Legislative Branch

CONGRESS

• Congress is in charge of the Legislative Branch–BICAMERAL: Made up of two houses

1. House of Representatives - Representation is based on population

2. Senate- Representation is equal (2 per state)

Qualifications and Terms

• Qualifications and Terms

Unit 11 W-T-L

1. Why are the qualifications for Senators more rigid than for the House of Representatives?

Congressional Districts

• If a state has more than one representative, district lines are drawn.– Determined every 10 years by the CENSUS

• All districts must have the same number of CONSTITUENTS (voters).

• GERRYMANDERING: Drawing of odd shaped districts to skew representation.– This is gives one group of people (political party,

race, socioeconomic status, etc.) an unfair advantage

– This is illegal

North Carolina Congressional Districts

NC Representatives

• Senator Richard Burr

• Senator Kay Hagan

• Representative Virginia Foxx (District 5)

• Representative Patrick McHenry (District 10)

Congressional Leaders

• The party with the most members is the majority party.

• The party with the least members is the minority party.

• Floor leaders: Chief spokesperson for their party

• Party whip: Keeps track of voting attendance and party loyalty.

Write-To-Learn

2. Why are representatives encouraged to vote in favor of their political party?

Majority Floor Leader: Eric Cantor

Minority Floor Leader: Nancy Pelosi

Majority Whip: Kevin McCarthy Minority Whip:

Steny Hoyer

HOUSE

OF

REPS

Majority Floor Leader: Harry Reid

Minority Floor Leader: Mitch McConnell

Majority Whip:Richard Durbin

Minority Whip: John Cornyn

SENATE

Congressional Leaders continued…

• Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives.

– John Boehner (R) from OH

• According to the constitution, the vice-president is the leader of the Senate.

– Joseph Biden (D) from CA

• President pro tempore: Day to day leader of the Senate.

– Patrick Leahy (D) from VT » age 73, served 39 years

Perks

• Franking Privilege• Free trips to home state• Great life insurance and medical benefits• $174,000 salary (for regular member)– 193,400 for Congressional Leaders– 223,500 for Speaker of the House

Punishments

• Expulsion– James Traficant OH 2002

• Censure– Charles Rangel NY 2010

• Reprimand– Joe Wilson SC 2009

Congressional Committees

Committee Membership

• Seniority system: Desirable positions are given to those members who have served the longest.

• Majority party has the majority on all committees.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Where do bills come from??– Grassroots– President– Special interest groups (M.A.A.D.)

• Only Senator/Representative can present

Stepping Stone Project

Stepping Stones

• You are assigned a step in the process of how a bill becomes a law

• Create a stepping stone that has a visual symbol of your step.– Some people may need to create several stones

• On the back of your stone, explain how your step works in your own words

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued

• Step 1: Introduction– In the House of Reps., a bill is dropped into the

“hopper” box and assigned to a committee.– In the Senate, a senator submits a bill to the clerk

for a reading and committee assignment.

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued• Step 2: Committee Action– They can reject the bill immediately.– They can pigeonhole a bill. (Set it aside).– They can research and approve the bill.– They can change any and all aspects of a bill.• Can add to it:– Pork-barrel appropriation (“bringing home the bacon”)– Riders – Earmarks

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued• Step 3: Floor Debates– Representatives in the house have a time

limitation.– Senators can filibuster a bill. (Talk it to death).– Cloture: Limit the time senators may talk.

Requires a 3/5 vote.• Step 4: Voting– Must have a simple majority (51%) for the bill to

continue• Otherwise it dies

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued

• Step 5: Sent to other house of Congress– Step 6: Committee Action (again)– Step 7: Floor Debates (again)– Step 8: Voting (again)

• Step 9: Conference Committee– Members of both houses meet to make a single

version of a bill.• Step 10: Final Vote– Both houses must vote to approve the final draft

• Step 11: Presidential ActionA. Sign a bill into law. = Process is done!B. Veto a bill (reject). = Back to CongressC. Pocket veto: Take no action for 10 days. • Congress is in session after 10 days = the bill

becomes a law and process is done • Congress is not in session after 10 days = the

bill is rejected and process is done

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued

How a Bill Becomes a Law continued

• Step 12 (Sometimes)– If the president chooses to veto the bill, it

goes back to Congress– They vote to decide if they want to override

the veto and pass the law without the president’s approval• Requires a 2/3 majority to override

Step 11 (?)

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

School House Rocks!!

• http://www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6866404f4baab7/Im-Just-a-Bill