Chapter 11 Lawmakers And Legislation TERM Vocabulary DEFINITION

Chapter 11: Lawmakers And Legislation

TERM Vocabulary DEFINITION 1. Constituents Person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official 2. “Pork” Publicly funded projects secured by legislators to benefit their home district or state 3. Standing Committees Permanent committee of legislators from either house or senate responsible for specific policy areas 4. Appropriations Funds allocated by a legislature for a stated purpose as part of a budget or spending bill 5. Joint Resolution Official statement issued by both houses of Congress and becomes a force of law when signed by the president 6. Casework Personal services provided by members of Congress to their constituents

What Makes a Successful Legislator? 1. You must be “electable”—charming, at ease speaking to crowds, and willing to tailor your views to match the results of public opinion polls. 2. You must be able to raise money, and lots of it, to finance your election campaign. 3. Once elected, you must become skilled at playing political games 4. When seeking reelection, you must show that you were able to bring taxpayer-funded projects back to your home district or state.

Comparing Congress CATEGORY House of Representatives Senate Age Requirement 25 30 Citizenship Requirement Naturalized Number per State Apportioned by population 2 Total Numbers 435 100 Term 2 years 6 years Election Elected in districts Elected by states Action Quicker to act Slower to act Press Less press coverage More press coverage Prestige Less prestigious More prestigious Staff Smaller staff size Larger staff size Rules Tighter rules Looser rules Floor Debate Limited floor debate Extended floor debate Influence Budgetary and Monetary Foreign Affairs

WHat is a WHip?

“Majority Whip Displays Impaled Senator Outside Capitol Building As Warning To All Who Cross Party Lines” http: //www. theonion. com/article/majority-whip-displays-impaled-senator-outside-cap-51789

Leadership in the House TITLE DESCRIPTION Speaker of the House • Most powerful and prestigious member of Congress • Assigns bills to committee • Appoints members to committee • “Power of Scheduling” House Majority Leader • 2 ND in command House Minority Leader • Minority party’s 1 st in command House Majority Whip • Assistant floor leader • Informs leadership • Persuades party members how to vote House Minority Whip • Assistant floor leader • Informs leadership • Persuades party members how to vote Speaker Republican (WI) Paul Ryan Majority Leader Republican (CA)- Kevin Mc. Carthy Democratic (Minority) Leader Democrat (CA)-Nancy Pelosi Majority Whip Republican (LA)- Steve Scalise. Democratic (Minority) Whip Democrat (MD)- Steny Hoyer

Leadership in the Senate TITLE Vice President & President pro tempore DESCRIPTION • The Constitution grants the VP as the President of the Senate • VP= Tie breaking vote • President pro tempore= Vice President Senior member of Biden, Joseph R. , Jr. (D-DE) majority party who acts in place of the VP Senate Majority Leader • 2 ND in command Senate Minority Leader • Minority party’s 1 st in command Senate Majority Whip • Assistant floor leader • Informs leadership • Persuades party members how to vote Senate Minority Whip • Assistant floor leader • Informs leadership • Persuades party members how to vote President Pro Tempore Hatch, Orrin G. (R-UT), Republican Majority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell (R-KY) Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Republican Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) Democratic Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Standing Committees House Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Budget Armed Services Education and the Workforce Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Energy and Commerce Budget Ethics Joint Committee on Printing Commerce, Science, and Transportation Financial Services Joint Committee on Taxation Energy and Natural Resources Foreign Affairs Environment and Public Works Homeland Security Joint Committee on the Finance House Administration Library Judiciary Foreign Relations Joint Economic Committee Natural Resources Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Oversight and Government Reform Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Rules Judiciary Science, Space, and Technology Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans' Affairs Veterans’ Affairs Ways and Means Intelligence Indian Affairs Joint Economic Committee Select Committee on Ethics Joint Committee on the Library Select Committee on Intelligence Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Special Committee on Aging Joint Special, Select & Other

Congressional Powers 1. Levy and Collect Taxes 2. Borrow Money 3. Regulate Interstate And Foreign Commerce 4. Coin Money 5. Declare War

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Congressional Checks & Balances Oversight= oversee executive agencies Confirmation= key officials Impeachment= president, judges Ratification= treaties Override= presidential vetos Amendment= propose