The Legislative Branch Article I Congress Terms and

The Legislative Branch Article I Congress

Terms and Sessions of Congress o A term is the length of time between elections in Congress (two years). o Each Congressional term consists of two sessions, one during each year of a term. o January begins the first session of the Congress.

Bicameralism o Congress consists of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, that act to check and balance each other. o Congress has its roots in British and Colonial history. o Our bicameral legislature is a reflection of federalism, and was part of the Connecticut(Great) Compromise of 1787.

Why Congress Matters? o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=F k. PMld. X 6 JLI&feature=relmfu

House of Representatives o Term: 2 years n No term limits o Qualifications n 25 years old n 7 years as a U. S. citizen n Resident of represented state

House of Representatives o Number of representatives: 435 o Representation based on population o Strict rules on debate

Reapportionment o Process of re-dividing the 435 seats of the U. S. House of Representatives based upon each state's proportion of the national population. o The preceding census is the baseline for determining how many House seats are allotted to each state. o Census determines number of congressional seats and number of electoral votes for each state as well as how much federal funding each state receives.

Wesberry vs. Sanders 1964 o “One person, One vote” rule: each vote in a congressional district should be worth about the same (Census is every 10 years)

Redistricting o process of redrawing legislative district boundaries every 10 years based upon changes in population. o State legislatures determine district boundaries. o Drawing boundaries of legislative districts to benefit one party or group and handicap another is called “gerrymandering. ”

Redistricting Videos o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 r 7 q. Jvpr. HXw o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a 1 Uei. Hs. K 6 ns Congressional District Lines: Civics in a Minute

Gerrymandering o Gerrymandering seeks to draw legislative districts that isolate members of a particular political party so that a maximum number of representatives of that party will be elected.

House of Representatives o Emphasizes fiscal policy (government expenditures, revenues, and debt. ) o Special Powers of House of Rep. n All money (appropriations) bills start here n Select the President if no majority in Electoral College n Write the articles of impeachment against high ranking officials

Speaker of the House o Head of House of Representatives -Presides over the full House. -Decides on which committees each member of his/her party will serve. -Assigns bills to committees -Decides the order in which bills will be heard and time limits for debate on House Floor.

Senate o Term of office: 6 years n No term limits o Qualifications: n 30 years old n 9 years a citizen of the U. S. n Resident of the represented state o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xj 4 a. MGlf 6 b. A

Senate o Number of Senators: 100 o Representation equal (2 per State) o Filibuster (stalling a vote with unlimited debate/speech) unless cloture is invoked. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=OQIG-kf. T 9 b. I o President of the Senate: U. S. Vice President o Day-to-day head of Senate: President Pro Tempore (Senator of majority party; presides in VP absence)

Senate o Emphasizes foreign policy o Special Powers n Approves all treaties n Approves all appointments n Chooses the Vice President in an Electoral College tie n Acts as the jury in all trials of impeachment

Leadership and Impact of Congress o http: //www. house. gov/leadership/ o http: //www. senate. gov/

Congress Both houses: o Must keep a Journal: n The Congressional Record o Must hold sessions at the same time: n Sessions begin January 3 rd each year o Must have a quorum to do business: n 51% of members present on the floor

Congress o Both houses make their own rules for behavior and punishments n Censure: formally reprimand, written in the record n Fines and penalties may be set for some offenses n Expulsion: members with gross misconduct may be thrown out of office (requires 2/3 vote)

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members: -Salary $174, 200 per year (Leadership: $212, 000) -Medical and dental benefits -Free office, parking, and trips to home state -Staff budget -Tax break on second home -Franking privilege- free postage on all mail to constituents

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members: Immunity or legal protection: -Cannot be sued of anything they say or write while carrying out their duties -Cannot be arrested for minor offenses while Congress is in session -May not hold another political office at the same time

What does Congress Do? o http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=fd g. U 08 k-CTQ

Powers of Congress o o o o o Raise and collect taxes Borrow money Regulate commerce Set laws for Naturalization and Bankruptcy Coin Money Punish counterfeiting Post office Copyrights and patents Set up courts o Declare war o Establish the military and National guard o Make rules and allot funds for the military and National guard o Punish pirates o Run Washington D. C. and all federal property o Elastic clause- implied power

ELASTIC CLAUSE o The necessary and proper clause gives Congress the power to make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the delegated duties (Article 1, Section 8) o Also known as the ‘elastic clause’ it stretches the power given Congress

Powers denied Congress o Cannot suspend the writ of Habeas Corpusmust show cause for holding a suspect except in wartime o No ex post facto laws- cannot punish a person for an act committed before there was a law against it. o No bills of attainder-laws that punish people without a trial

Powers denied Congress o No direct tax- the 16 th amendment allows income tax o No tax on exports o All states must be treated the same o Congress must approve all expenditures of the President through laws o No titles of nobility

Congressional Elections o Elections are held in November of even numbered years. o Off-Year (mid-term) elections occur during nonpresidential years. o All of the House and 1/3 of the Senate are up for re-election every 2 years

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Otbml 6 WIQPo&t=0 s&list=LLB EHBXmo 1 zy. Waf. A 2 Jsd 9 Sug&index=1