Chapter 5CONGRESS

Essential Question and Objectives

Essential Question:What is the basic structure an organization of Congress as

it represents the interests of the voters? Objective of Chapter 5:

You will analyze the structures, functions, and processes of the legislative branch as described in Article I of the Constitution.

You will examine constitutional powers (expressed, implied, concurrent, reserved.

Congress

James Madison said that Congress is

the “first branch of this government.” In 1787, most delegates to the Constitutional

Convention agreed that a bicameral legislature was best.

The model for Congress followed that of English Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Section 1: Congressional MEMBERSHIP

Founders did not intend for to make Congress members an over privileged group, but they intended to give Congress more power than the other branches.

Congress is:a bicameral legislature-

Made up of two houses- House and Senate.

Congress Gym, Perks for Life

Section 1: Congressional MEMBERSHIP

Congressional Terms: term begins Jan. 3 in years ending in odd numbers each term is two sessions (each session lasts one year

including holidays and vacations) Congress remains in session until its members vote to

adjourn/recess. If Congress does adjourn, the president calls it back for a

special session if needed.

Membership of the House of Representative

The House has 435 members, larger than the Senate. Each state is entitled to at least one seat in the House. Member are elected to a two year term. Elections are held in November of even-numbered years

Elected representatives begin their term of office on January 3, following November elections.

Members run for reelection every two years, 90% are reelected allowing for the continuity of the House.

Qualifications for House

Must be at least 25 years old Be citizens of the United States for at least seven years Be legal residents of the states that elect them Live in the district they represent

Representation and Reapportionment

Representation is based on the population of each state. In order to assign representation, the Census Bureau counts

the population every 10 years. Reapportionment:

The process by which a state’s population determines the number of representative it will have for the next 10 years.

States may lose or gain RepresentativesE. g. Florida went from 25 to 27 in 2010

Congressional Redistricting

Redistricting: it is the process of setting up districts lines after reappointment has been completed. States that lose or gain must redistrict. New map of the state Congress must approve it

Two ways a state abuse redistricting power

1. by creating congressional districts of very unequal populations

2. Gerrymandering: drawing districts lines to give one party an electoral advantage. E. g. "Packing" and "Cracking." Congress has ruled districts must be compact and contiguous,

or physically adjoining. One person, one vote ruling has also contributed to cutting down on gerrymandering,

Membership of the Senate

Senators must be at least 30 years old Be citizens of the US for 9 years before elections Be residents of the state they represent Voters of each state elect senators at-large, or statewide

no particular district Senate elections are held in November during even-numbered years

terms begins on January 3 The Constitution allows for a six year terms providing Senate continuity

Most Senators win reelections 1/3 up for reelection every two years

Salary and benefits

The Senate and the House set their own salaries. To keep congress from continually setting salary increases, the 27th Amendment,

proposed by James Madison in 1789, was approved in 1992. It states that a pay raise made by congress would only take effect after the next

election. Adjust annually to match the cost of living. Benefits:

allowances to pay for staff, trips, and newsletters, income tax reductions, upon retirement, may be eligible for pensions of $150,000 or more per year for

life Restriction: no honoraria--no pay for speeches

Members of Congress

535 members: 435 House 100 Senate

Page 129, a look at the make-up. In addition:

4 delegates in the House--1 from the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, an the Virgin

Islandsand the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico none of these can vote

Members of Congress

ReelectionIncumbent: Currently in office

Reelected overwhelmingly, why?reelected because they raise campaign funds

through contacts made while in officemany districts have been gerrymandered

Online campaigning growing Obama 2008 set the bar.

You decide:Did Adam Clayton deserve back pay and restoration of his seniority?

Section 2: Lesson Objective

Describe the rules and procedures used in the House and explain the House's role in the lawmaking process.

Section 2: The House Rules for Lawmaking

Main task of each house is to make laws. Complex Rules: each chamber has rules for conducting business.

House and Senate print rules every two years.house rules aim to define actions of representatives

E. g. limiting speaking time for representatives to 5 minutesHouse rules help speed up legislation once it reaches the

floorHouse Representatives have more powers than those in the

Senate they can make decisions on legislative work without

consulting other House members

Committee Work

Committee work: where Congress performs legislative activitiesMost decisions done here

due to the Membership sizemust organize into groups, committees

they study and shape billsspecialize in issues important to their constituents

Work for their constituents, people in the district they representE. g. while serving in the house, Major R. Owens, an African

American supported funding for African American colleges.

Importance of Party Affiliation

Congress proceedings are organized around one political partyin both the House and Senate, Republicans sit on the

right and Democrats on the leftin each house, the majority party selects leaders to

control legislative work and appoints chairs of all committees.

