Am Government Review: Legislative Branch / Congress

House Senate Powers Committees Bills/Laws

10 10 10 10 10

20 20 20 20 20

30 30 30 30 30

40 40 40 40 40

50 50 50 50 50

How many years is the term for someone in the House of Representatives?

2 years

Who is one of our Wisconsin Representatives?

*Bonus* How many Reps does WI have?

We have 8 Representatives in Wisconsin

Paul Ryan (Republican) - 1Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican) - 5 Tom Petri (Republican) - 6 Sean Duffy (Republican) - 7Reid Ribble (Republican) - 8Tammy Baldwin (Democrat) - 2Ron Kind (Democrat) - 3Gwen Moore (Democrat) - 4

How many people are in the House of Representatives & how did the founding fathers come to the decision to have that many?

435

Representation based on population (compromise between the big & small states)

Representation varies depending on Census (every 10 years)

What is the hierarchy in the House?

Ex: Who are the leaders & what are their titles? List 5 in order

1. Speaker of the House2. Majority Floor Leader3. Majority Whip4. Minority Floor Leader5. Minority Whip

Ariana wants to run to be a U.S. Representative for Wisconsin in the House of Representatives. What qualifications must she meet in order to run?

If elected, what are the different points of view she can consider when she votes? *Hint* There are three…

•25 years old•Citizen of WI for at least•Resident of WI

•Trustee – consider personal opinion only•Politico – consider party & personal opinion•Partisan – vote along party lines

How many years is the term for someone in the Senate?

6 years

What are the qualifications to be in the Senate (name at least 3)?

30 years old9 year Citizen of U.S.Resident of State they represent

How many people are in the Senate?

Name our 2 Wisconsin Senators.

100

Herb KohlRon Johnson

List the hierarchy in the Senate (6 titles in order)

Vice PresidentSenate Pro TemporeMajority Floor LeaderMajority WhipMinority Floor LeaderMinority Whip

If Senator Ron Johnson is voting for the Health Insurance Bill along party lines he is voting _________

partisan

What are the three kinds of powers Legislators in Congress have?

Expressed, Implied, and Non-legislative

Define Expressed power & give an example of an expressed power of Congress

Expressed Power – power granted to Congress clearly written in the Constitution

Ex: tax, Coin $, regulate Commerce, declare war, bankruptcy, patent, copyright, naturalization, etc.

Define Implied power & give 2 examples of implied powers of Congress

An Implied Power is a power that is not clearly stated in the Constitution & is assumed based on the expressed powers

Ex: Military Schools, punish tax evaders, create banks, regulate immigration, draft for military, minimum wage, prohibit mail fraud

Define Non-Legislative Powers & give 2 examples of Non-Legislative powers

Non-Legislative Powers are powers of Congress that don’t have to do with writing Laws

Ex: impeach, electoral, confirm presidential appointments, power to investigate, Senators must approve treaties

Describe the difference between a liberal & strict

Constructionist

Liberal Constructionist – the Constitution is open for interpretation & change

Strict Constructionist – the Constitution should be interpreted literally and based on what the founding fathers wrote with little/no change

What is the purpose of Committees in Congress?

The purpose of Committees are to organize specific topics (such as foreign affairs) for discussion & legislation purposes.

Representatives in the House serve on 1-2 Committees & Senators serve on 3-4 Committees

Name 4 different kinds of Committees

•Standing•Subcommittee•Joint•Select•Conference

Which Committee works on settling differences between bills in the House & Senate?

Conference Committee

Which Committee is made up of both members of the House & Senate and can be temporary or permanent?

Joint Committee

Give an example of a Standing Committee & one of its Subcommittees. Are these temporary or permament?

…

What is a resolution?

Resolution – manage rules w/ in one house of Congress. Don’t have power of law

Joint resolution – has same power as law usually temporary

Concurrent Resolution – Senate & House act together, not as strong as law & explains govt position on something (ex: foreign affairs)

What is something added to the bill that is unrelated which helps the bill pass?

A rider

(aka pork)

A bill that is set aside and no longer considered is…

Pigeonholed

List three differences between the House & the Senate?

House of Representatives

• Smaller personal staff• Fewer committee

assignments• More formal, less

flexible• Committee work more

important than debate• Debate strictly limited• 5 Calendars

Senate• Larger personal staff• More committee

assignments• Fewer, more flexible

rules• Floor debate more

important than committee work in shaping legislation

• Floor debate unlimited• Power to fillibuster

List the order in which a bill becomes a law

1. Bill introduced to House2. Bill given title & #3. Bill sent to Standing Committee for study, hearings,

revisions & Approval4. Bill sent to Rules Committee who sets rules &

conditions for debate5. Debate & Vote6. Bill introduced into the Senate7. Bill sent to Standing Committee for study, hearings,

revisions & Approval8. Debate & Vote9. Conference Committee (House & Senate resolve

differences in bill)10. House & Senate vote on final passage11. President signs bill