The Legislative Branch

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The Legislative Branch
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A Bicameral Legislature

• Bicameral Two Houses
• The Senate
• The House of Representatives
• Together they are the US Congress

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Terms of Congress

• Two Year Terms
• Begin January 3rd of Odd Number Years
• New Term Begins January 3rd, 2013
• Terms divided into two 1 year Sessions

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The House of Representatives

• Currently 435 Members
• Two Year Terms
• All Representatives up for Election every Two
  Years.

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The House of Representatives

• Represent Districts from each State
• Districts assigned by population
• Redrawn after each census

Gerrymanderying!?!
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Wisconsin Congressional Districts
WisconsinSenators
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House Leaders

• Speaker of the House Most powerful
• Picks Committee Leaders, Schedules Votes
• Next in line for Presidency after VP
• Majority and Minority Leaders
• Majority and Minority Whips

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The Senate

• Currently 100 Members, 2 per State
• Each Senator represents his/her whole State
• Six Year Terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years

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Senate Leaders

• Vice President Presiding Officer
• Can vote in case of ties
• President Pro Tempore Ceremonial Position
• Often the longest serving member of majority
• Next in line for Presidency after Speaker

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Majority vs Minority

• The Party with the most members in a chamber is
  the Majority Party
• The other Party is in the Minority

House
Senate
234 Republicans201 Democrats
53 Democrats47 Republicans
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Committees

• Detailed work of law making is done
  in committees.
• Standing Committees Exist permanently,
• Each Committee deals with a specific area of
  Legislation Agriculture, Defense Judiciary,
  Commerce, Education, etc
• Select Committees Temporary, created to deal
  with specific issues, Assassinations Budget
  Crisis, etc
• Committee Chairmen have great power

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Committees

• Joint Committees Both House Senate members,
  conduct business of Congress
• Conference Committees Both House and Senate
  members. Work out differences between House
  Senate versions of Bills

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Powers of the Legislature

• Expressed Powers Article I.8, paras
  1-17 Things Congress is specifically able to do
• Implied Powers I.8.18, Necessary Proper also
  called Elastic Clause

• Declare War
• Collect Taxes
• Post Office
• Coin Money
• Create Courts
• Etc

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Limits on Powers

• Article I, Section 9 The Constitution
  prohibits Congress from doing certain things

• Prohibit Free Speech
• Promote a Religion
• Interfere with Worship
• Bills of Attainder
• Ex Post Facto Laws
• Favor one State over other States

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Removing Govt Officers

• Two Step Process
• Applies to President, VP, Cabinet Judges
• The House can Impeach (bring charges)
• Then there is a Trial with the Senate as Jury
• Requires a 2/3 vote to convict

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Advise Consent

• The Senate has the power to Advise and Consent
  on Presidential appointments and Treaties signed
  by the President

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Taxing and Spending

• All Appropriations Bills (Taxes) must
  originate in the House of Representatives
• Appropriations Bills cover a budget for a two
  year period (biennum)
• Two Parts
• An Authorization Bill creates the budget,
  including projects like the Space Shuttle, and
  how many are to be spent
• An Appropriations Bill specifies how the
  will be raised to pay for the budget