbered Term—lasts for two years, are numbered

consecutivelyconsecutively

• First Congress began on March 4, 1789First Congress began on March 4, 1789

• Time between switching Congresses was specified in the Time between switching Congresses was specified in the

Constitution due to the needs of communication and Constitution due to the needs of communication and

traveltravel

• Eventually, modern conveniences allowed the transition Eventually, modern conveniences allowed the transition

to take place more efficiently and in a shorter amount of to take place more efficiently and in a shorter amount of

time leading to…time leading to…

• The passage of the 20The passage of the 20thth amendment amendment

• Session—period of time each year in which Congress Session—period of time each year in which Congress

conducts its businessconducts its business

• Two Two sessionssessions for each for each termterm of Congress—one a year of Congress—one a year

VOCABULARY OF THE VOCABULARY OF THE CONGRESSCONGRESS

• Adjourn—suspend action until next sessionAdjourn—suspend action until next session

• 2020thth Amendment, Section 2— Amendment, Section 2—

““The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year,

and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of

January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.”January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.”

• At some points in history, Congress has met for about At some points in history, Congress has met for about

five months of the year, but today it is much more five months of the year, but today it is much more

frequentfrequent

• Neither house may adjourn without consent of the otherNeither house may adjourn without consent of the other

• Under the Constitution (Article II, Section 3), the Under the Constitution (Article II, Section 3), the

President has the power of prorogue, or end a session, President has the power of prorogue, or end a session,

only in the houses do not agree on a day to adjournonly in the houses do not agree on a day to adjourn

• President may also call special sessionsPresident may also call special sessions

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES• House members are apportioned—distributed among House members are apportioned—distributed among

states based on populationstates based on population• All states are guaranteed at least one seat—seven states All states are guaranteed at least one seat—seven states

today only have onetoday only have one

• The territories of the United States also select members to The territories of the United States also select members to represent them in the Houserepresent them in the House

• Reapportionment—redistribute the seatsReapportionment—redistribute the seats• Happens once every ten years in alignment with the censusHappens once every ten years in alignment with the census

• Reapportionment Act of 1929—Reapportionment Act of 1929—• Permanent size of the House set at 435, unless Congress wants Permanent size of the House set at 435, unless Congress wants

to change itto change it

• Also led to gerrymanderingAlso led to gerrymandering• http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/0

5/15/americas-most-gerrymandered-congressional-districts/

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES• Formal Qualifications:Formal Qualifications:

• 25 years of age25 years of age

• Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 yearsMust have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years

• Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he

or she is electedor she is elected

• Custom holds that he or she also live in the Custom holds that he or she also live in the

district they represent, but not a formal district they represent, but not a formal

requirementrequirement

• Majority rule can refuse a seat to an elected Majority rule can refuse a seat to an elected

House memberHouse member• Only ever ousted 5 membersOnly ever ousted 5 members

SENATESENATE• Two members per stateTwo members per state

• 50 states x 2 members = 100 senators50 states x 2 members = 100 senators

• Originally appointed by state legislatures, but Originally appointed by state legislatures, but

after the 17after the 17thth amendment, they are chosen amendment, they are chosen

by votersby voters

• Only one senator is voted on per electionOnly one senator is voted on per election• This creates the continuous body—all seats are This creates the continuous body—all seats are

never up for election at the same timenever up for election at the same time

SENATESENATE

• Formal Qualifications:Formal Qualifications:• 30 years of age30 years of age

• Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 yearsMust have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years

• Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he

or she is electedor she is elected

• Like the House, they may exclude a member Like the House, they may exclude a member

by majority voteby majority vote• Has happened 15 times—all prior to or during the Has happened 15 times—all prior to or during the

Civil WarCivil War

TERM LIMITSTERM LIMITS• 2 years for members of the House2 years for members of the House

• 6 years for members of the Senate6 years for members of the Senate

• There is no limit to the number of terms any member There is no limit to the number of terms any member

of Congress may serve—but their re-election is NOT of Congress may serve—but their re-election is NOT

guaranteedguaranteed

• Salary—Salary—

• What do you think they get paid?What do you think they get paid?

