Legislative Branch

1
Legislative Branch

• Ch. 5-1 Basics of Congress

2
Congress For Hire

• The United States Congress is a bicameral
  legislation, which means it has two parts.
• The two parts allow for better checks and
  balances as well as fair representation of small
  and large states.
• Each house of Congress has its own required
  qualifications and benefits

3
House of Representatives

• 435 Reps, based on the population of each state.
• Must be 25 yrs old
• Be a citizen of the U.S. (Naturalized or
  Native-born) for at least 7 years.
• Be a legal resident of state you represent.
• Elected for 2 year terms

4
Senate

• 100 Senators, 2 per state
• Must be 30 yrs old
• Be a citizen of the U.S. (Naturalized or
  Native-born) for at least 9 years.
• Be a legal resident of state you represent.
• Elected for 6 year terms

5
Salary and Benefits

• All Congressmen receive 165,200 annual salary as
  of 2007.
• Free travel to and from Washington, D.C. and
  their home state. Free postage.
• Immunity Congressmen cannot be arrested while
  congress is in session if they are on the way to
  or from a meeting in Congress.

6
Use Your notes to place at least 8
Qualifications, Terms, or Benefits of the Office
of Congress in the appropriate area.
7
Legislative Branch

• Ch. 5-2 How Congress is Organized

8
Terms and Sessions

• A term of congress is every odd-numbered year and
  begins January 3rd.
• Each term is divided in half, into one-year
  sessions.
• House and Senate usually meet separately, but
  sometimes meet together in a joint session.

9
Both Houses

• Each house has party caucuses, where Dems and
  Repubs choose their party leaders.
• Party with most is Majority Party. Party with
  least is Minority Party. These are floor leaders
  of both House and Senate.
• Majority and Minority have a whip. They help
  floor leader by counting votes, ensure
  attendance, etc.
• Both Senate and House have committees and
  sub-committees, 2 joint committees.

10
Organization of Senate

• U.S. Vice President is President of Senate.
• VP does not always preside over day to day
  business.
• When VP is not there, President Pro Tempore
  presides over meeting. They are selected by
  majority party.

11
Organization of House

• Speaker of the House presides over all House
  meetings.
• Speaker is always chosen from Majority Party.

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Senate
House
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Majority Whip
Majority Whip
Minority Whip
Minority Whip
Body of Senate
Body of House of Reps
13
Legislative Branch

• Ch. 5-3 Powers of Congress

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Delegated Powers

• Article I, Section 8 of Constitution delegated or
  gave these powers to Congress.
• Financing Govt. taxes, borrow money, coin
  money.
• Regulate all trade
• Defend the country declare war and maintain
  armed forces
• Enforce Laws and set up courts

15
Implied Powers

• Constitution gives Congress power to do any
  action it finds necessary and proper. These
  powers are Implied Powers
• Necessary and Proper Clause is also known as
  the elastic clause because they can stretch their
  power
• Ex. Because Congress can build armed forces, they
  stretch it to mean they can build military
  schools.

16
Impeachment Power

• Impeach to accuse an office holder of
  misconduct.
• Drawn up by House, if majority votes, officially
  impeached or accused.
• Impeachment held in Senate. 2/3 vote to remove
  from office.
• Vice president usually acts as judge. If
  President impeached, Chief Justice presides.
• Two Presidents have been impeached, neither lost.
  Another resigned at threat of impeachment.

17
Legislative Branch

• Ch. 5-4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

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Im Just a Bill! Yes, Im only a Bill!
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Introduction of a Bill

• A "bill" is introduced when a member of Congress
  decides to create a new law.
• Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. It
  doesnt matter which side of Congress it starts
  in unless it is an appropriation bill.

20
Committee Assignment

• Once a bill is introduced it is first assigned to
  a standing committee for review.
• A subcommittee may review the bill and make
  recommendations.
• The bill is sent to the entire house for debate
  if the committee decides the bill is worthy of
  further action.

21
Can the House and Senate Agree?

• Once one part of Congress OKs the bill, it must
  then pass through the other house by way of the
  same process.
• Senate is not restricted in their debate. May
  talk the bill to death (Filibuster).

22
Sending it to the President

• When both houses agree on a bill, the Speaker of
  the House and the vice president sign it.
• The House and Senate vote to approve the bill.
  The bill goes to the President.
• A bill becomes law if the president signs it.

23
VETO

• President has 3 options
• Sign the Bill Its a LAW!
• Veto the bill.
• Not sign for 10 days. If in session passed, if
  out Pocket Veto.
• If two-thirds of all the members of Congress vote
  "yes," a vetoed bill can still become law. If
  not, It is DEAD!

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BILL BECOMES A LAW!
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Bill is Introduced
Committee Hearings
Committee Hearings
Full House Hearing
Full House Hearing
Returned to Original House
Bill! Youre a LAW!
Bill goes to President