The Legislative Branch RVCS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Part 1
The Legislative Branch RVCS AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Part 1: Congress THE SENATE & HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2 Houses of Congress • • • The Senate (Upper House) • Each state has 2 Senators • Elected every 6 years The House of Representatives • Each state has representatives of the House based on population (a new census is taken every 10 years, with each new census year ending in “ 0”) • Total = 435 Members (limited to this amount 1929) • Elected every 2 years [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=u. Ru_Jcar. CDY
Gerrymandering • Reappointment—This occurs on the years ending with “ 2” • Gerrymandering—When a state gains more congressional seats, it must redraw district boundaries. Redrawing districts in your party’s favor is called gerrymandering. • History—In 1812, Governor Elbridge Gerry was depicted by a cartoonist who satirized him in the form of a salamander. • [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Mnh. Fm 5 QVVTo
Qualifications for Congressmen • • Age: • House of Representatives—At least 25 years old • Senate—At least 30 years old Citizenship: • House—U. S. citizen for at least 7 years • Senate—U. S. citizen for at least 9 years • Resident of State—A congressman must be a resident from the state in which he/she is representing. • [Congressman Video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=kfzt. LGK_Ea 4
Speaker of the House • Speaker of the House—He/She is the presiding officer of the House and traditionally the leader of the majority party. • Power to recognize—The Speaker of the House can influence the passage or defeat of a bill by controlling debate. • Power to interpret House rules—The Speaker of the House can speed up or delay bills and send bills to favorable committees. • Elected at a Caucus: • Caucus Definition—During a private meeting of the majority political party, members decide on policy or to choose candidates. • Tenure—The Speaker of the House serves 2 years and must be reelected. • Position—Next in line after the Vice President.
Speaker of the House (Videos) • [Speaker Video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=k. XEpdjcrg. Ts • [Paul Ryan Video, M 5: 18] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=g 3 Xq. Nqx. YK 1 o
Organization of the Senate • VP—The Vice President serves as President of the Senate. • Voting—The Vice President rarely presides over the Senate unless there is a close vote, and even then, he/she only votes if there is a tie. • President Pro Tempore—He/She serves in place of Vice President when the VP is not present (majority party chooses). • [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=7 U-z. Ui. F 1 NWo
Party Leaders • • Majority and Minority leaders: o Work with Speaker of the House and President of Senate o Manage debate o Coordinate work of congressional committees o Choose speakers for debates o Work with Rules Committee to move bills onto the floor o Organize party members to have unified votes Party Whips: o Line up votes for or against a given bill o Use political debate, or even political arm-twisting to get it done
House Leaders • [Majority] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=SAMzxl 46 kew • [Minority] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=cw. BJVVjf-Bw
Whips • [Majority] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Kek 9 yo. Qk 5 UA • [Minority] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. BXCQu 7 L 4 r. I
Committees • Definition—Committees serve as tiny legislatures that enable congressmen to concentrate on one or two legislations that interest the committees. • Three kinds of Committees: • 1. Standing Committees—Much of legislation takes place here, but this depends on how good the staff is that aids them. 2. Special Committees—Convened when a situation develops that cannot be handled by normal committee procedures, and are limited in their time frame. 3. Conference Committees—A temporary committee of both the House and Senate, which is formed with the purpose of settling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. [video, start at 40 sec] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ev. LR 90 Dx 79 M&list=PL 8 d. Puua. Lj. Xt. Ofse 2 ncvffeel. Trqvhrz 8 H&index=7
Powers of Congress • 3 Delegated Powers—Powers given to Congress by the Constitution • Inherent Powers—Those that are essential to any national government (protecting nation against invasion, regulating immigration, gain new territory) • Expressed Powers—Those listed in Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution • Implied Powers—Justified as necessary to carry out the government’s constitutional duties • • Elastic Clause--“Necessary and proper” (for carrying out delegated powers) [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Esud. Hm. V-B_Y
Part 2: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills (General Overview) • [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=FFro. MQl. Kiag • Definition—A bill is a proposed law to the U. S. Congress. • Numerical Data: • • 10, 000 to 15, 000 bills are introduced each year • About 5% of bills are legalized each year (roughly 500 -700) Specification—Bills can be introduced to either the House or Senate (except for budget bills, which must go to the House first)
Bills (House of Representatives) • [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=QH 0 Hl 31 vd. F 4 • Writers of Bills: • • A congressman • The U. S. President or Vice President • An Interest Group • From constituents The Process of Introducing Bills to the House: • The representative places a bill in the Hopper • The Speaker of the House gives it a name, number, and sends it to a committee
Bills (House of Representatives) • Most work done on a bill is accomplished by a committee • The bill is sent to a sub-committee which hears testimony about the bill and decides on it • Sub-Committees can: 1. Pigeon hole it (kill the bill), which happens 90% of the time 2. Re-write the bill 3. Revise the bill (amend it) 4. Pass it on as is
Bills (House of Representatives) • After the Committee: • Committee sends a “Committee Report” to the House about the bill • The bill is placed on calendar for debate • In the House, bills are limited to one hour of debate • Congress within the House vote electronically • If passed, the bill then goes to Senate
Bills (Senate) • Bills introduced are read by a Senator • Bills then go to Senate standing committees • Same process as House but debate is unlimited • • Filibuster—“Talk a bill to death” by clogging up the Senate’s business by talking and not giving up the floor • Longest was 23 hours 17 minutes by Strom Thurmond in 1957 against civil rights legislation Passing a bill in the Senate: • • Bill goes to Conference Committee made up of Senators and Representatives who “engross” the bill (agree on wording) Back to House and Senate for final approval
Video on Laws • [video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=7 ULPJM 6 Kyo. Q
Interest Groups • [Sarcastic Video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t 9 T 1 Zw. SLCZU • [Content Video] https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. Ov. BA 7 o. IIgc • Look It Up: What are some of the most powerful interest groups today?
Congress Activity • 1) Write up your own bill that you hope will become a law • 2) The class will serve as the Congress on whether or not the bill should be legalized (modifications are permitted) • 3) The president (Mr. Wiley) will sign them into law, unless he vetoes. If so, the bill will be voted on again, and will require a 2/3 majority. • http: //www. princetonmodelcongress. com/delegates-write-bill/
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