Legislative Branch Organization of Congress History of Congress
Legislative Branch Organization of Congress
History of Congress �Founders intended for Congress to be the central policy-making body �Article I: Congress granted more powers than president and judicial branch �Established a bicameral legislative (two house) House of Representatives Senate
Who is in Congress? � 85% are male �Most are well-educated �Most are from upper-middle or upper income �Most are Protestants �Most are white �Average of senators is 60; representatives about 55 � 40% are lawyers
Incumbents �During 1800 s, most members of Congress served one term �During 20 th century, serving in Congress has become a lifetime career �Incumbents enjoy free mailings, more experience with campaigning, and greater access to the media
Does Congress Truly Represent the People?
Powers of Congress �To lay and collect taxes �Borrow money �Regulate interstate commerce �Coin money �Establish post office �Create courts �Declare War �Issue patents and copyrights
Elastic Clause �“Necessary and proper” clause allows government to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States. ”
Important Factors in Law-Making Decisions �Constituents View Read mail, keep in touch with local and state political leaders, and meet with constituents in D. C. �Party Views Party membership important Vote along party lines ¾ of the time �Personal Views Trust elected official’s good judgment
Caucuses �Congress is organized formally through party leadership and committee system �Informal network of caucuses also plays key role Caucuses are groupings of members of Congress sharing the same interests or points of views
Leadership in Congress �Party that wins the most representatives in the legislative election is called the majority in each house and the other party is called the minority
House of Representatives
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House of Representatives �Representatives always directly elected by the people �Representation based on population Size limited to 435 (1911) �Term Limit: 2 years �Qualifications of representatives 25 years old 7 years as a citizen of the United States Citizen of the state represented
Special Powers �Special, exclusive powers given to the House: Revenue Bills: ▪ Must originate in the House Impeachment Power: ▪ Authority to charge president, vice-president, and other “civil officers” with “high crimes and misdemeanors”
Speaker of the House Recognizing members who wish to speak Directs business on the floor Exercising political and behind-the-scene influence Appointing members to select and conference committees Exercising control over which bills get assigned to which committees
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio)
Leadership in the House �Majority Leader: responsible for scheduling bills the party favors �Minority Leader: spokesperson for the minority �Party Whips: inform members when important bills will come up for a vote, do counts for leadership, pressure members to support the leadership
Majority and Minority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) Nancy Pelosi (D-California)
Majority and Minority Whips Kevin Mc. Carthy (R-California) Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland)
Senate
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Senate �Members of the Senate originally were elected by the legislatures of each state 17 th Amendment: provided for direct election of senators �Equal representation: 2 senators for each state �Term Limit: 6 years �Qualifications: 30 years old 9 years as a citizen of the United States Citizen of the state represented
Special Powers �Major presidential appointments must be confirmed by the Senate �Federal judges, ambassadors, and Cabinet positions �Treaties with foreign nations entered by the President must be approved 2/3 vote in the Senate �Tries the impeachment officials
Leadership in the Senate �President of the Senate Vice President of the United States Vote only in a case of a tie and seldom attends Senate sessions �president pro tempore Most senior member in the party Official Chair, with no real powers �Majority Leader �Minority Leader
President of the Senate Joe Biden (Vice President)
President pro tempore Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
Majority Leader of the Senate �Most influential person in the Senate �Has the right to be the first senator heard on the floor �Determines the Senate’s agenda �Much say on committee assignments
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada)
Minority Leader �Majority leader may consult with the minority leader in setting agenda for the Senate �Only has as much say as majority leader will allow
Minority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell (R-Kentucky)
Party Whips in the Senate �Same functions at the whips in the House �Inform members when important bills will come up for a vote �Do counts for leadership �Pressure members to support leadership
Majority and Minority Whips Richard Durbin (DIllinois) Jon Kyl (R-Arizona)
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