Government Institutions Legislative Branch GSE Standards SSCG 8

Government Institutions: Legislative Branch

GSE Standards SSCG 8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government. a. Cite the formal qualifications for representatives and senators listed in the Constitution. b. Describe the election process for representatives & senators and how the 17 th Amendment impacted the election of senators. c. Compare the terms of office for each chamber of Congress and explain the Founders’ intent.

Congress = House of Reps + Senate

House of Representatives Total Membership in House # of Reps for each state Length of terms Constituents (who do they represent? ) Age Requirement Citizenship requirement Residency requirement 435 based on population 2 years District 25 Citizen for 7 years Term Limits? Live in the state you represent (voters want you to live in district too) NO Elections? Every 2 years; all members every election. Off year elections are held in between Presidential elections (aka Midterm Elections)

Senate Total Membership in Senate # of Reps for each state Length of terms Constituents (who do they represent? ) Age Requirement Citizenship requirement Residency requirement Term Limits? 17 th Amendment Election Changes 100 2 per state 6 years State 30 Citizen for 9 years Live in the state you represent NO Originally selected by state legislatures Now, as a continuous body, 1/3 of Senators are up for election every 2 years.

Bicameral Legislature - two chamber legislature q. Founders were fans of the British Parliament q. Settled the dispute between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan (Great Compromise) q. Allows for a system of checks and balances between the houses

Determining Representatives in the House Census Every 10 years to determine population Reapportionment – Congress divides the 435 House seats between states based on population Redistricting - state legislature draws the new district lines Gerrymandering - drawing district lines based on some characteristic other than just population

Original Gerrymander

Washington Post: Gerrymandering Explained

Non-gerrymandered district Gerrymandered district

Congressional Leadership

Leadership in the House of Representatives SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party q Most important job in Congress q Presides over House & maintains order in House q Recognizes members that want to speak on the House floor, interprets and enforces rules of the House q Refers (sends) bill to standing committees q Appoints members to committees q Can vote, but often does only in a tie Nancy Pelosi D – California

Leadership in the House SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority party Leads the Republican party Majority Leader q Carry out decisions of party q Direct floor action and votes to party’s advantage Minority Leader Leads the Democratic party q Carry out decisions of party q Direct floor action and votes to party’s advantage q Spokesperson for party Kevin Mc. Carthy R – California Nancy Pelosi D – California

Leadership in the House Party Whips q q Assistant Floor Leaders Liaison (go-between) – deliver info between leadership & members Keep track of how party members are voting Be sure members are present for votes House Majority Whip Minority Whip Steve Scalise Steny Hoyer R – Louisiana D - Maryland

Georgia’s Representation Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts. South Cobb’s current congressional district is the 13 th represented by: Congressman David Scott

Georgia Delegation th 115 Buddy Carter, Sanford Bishop, Drew Ferguson, Hank Johnson, John Lewis, Lucy Mc. Bath Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Doug Collins, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen, David Scott, Tom Graves

Leadership in the Senate PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the United States Vice President Mike Pence q Not an elected member q May not be a member of majority party q Can recognize members to speak in floor debate q Call for vote on bill q Votes in a tie q Can NOT debate bill

Leadership in the Senate President Pro-Tempore Orrin Hatch R-Utah q Presides in VP’s absence q Elected member of Senate q Member of Majority Party q Typically longest serving member

Leadership in the Senate Leads the Majority party Majority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell R - Kentucky Leads the minority party Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D – New York

Leadership in the Senate Party Whips q q Assistant Floor Leaders Liason (go-between) – deliver info between leadership & members Keep track of how party members are voting Be sure members are present for votes Senate Majority Whip Minority Whip John Cornyn Dick Durbin R – Texas D - Illinois

Georgia’s Representation Senator Johnny Isakson David Perdue AND

Committees in Congress Standing Committee Permanent Content Select specific Committee Aka Special Committee Specific purpose Limited Time Investigate current matters Joint Permanent & Select Members of House & Senate Conference Committee Temporary, Joint Committee Works out differences between bills Once compromise reached they disband

Congress Senate Upper House of Representatives Lower House President of Senate VP of USA President Pro Tempore Speaker of House Majority Leader Senior Ranking Member Of the Majority Party Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader House Majority Floor Leader House Minority Leader Senate Majority Whip Senate Minority Whip House Majority Whip House Minority Whip 100 Senators 2 from each State 435 Representatives Elected by Population

Interesting Facts…. Salaries - $174, 000 per year Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193, 400 Minority Party Leader - $193, 400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223, 500 Majority Leader - $193, 400 Minority Leader - $193, 400

Congressional Powers

SSCG 8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government. d. Compare and contrast the powers of each chamber of Congress (e. g. , power of the purse, 16 th Amendment, treaties, etc. )

Power of the Purse Revenue (tax) bills must start in the House of Representatives The majority of the U. S. revenue comes through TAXATION. A TAX is a charge levied by a government on income or property. The 16 th Amendment allows Congress to levy INCOME TAXES on individuals.