Six goals of House Leadership

Leaders of the House coordinate the work of all 435 members:

1. organize and unify party members

2. schedule work

3. assure lawmakers presence during key floor votes

4. distribute and collect information

5. keep House in touch with President

6. influence lawmakers to support their party's position

House Leadership

The Constitution only makes provision for presiding officers the rest are chosen by the House Speaker of the House

Presiding officer and most powerful leaderChosen at the beginning of each session by a caucus/closed

meeting of the majority party, the House approves him/herSpeaker appoints some committee members, schedules bills,

refers bills, is third in the line of succession to the presidency of US

House Leadership

Majority Leader: a party official, assistant to the Speaker, steers important bills through the House, ensure that chairpersons of committees work on bills important the party.

Majority Whip: Assistant to the majority leader--keeps an watch on bill votes, influences majority party members.

Minority party selects their own leaders and whips and have the parallel duties except they have no power over scheduling work in the House.

Function of the Rules Committees

Rules Committee: rule--special order--major bills that reach the floor of the House. they can block or delay bills they also settle disputes amongst House committees

Quorum for Business: quorum: is the minimum number of members needed for official

legislative action.regular session 218to debate and amend legislation, 100 member sitting as the Committee

of the Whole, but cannot pass a bill until meeting of the full House

How House Bills Are Scheduled

Laws begin as bills both houses of Congress pass it the president signs it When a bills is introduced Speaker sends it to appropriate committee only 10% to 20% go to the full House for a vote surviving bills are added to the House calendar

How House Bills Are Scheduled cont.

House has 5 calendar:3 list different kinds of bills up for consideration

The Union Calendar lists $money issues The Private Calendar lists bills dealing with people

and places Consent Calendar--lists bills out of regular order Discharge Calendar-- petitions to dismiss a bill

from a committee

Lesson objectiveSection 3: The Senate

Lesson Objective: Contrast the Senate's leadership and role in the lawmaking process with those of the House of Representative.

Section 3: The Senate

• Senate is smaller than the House  • Leadership • It has no Speaker • Vice President, President of the Senate, only votes

to Break a tie. Devotes more times to executive duties. • President Pro Tempore presides in his absence,

elected by from the majority party

Section 3: The Senate

• Leadership • Most important officers:  • Majority Leaders: • steer party’s bills through Senate, by planning the work

schedule working with minority leaders • Minority Leaders: critiques the majority party’s bills and

keeps his/her own party unified • Whips: detailed work that support leaders • key work—concern with legislators’ votes

The Senate at Work

Senates rules: allows unlimited debate on any billFilibuster: extend debate to prevents a bill from

coming to a voteIt can be stopped by a vote for cloture

Cloture: limits the debate by allowing each senator only one hour for speaking on a bill60 senators must vote for cloture and end a

Filibuster

Lesson ObjectiveSection 4: Committees

Objective: Identify kinds of committees and why members serve on them.

Section 4: Committees

Purpose: to consider thousands of bills proposed each session, allow members of Congress to work in smaller groups, hold investigations to assist the public in learning national issues.E. g. organized crimes, prescription drugs, hunger, airline

safety…

Kinds of Committees

Standing Committees: Permanent groups to oversee bills pertaining to specific issues.Subcommittees: Specialize in a topic

Select Committees: Temporary, study an issue and report to Senate.

Joint Committees: temporary or permanent, study group, report back to House and Senate members

Conference Committees: temporary committee, iron out different Bills from the two houses.

Committee Members

Seniority system--in the past, the majority party member with the longest uninterrupted service on a committee is appointed leader of that committee.

Committee Chairs very powerful Assigned to committees by leaders

Lesson Objective Section 5: Staff and Support

Objective: Explain how staff members and support agencies participate in the legislative process.

Section 5: Staff and Support Aggencies

Lawmakers in Congress have many resources to meet their obligations E. g. agencies such as the Library of Congress

Lawmakers key resource is trained staff staff members research issues on committee's agenda

E. g. Senator Weicker of Connecticut and the issue on aviation saf transport for animals

help lawmakers get publicity get reelected run committee hearings draft new bills write speeches

Section 5: Staff and Support

Following the Legislative Reorganization Act, 1946 staffers numbers increased exponentially

Two types of staff: Personal Staff: work directly with senators and representatives

Administrative Assistants/AA: runs lawmakers office Legislative Assistants/LAs: inform lawmakers on bills Caseworkers: burrow from social services field, handle request from

constituents Committee Staff: work for House and Senate committees

Support Agencies

Library of Congress largest in the world, E. g. copyright law

Congressional Budget Office, CBO study budget proposal put forward by the president each year

Government Accountability Office Watch over the expenditure of funds (watchdog)

Government Printing Office largest in the entire federal government

daily records of bills introduced government expenditure, elections, agricultural

Where to Submit Final Project Paper and Get Report