Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Article I of the Constitution says…Article I of the Constitution says…Congress makes the laws.Congress makes the laws.

Characteristics of CongressCharacteristics of Congress

Bicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature Two Houses!Two Houses!

Currently in the 113Currently in the 113thth Congress (January 3, Congress (January 3, 2013)2013)

Ohio Representatives:Ohio Representatives:12 (R) members of House12 (R) members of House

4 (D) members of House4 (D) members of House

2 (R & D) Senators2 (R & D) Senators

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

435 435 members and districtsmembers and districts Representatives serve a 2-year termRepresentatives serve a 2-year term Number of Representatives from each state is Number of Representatives from each state is

based upon the statebased upon the state’’s population- must be equal s population- must be equal in sizein size

Each state is GUARANTEED at least 1 Representative Each state is GUARANTEED at least 1 Representative

OhioOhio’’s Reps! (Ohio has 18 districts)s Reps! (Ohio has 18 districts) District 12 – Patrick Tiberi (Republican)District 12 – Patrick Tiberi (Republican) District 15- Steve Stivers (Republican)District 15- Steve Stivers (Republican) District 7- Bob Gibbs (Republican)District 7- Bob Gibbs (Republican)

House of Representatives House of Representatives

Qualifications:Qualifications: Must be 25 years oldMust be 25 years old Citizen of the U.S. for 7 yearsCitizen of the U.S. for 7 years Live in the district you representLive in the district you represent

SenateSenate

2 from each state (100 members total)2 from each state (100 members total) Representatives represent the whole Representatives represent the whole

statestate Serve a 6 year termServe a 6 year term

SenateSenate

Qualifications:Qualifications: Must be 30 years oldMust be 30 years old Citizen of U.S. for 9 yearsCitizen of U.S. for 9 years Live in the state you are representing Live in the state you are representing

Our Senators are:Our Senators are: Robert Portman (Republican)Robert Portman (Republican) Sherrod Brown(Democrat)Sherrod Brown(Democrat)

Power PlayersPower Players

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House John Boehner (R- John Boehner (R-

OH)OH) House Majority LeaderHouse Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) Eric Cantor (R-VA) House Minority LeaderHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D- Nancy Pelosi (D-

CA)CA)

Power PlayersPower Players

SenateSenate President of the SenatePresident of the Senate Vice President Vice President

BidenBiden President Pro TemporePresident Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (D- Daniel Inouye (D-

HI)HI) Majority LeaderMajority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Harry Reid (D-NV) Minority LeaderMinority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Fun Facts!Fun Facts!

1929 Reapportionment Act: limits House 1929 Reapportionment Act: limits House to ALWAYS only having 435 members.to ALWAYS only having 435 members.

Gerrymandering: ILLEGAL- drawing up Gerrymandering: ILLEGAL- drawing up districts so that one political party or districts so that one political party or group has a significant advantage.group has a significant advantage.

GerrymanderingGerrymandering

Political Political

cartoon illustratingcartoon illustrating

gerrymandering ingerrymandering in

18121812

More GerrymanderingMore Gerrymandering

New YorkNew York

HouseOf

Reps

435 Members435 Districts

2 Year Term

25 years old7 years in USLive in DistrictYou represent

1929 Reapportionment

Act

100 Members-2 from each state

6 Year Term

30 years oldCitizen for 9 years

Live in state

Represent whole state

SenateCongressMakes the Laws

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress

Denied PowersDenied Powers Bill of Attainder– Congress cannot pass any Bill of Attainder– Congress cannot pass any

laws that would allow people to be punished laws that would allow people to be punished without a trialwithout a trial

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress

Denied PowersDenied Powers Ex Post Facto Law– Congress can not pass Ex Post Facto Law– Congress can not pass

a law that would impose a penalty on acts a law that would impose a penalty on acts that were not a crime at the time they were that were not a crime at the time they were committedcommitted

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress

Denied PowersDenied Powers Writ of Habeas Corpus—Congress cannot Writ of Habeas Corpus—Congress cannot

pass a law that keeps a person from pass a law that keeps a person from knowing what crime theyknowing what crime they’’ve been charged ve been charged with (a hearing before a judge).with (a hearing before a judge).

Congressional PowersCongressional Powers

Power to:Power to: Declare WarDeclare War Tax and Borrow MoneyTax and Borrow Money Regulate (control) Federal and Interstate Regulate (control) Federal and Interstate

Commerce (Trade)Commerce (Trade) NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE!!NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE!!

Constitution is a Constitution is a Living DocumentLiving Document, remember?, remember?

Impeachment PowersImpeachment Powers

Impeachment Is…the power to removeImpeachment Is…the power to remove "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors ““

ROLES in Impeachment ProcessROLES in Impeachment Process House of Reps- investigatorHouse of Reps- investigator

Senate- Jury in Impeachment Hearings- 2/3 vote neededSenate- Jury in Impeachment Hearings- 2/3 vote needed Chief Justice- Judge during hearingChief Justice- Judge during hearing

Presidents:Presidents: Andrew Johnson 17Andrew Johnson 17thth President(1865-1869) President(1865-1869) Bill Clinton 42Bill Clinton 42ndnd President (1993-2001) President (1993-2001)

QuickwriteQuickwrite

What issues would you want addressed What issues would you want addressed by your Representative(s)?by your Representative(s)?

What characteristics do you look for in a What characteristics do you look for in a Representative?Representative?