Congress

United States CongressUnit 4: Chapters 10-12National LegislatureLegislative BranchResponsibilities:Debate issues & pass laws, regulationsRaise & lower taxesApprove governments budget

National LegislatureU.S. Capitol BuildingBuilt following Revolutionary WarBurned by British troops during War of 1812Reconstruction completed by 1830Housed the Senate, House, and Supreme CourtSupreme Court moved out in 1935

National LegislatureBicameral Legislature (Two Houses)

National LegislatureBicameral Legislature (Two Houses)Senate100 seatsApportioned equally between all states

National LegislatureBicameral Legislature (Two Houses)Senate100 seatsApportioned equally between all statesHouse of Representatives435 seatsApportioned according to states populationNational LegislatureTerm period following each electionLasts 2 years: Jan 3, 2011 Jan 3, 2013112th Congress Session: period while Congress assembles to conduct business2 sessions each term, 1 each year112th Congress is in its first sessionNational LegislatureRecess a break during a sessionHolidays, etc.Adjourn: suspend work until next sessionNeither House nor Senate can adjourn without consent of the otherSpecial session President can call these to force Congress to deal with emergency situationsThreatened oftenNot used muchNational LegislatureMajority is EVERYTHING in CongressWhichever political party has more than half of the seats can control much of what Congress gets donePriorities that are pursued; Laws that are passedIncumbent An elected official already holding officeUsually has a good chance of winning re-electionClasswork:National LegislatureMajority is EVERYTHING in CongressWhichever political party has more than half of the seats can control much of what Congress gets donePriorities that are pursuedBills that are introducedLaws that are passedHouse of Representatives435 SeatsApportioned, or distributed among states, based on their populationND, SD, MT, WY, DE 1 each (at-large)California 53Texas 32Elected to serve a 2 year term in officeElections held even numbered yearsTuesday following 1st Monday of NovemberHouse of RepresentativesQualifications25 years oldCitizen of U.S. for at least 7 yearsInhabitant of state they represent(informal inhabitant of district they represent)Senate100 seats2 for every stateElected to serve a 6 year termStaggered: 1/3 up for election every 2 yearsQualifications30 Years oldCitizen of US for at least 9 yearsInhabitant of the state they represent

Demographics of Congress17% women, 83% men

Religion:2 practicing Buddhist45 Jews1 Sikh2 Muslim10 that claim no affiliationThe rest are ChristiansDemographics of CongressPrevious Jobs225 hold law degrees24 worked in medicine15 worked in law enforcement

42 are African American (Roland Burris is only in Senate)25 are Hispanic 9 Asian / Pacific Islander45 Jewish

Congressional PowersChapter 11Congressional Powers Congress has only the powers given by the ConstitutionExpressed or ImpliedPower to taxDirect tax paid directly to government by purchaserIndirect tax paid by one, then cost is passed on to another partyCigarette Tax company just raises price of productPower to borrow moneyCurrent National Debt:$10,900,000,000,000$35,000 per citizenPower to make currencyNo State currencyCongressional Powers Make Bankruptcy lawsRegulate interstate and foreign commerceForeign RelationsPower to sign or not sign treaties / agreements w/ other countriesDeclare War (& control the Presidents budget for war)Naturalization ProcessHow immigrants can become citizensPostage feesPatents on new inventionsTerritoriesEminent Domain: power to take private property for public useNon Legislative PowersPropose Amendments to ConstitutionElectoral CollegeHouse choose a new President if no one won a majority of electoral votesSenate chooses Vice President (can be opposite party!!)ImpeachmentsAppointmentsNew members of Supreme CourtSenate approves members of Presidents Cabinet (advisors)InvestigationsClintons relationship with a White House internImpeachment1. House of Representatives brings formal charges against an elected officialImpeach means to bring formal chargesImpeaches with a simple majority (51%)2. Senate puts the person on trial; acts as juryMust have 2/3 of Senate to convictPenalty for conviction is removal from officeCan also prohibit from ever holding office againIf no conviction, the person is acquitted

An official can be impeached without being convictedImpeachment17 impeachments, 7 convictionsAll convictions were Federal judgesTwo Presidents have been impeached, both acquitted1. Andrew JohnsonHandling South after Civil WarImpeachment was political revenge2. Bill ClintonPerjury - lying under oathClinton was censured formal condemnation of his behaviorRichard Nixonresigned just before impeachment (Watergate Scandal)Senate probably would have convictedCongress in ActionChapter 12Congressional LeadershipHouseSpeaker presiding officer, member of majority partyMajority Leader in charge of floor debateMinority Leader speaks for minorityWhips one from each party; assist the leadersSenatePresident VP is President of the Senate (Biden)Breaks tiesPresident Pro Tempore presides in absence of VPMajority Leader, Minority Leader, and WhipsCongress in ActionLawmaking passing new legislationCasework helping constituentsPork Barreling / EarmarkingGetting federal funds for local projects that benefit their district (& nobody else)Roads, parks, research grants, construction contractsPopular if YOU benefit, but not if you dont

OversightContinual process of reviewing executive branch and government organizationsHow a Bill becomes a Law: HouseBill a proposed law that is presented to the House or the Senate for considerationTitle is given based on where it originates, and a numberH.R. 3410 or S. 611Rider an attachment to a bill that is about an unrelated matterFirst ReadingSpeaker of House refers the bill to an appropriate committee

How a Bill becomes a Law: HouseCommittees debate the issueEvery Congressman is member of at least oneEducation, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Indian Affairs, Veterans Call in experts to adviseMay re-write parts of the billMost bills are pigeonholedPut away, never to be acted uponAlso called dying in committeeSome are dischargedSent back to the full House to be read and voted onOnly good bills make it this farHow a Bill becomes a Law: HouseDebate on the House floor is strictly limitedNo one can debate for over one hour (unlike in the Senate)Vote is finally heldIf passed, it transfers to Senate for their approvalMust pass in BOTH houses before it becomes a lawMust be identical

How a Bill becomes a Law: SenateSenate also uses Committees to look closely at billsIf it makes it out of committee, bill read to full Senate & debated before voteFloor debate is unrestrained in the SenateOnce you receive permission to speakHow a Bill becomes a Law: SenateFilibuster: Senator talking nonstop, trying to prevent action on a billTying up the Senate for so long that the leadership is forced to drop the bill in order to go on to other workHuey Long of LouisianaFilibustered for 15 hours straight in 1935Strom Thurmond of South CarolinaFilibustered for 24 hours & 18 minutes in 1957Trying to keep Senate from approving Civil Rights legislationClotureOnly way to end a filibuster, but 2/3 of Senate must agree