• The current salary for all senators and members is The current salary for all senators and members is

$174,000$174,000

• The salary for the speaker is $223,500 and the salary for The salary for the speaker is $223,500 and the salary for

the majority and minority leaders is $193,400the majority and minority leaders is $193,400

• Seem like fair compensation?Seem like fair compensation?

PASSING BILLSPASSING BILLS

• Each year, upwards of 10,000 bills can be presented to Each year, upwards of 10,000 bills can be presented to

Congress (one or both houses), but only 10% of them pass Congress (one or both houses), but only 10% of them pass

(except for this Congress – it’s less)(except for this Congress – it’s less)

• What does the process of passing a bill look like?What does the process of passing a bill look like?

• Most bills do not begin their journey to becoming laws in Most bills do not begin their journey to becoming laws in

Congress—most start somewhere in the executive branchCongress—most start somewhere in the executive branch

• Some do originate in CongressSome do originate in Congress

• Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1 states:Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1 states:

““All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate

in the House of Representatives; but the in the House of Representatives; but the

Senate may propose or concur with Senate may propose or concur with

amendments as on other Bills.”amendments as on other Bills.”• Some originate with constituents/votersSome originate with constituents/voters

PASSING BILLSPASSING BILLS• Two types of bills:Two types of bills:

• PublicPublic—apply to nation as a whole—apply to nation as a whole

• PrivatePrivate—only apply to certain persons or places—only apply to certain persons or places

• Three types of resolutions:Three types of resolutions:• JointJoint—a proposal for some action that has the force of law when —a proposal for some action that has the force of law when

passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary mattersmatters

• ConcurrentConcurrent—a statement of position on an issue, adopted by the —a statement of position on an issue, adopted by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law, and House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law, and does not require the President’s signaturedoes not require the President’s signature

• ResolutionResolution—a measure dealing with some matter in one house; —a measure dealing with some matter in one house; does not have the force of law, does not require the President’s does not have the force of law, does not require the President’s signaturesignature

• Bills and resolutions usually deal with one subjectBills and resolutions usually deal with one subject• RidersRiders—attachment dealing with an “unrelated matter”—attachment dealing with an “unrelated matter”

• Provision not likely to pass on its own merit, so attached to something that Provision not likely to pass on its own merit, so attached to something that is certain to passis certain to pass

• ““Ride” through the legislation processRide” through the legislation process

PASSING BILLSPASSING BILLS• In the Senate:In the Senate:

• Senators can use the power of Senators can use the power of filibusterfilibuster – stalling tactic in – stalling tactic in which a minority of senators seek to delay or prevent Senate which a minority of senators seek to delay or prevent Senate action on a measureaction on a measure• The threat of a filibuster can work at timesThe threat of a filibuster can work at times

• ClotureCloture can prevent debate and filibusters on measures – it can prevent debate and filibusters on measures – it limits the amount of debate time to 30 hours after it is enacted limits the amount of debate time to 30 hours after it is enacted (by a very specific process)(by a very specific process)

• Committees sift through the thousands of bills proposed at Committees sift through the thousands of bills proposed at each session—help to break up the work loadeach session—help to break up the work load• Subcommittees can form to help sift through things further, Subcommittees can form to help sift through things further,

especially very specific issuesespecially very specific issues

• Discharge petitionDischarge petition enables members to force a bill that enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days to come to the floor has remained in committee for 30 days to come to the floor for consideration (seldom used or successful)for consideration (seldom used or successful)

PASSING BILLSPASSING BILLS• Last step for a bill is the president’s signature or veto—four Last step for a bill is the president’s signature or veto—four

possibilitiespossibilities

• President signs the bill and it becomes a lawPresident signs the bill and it becomes a law

• Veto—refuse to sign the billVeto—refuse to sign the bill

• Allow bill to become law by not signing it or acting on it after Allow bill to become law by not signing it or acting on it after

ten daysten days

• If congress adjourns and the president does nothing in ten If congress adjourns and the president does nothing in ten

days, then the bill diesdays, then the bill dies

• Congress can overturn a veto by 2/3 vote in both housesCongress can overturn a veto by 2/3 vote in both houses

• What bills are currently up for debate?What bills are currently up for debate?