am government review: legislative branch / congress housesenatepowerscommitteesbills/laws 10 20 30...
TRANSCRIPT
Am Government Review: Legislative Branch / Congress
House Senate Powers Committees Bills/Laws
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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