Legislative BranchLegislationPoliticsInterest Groups

Essential Questions

•How does the structure of the legislative branch impact the creation of effective legislation?

•In what ways are political parties important in the United States government?

•Are interest groups good for democracy?

Structure of the Legislative Branch• EQ: How does the structure of the legislative

branch impact the creation of effective legislation?▫Legislation Process- How does a bill become a law?▫Article I

Requirements for serving Reserved Powers Clause Elastic Clause Supremacy Clause Bicameral Legislature

▫Connecticut Compromise▫Structure of Congress

Structure of the Legislative Branch

•Legislation Process:▫Contact representative▫Introduction of bill▫Committee hearing▫Floor debate▫Repeat process in other house▫Conference committee (if necessary)▫Presidential approval or veto▫Override veto (2/3 of both houses)

Structure of the Legislative Branch•Requirements for serving

▫House of Representatives 25 years old Citizen of the United States for 7 years Resident of the state

▫Senate 30 years old Citizen of the United States for 9 years Resident of the state

Structure of the Legislative Branch•Reserved Powers Clause: “The powers

not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”▫Federalism▫Spending power

Structure of the Legislative Branch•Elastic Clause aka The Necessary and

Proper Clause• “The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws

which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer there of.”

•Implied powers•Has led to a gradual expansion of the power

of Congress and the federal government

Structure of the Legislative Branch•Supremacy Clause

▫“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”

Bicameral Legislature

•Two houses of Congress- WHY?▫Connecticut Compromise▫England did it▫States did it▫Check on power

Politics

•EQ: In what ways are political parties important in the United States government?▫Political parties: Republican, Democrat,

Third Parties▫Political Spectrum- liberal, conservative,

moderate▫Elections▫Incumbency▫Bipartisanship▫Political Identity

Politics

•Republicans- more conservative•Democrats- more liberal•Third parties

▫Ideological parties (Socialist, Libertarian)▫Single-issue parties (“Know Nothings,”

Marijuana, The Rent is Too Damn High)▫Splinter parties- (Bull Moose Party , Tea

Party?) Spoiler Role Brings issue to prominence

Politics

•Political Parties- what do they do?•#1 Goal- to control government by

winning elections•What do they do?

▫Nominate candidates▫Informing and activating voters▫Partisan governing ▫Watch over members▫Watch over other party

Politics

•Liberal-Moderate-Conservative▫Social Issues (abortion, gay rights, gun

control)▫Economic Issues (taxes, regulation)▫Foreign Policy (United Nations,

Guantanamo Bay)

Politics

•Incumbent- the current holder of political office▫Advantages:

Name recognition No primary election In House of Representatives, over 80%

reelection rate, which often rises over 90%

Politics

•Bipartisanship- the two parties finding common ground (fancy word for compromise)▫Do you want your representatives to

compromise?

Interest Groups

•EQ: Are interest groups good for democracy?▫Interest groups▫Public policy▫PACs▫Lobbying/lobbyists▫Campaign contributions▫Grass roots movements

Interest groups

•Share a common interest•Use collective influence and $$$•Usually focus on one issue

Interest GroupsPositive Negative

• Interest in public affairs• Raise awareness• Connects like-minded

people• Knowledge of the issue• A way for citizens to get

involved• Watch over elected

officials

• Push their own interest at the expense of others

• Some have a huge influence

• Could be a few people with lots of money

• Bribery• Threats of revenge

Interest Groups

•Public policy= government action▫Interest groups seek to influence public

policy▫Politicians seek to determine public policy▫We are all affected by public policy.

Interest Groups

•PAC- Political Action Committee▫Organization created to raise and spend

money to elect or defeat candidates▫Federal Election Committee limits the

amount of money that they can spend to support a candidate, but not the amount that can be spent to defeat a candidate.

Interest Groups

•Lobbying▫Trying to influence decisions made by

people in the government.▫Many interest groups and large companies

hire lobbyists

Interest Groups

•Grass roots movement▫Driven by the needs of the community▫Natural, spontaneous▫Started by people, not traditional power

brokers

▫Occupy Wall Street