Capitol Tidbits Site chosen in 1791; British burned in 1814 300 feet to top of statue Freedom Statue is 19’ 6” Capitol sits on 3. 5 acres; 168 acres around it are designated to the capitol Diameter of Rotunda is 95’ (whisper heard across the room) Original rule was that nothing could be higher than Freedom Statue; exception made for Washington monument

Interest Groups in Politics

What is an Interest Group? A group of people with common views who work to get legislation and regulations passed that will help their group.

Lobbyists work for the interest group to get elected officials to pass policies that will be good for their group.

Lobbyists POSITIVES Knowledgeable on the issue they represent and can inform legislators about the issues they support/oppose Spokesperson for a larger group of people (special interest group members) Can help write (draft) legislation with up-to-date information NEGATIVES Larger interest groups with more money tend to get more legislation passed in their favor. Grassroots (local) efforts often go unnoticed at the state and national level

How a Bill Becomes a Law SSCG 8 Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch of government. e. Explain the steps in the legislative process. bill A , which is a proposed law, must originate in the House of Representatives or the Senate, except for revenue bills which MUST originate in the House.

I’m Just a Bill https: //youtu. be/FFro. MQl. Kiag

1. The bill is drafted (written) Anyone can draft a bill – members of Congress, the President, outside groups 2. The bill is introduced in the House or Senate by a member Only members of the House or Senate can introduce bills. 3. The bill is sent to a standing committee In the House, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee. 4. Committee Action – bills are reviewed, debated, edited and voted on. q Most bills die here, but if the bill is passed, it moves forward. q Senate Majority Leader decides what order bills will be reviewed on floor. q In House, the Rules Committee decides order of the bills & time limit for debate.

*5. Bill is sent to the Rules Committee in the House and assigned a time for debate. Only the House of Representatives has a Rules Committee. 6. Floor Action – the bill is debated, and amended, if necessary. If a majority of the members approve the bill, it goes to the other chamber. 7. Bill is sent to and introduced in other chamber… q Starts in House, goes to Senate; starts in Senate, goes to House q Introduction by Member q Committee Action – Review, debate, hearings, edits, votes q Floor Action – Debate, edit, amendments, vote

8. Conference Committee q If the 1 st chamber rejects any changes made by the 2 nd, conference must meet. q Members of both chambers (House and Senate) work toward compromise. q Only one version of bill can be sent to President. 9. Vote on Compromise Bill q Both the House and the Senate must approve the bill as amended by the conference committee. q If approved by a majority vote in both houses of Congress, the bill is sent to the President. 10. Presidential Action - sign, or approve, the bill or veto (reject) q If the President signs the bill (approves it), the bill becomes a law. q If the President vetoes (rejects) the bill, can be sent back for override vote. 11. Override Vote If the President vetoes the bill, it can still be approved by a 2/3 vote in each chamber (House & Senate) and still become law.

In the Legislative Process…. q RIDER – a provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to a bill that is certain to pass. Can only happen in the SENATE. q DISCHARGE PETITION – enables members of either house to force a bill that has been pigeonholed (remained in committee for 30 days or longer) onto the floor for consideration. q QUORUM – a majority of the membership that must be present in chambers to conduct business.

In the Legislative Process…. q ENGROSSED– q FILIBUSTER q CLOTURE the bill is printed in its’ final form. – essentially this is the attempt to ‘talk a bill to death’. It is a stalling tactic that is used by a minority of senators seeks to delay or prevent action on a matter. Can ONLY be used in the SENATE. – a rule used to limit debate in the SENATE. q At least 3/5 of the senate, or 60 members, must vote to invoke cloture. q Not needed in the House – Rules Committee sets time limits.

In the Legislative Process…. q VETO – when the President refuses to sign a bill into law. q POCKET VETO – if Congress adjourns its’ session within ten days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the bill dies.

Members of Congress think about FOUR FACTORS when deciding whether to vote for a law.

FACTOR #1 FACTOR #2 Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law? What is my personal opinion? FACTOR #3 FACTOR #4 What are the views of my political party? What do my voters think?

Sub Committee How a Bill Becomes a Law Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor House Floor Senate Floor Sub Committee

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate President Senate Law Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Sub Committee House and Senate pass same version of law. Majority Vote in each house needed. Passed to President.

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee Senate Floor Debate Standing Committee Sub Committee House & Senate pass different versions. Conference Committee comes up with compromise.

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor The compromise bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor If the President signs the bill then it becomes law. Law

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. House Floor 2/3 vote Senate Floor 2/3 vote

Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. House Floor Senate Floor

Subcommittee How a Bill Becomes a Law Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor House Floor Senate Floor Subcommittee