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The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch
What institutions comprise the legislative branch?
What are duties and responsibilities of Congress?
How does Congress preserve democracy?
Structure Structure
US Government
Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch
StructureStructure
US Government
Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch
President Vice President Cabinet
StructureStructure
US Government
Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch
President
Vice President
Cabinet
Congress
Senate
House of Representatives
US ConstitutionUS Constitution
Article I: The Legislature Structure
Connecticut Compromises
Bicameral– House of
Representatives – Senate
Qualifications Age Residence Others
ConstituentsConstituents
Apportionment Senate is based on statehood
50 states X 2 senators in each =100
House: Contingent on population size Every state gets at least one regardless to the
population Based on the 2000 census, for every 646,952
people, the state receives one House of Representative member
Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior
The Power of Incumbency “You have to win the open seats by a rather
substantial proportion because, unless you have a nationalized race, the incumbents are going to win”
– John Samples, director of the Center for Representative Government at the Cato Institute.
Name recognition, fund-raising, pork barrel
Manipulating Congressional Distribution
Manipulating Congressional Distribution
Gerrymandering A controversial form of redistricting in which
electoral district boundaries are manipulated for an electoral advantage.
The term was used in the early 1800 to described the appearance of a strange electoral district Elbridge Gerry created in order to disadvantage his electoral opponents.
Gerrymandered DistrictsGerrymandered Districts
Powers and DutiesPowers and Duties Senate (Upper House)
Ratify treaties Confirm federal judges,
ambassadors, Cabinet members
Try and remove the president though impeachment
Oversight House of Representatives
(Lower House) Propose apportionment
bills Impeach the president Oversight
Powers and DutiesPowers and Duties
Both chambers together Make law Power of the purse Declare war Override a veto with
2/3 vote Amend the
Constitution with 2/3 vote
President
Both chambers
One chamber
Full Committee
Subcommittee
Addressed by Representatives
Public Needs
Law MakingLaw Making
Law Making ProcessLaw Making Process
Congressional DutiesCongressional Duties
1. Who are these men and what did they finish doing?
2. What is the tone of congressional debates?
3. Is this a positive way of running the debates?
Standing and Select CommitteesStanding and Select Committees
Significance Most work in the
law making process is done in the committees and subcommittees.
Bills most likely die before ever getting to the floor of Congress.
Internal StructureInternal StructureCommittee on
Ways and Means
Health
Human Resources
Oversight
Select Revenue Measures
Social Security
Trade
Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions
Bioterrorism and public health preparedness
Education and Early Childhood Development
Employment and Work Place Safety
Retirement Security and Aging
Law MakingLaw Making
Step 1 Issue in society needs
government intervention Step 2
Congress person address the need by creating a bill
Step 3 Introduces the bill to the
House or Senate Leaders of either the
House or Senate assigns bill to a subcommittee for research
Law MakingLaw Making Step 4
If bill is agreed upon in subcommittee then sent to the full committee.
If passed through the full committee then it goes to either the floor of the House or Senate for a full debate and vote.
Step 5 If bill is passed through one
camber, then it goes to the other chamber for a vote
If both chambers agree on the identical bill, then it is sent to the president.
Step 6 The president can sign the bill to
make it a law. He can veto it, and the bill goes
back to the Congress.
OversightOversight
Monitor the actions of the government Duties and
responsibilities of the government
Punish malfeasance Protect Democracy Efficiency and
effectiveness of government institutions
Congressional DutiesCongressional Duties
1. Who does the bride and groom represent?
2. How does this cartoon represents checks and balances?
Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances
What type of relationship do the two
have?
Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances
How does the phrase it takes two to tango apply to the Congress and the President?
List the many ways, this is true?
Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances
Presidential Powers Commander and Chief Appoint judges,
ambassadors, and the Cabinet
Sign to become a law or Veto it
Negotiate treaties
Congressional Checks Declare and Fund War Confirmation of these
officials Creates bills Ratify treaties
QuizQuiz
How is Congress roles central to democracy? Provide at least 2 specific examples.
Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary
Bicameral Committees Quorum Simple Majority Super Majority Filibuster Pork Barrel Constituents Incumbent
Gerrymandering Apportionment Caucus Lobbyist Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Bill and Law Oversight Legislation