Legislative Branch

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Legislative Branch
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Congressional Structure
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Congress

• HOUSE
  SENATE
• 435 Total people
  100 (250)
• Pop of Reps for state 2 Per state
• 2 Yrs Length of terms
  6 Yrs
• Qualifications
• 25 Yrs Age 30 Yrs
• 7 Yrs Citizen of US 9 Yrs
• Must reside in the State and District that they
  represent

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• Terms and Sessions
• Congressional Term for 2 yrs
• Session- 2 sessions Jan 3rd Dec., Jan - July
  31st
• Work day Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
• Working time Noon to 5 6 oclock.
• Recess temporary break
• Special Session Outside of regular hours
• Joint Session Both House and Senate
• State of the Union Called by president

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Determining Representatives

• CensusEvery 10 years to determine population
• ReapportionDivide between states
• Redistrictwhen apportionment changes
• Gerrymander drawing district lines based on some
  characteristic other than just population
• a) Discriminatory gerrymandering
• b) Misrepresentation

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Congress
Senate Upper House
House of Representatives Lower House
President of Senate VP of USA
Speaker of House Majority Leader
President Pro Tempore Senior Ranking Member Of
the Majority Party
House Minority Leader
House Majority Floor Leader
Senate Minority Leader
Senate Majority Leader
House Minority Whip
House Majority Whip
Senate Majority Whip
Senate Minority Whip
435 Representatives Elected by Population
100 Senators 2 from each State
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Congressional Leadership
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Leadership in the House of Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority
party
Job Presiding Officer of the
House Power Decides which committee a
bill goes to.
Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) Elected Speaker in 2007
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Leadership in the House of Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Selected by the majority
party
Majority Leader Leads the majority
party Job Shepherds legislation
Minority Leader Leads the minority party Job
Leads Opposition
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D)
Rep. John Boehner (R)
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Other House Positions

• Clerk of House does administrative duties.
• Parliamentarian keeps rule on debate.
• Chaplain prays before debate.
• Sergeant at Arms keep order.
• Official Reporters writes every single word in
  meeting.
• Post Master sees that everything is distributed.

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Georgias Representation

• Georgia currently has 13 congressional districts.
• McEacherns current congressional district is the
  6th represented by

Congressman Tom Price
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Leadership in the United States Senate
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the
United States
Vice President Joe Biden Elected in 2008
Job Presiding Officer of the
Senate Power Breaks tie in
legislation. Otherwise does not vote.
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Leadership in the United States Senate
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the
United States
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Selected by majority party.
Usually most senior member of the Senate majority
party
Job Presides over the Senate
when the Vice President is absent.
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
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Leadership in the United States Senate
Majority Leader Leads the majority
party Job Shepherds legislation
Minority Leader Leads the minority party Job
Leads Opposition
Sen. Harry Reid (D)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R)
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Other Senate Positions

• Secretary of Senate Top administrator
• Parliamentarian, Chaplain, Sergeant at arms.

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Georgias Representation
Senator Johnny Isakson
Senator Saxby Chambliss
AND
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Congressional Rules and Benefits
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Congressional Rules

• Loyalty to chamber
• Civility
• Seniority the most senior members get more
  choice of assignments
• Specialization expert in areas
• Reciprocity-support for each others bill.

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Privileges and Penalties

• Congressional Immunity
• Freedom of Expression in Congressional Records
• Expel Members with 2/3rd vote.
• Censure Members
• Codes of Ethic.

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Compensation and Benefits

• Salaries (125,000?) increases as cost of living
  does. (27th Amendment)
• Outside Income allowed
• Fringe Benefits (Perks)
• Offices
• Expense Accounts
• Stationary and Postage

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Compensation and Benefits Cont.

• Computer service
• TV and radio broadcast
• Travel expense
• Foreign Trips
• Pension Plan and Retirement Income.
• Incumbent helped to get reelected.

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Congressional Powers
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Congressional Powers

• I. Legislative Powers
• Sovereign Powers
• Provide for common defense
• Make rules on citizenship
• Run Armed Services
• Declare War
• Over Washington D.C.

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Congressional Powers Cont.

• B. Financial Powers
• Raise Money
• Regulate Trade
• Duties taxes on imports
• Excises taxes on particular goods
• Spend Money

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Congressional Powers Cont.

• C. Regulate Commerce
• Coin and set standards on money
• Post Office
• Copy Rights and Patents
• D. Powers over Courts
• Establish Federal Courts
• Set number of Supreme Court Justices

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Congressional Powers

• Non-Legislative Powers
• Advise and Consent
• Presidential Appointments (V.P., Justices, and
  Cabinet)
• Formal Agreements with Foreign Nations (Treaties)
• Impeachment (Majority in House)
• Convict and Remove Federal Officials (2/3rds in
  Senate)

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Congressional Powers

• Admit New States to the Union
• Amend the Constitution
• Counts Electoral Votes
• If no majority -the House will elect the Pres.
• -the Senate will elect
  the V.P.
• Gov. Watchdog Congressional committees can
  hold hearings and investigations, call witnesses,
  and make recommendations.

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Congress in Your Life
Make the Laws
Oversight
Inform us of the laws
Constituent services
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Congress is Important!
For Georgia! And for you!