Congress Organization

House• Presiding Officer & Party Leader:Speaker of the House:• Rep. John Boehner• Elected by the whole of the House of Representatives• second in line to succeed the President, after the Vice

President.

• Majority LeaderRep. Eric Cantor• Represents

Republicans on the House floor.

• Majority WhipRep. Kevin McCarthy• Assists leadership in

managing party's legislative program

• Minority Leader:Rep. Nancy Pelosi• Represents

Democrats on the House floor

• Minority WhipRep. Steny Hoyer• Assists leadership in

managing party's legislative program

House of Representatives

Special Powers of the House of Representatives All money (appropriations) bills start here Select the President in an Electoral College tie Write the article of impeachment against high

ranking officials

Senate• Presiding Officers:

# 1 President of the Senate=Vice PresidentBiden, Joseph R., Jr# 2 President Pro Tempore Inouye, Daniel K. (D-HI),

My job is to be the deciding vote in ties.

The P.P.T. is responsible for being the leader in the Vice President’s absence

Party Officers

Majority Leader

• Reid, Harry (D-NV)Majority Whip

• Durbin, Richard J. (D-IL)

Minority Leader

• McConnell, Mitch (R-KYMinority Whip

• Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)

Leaders

• Spokesperson for political party

Whips

• Round up congressmen and women for votes

• Serve in leaders absence

Senate

Special Powers Approves all treaties Approves all appointment Chooses the Vice President in an Electoral

College tie Acts as the jury in all trials of impeachment

Powers of Congress

Raise and maintain armed forces Decide how citizens from other nations can become US

citizens Mint money Set up a court system Borrow money Declare war Set up a mail system Impose taxes

Makes laws necessary to carry out expressed powers Regulate foreign and interstate trade

Regulating Driving• Issuing driver’s licenses is a power reserved to the States, and

every State has its own set of rules and requirements. Most States require a written, on-road, and vision test. However, the age at which teenagers can get a license and the rules new drivers must follow vary from State to State. Thus, in California, drivers under 20 must be accompanied by someone age 25 or older between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM. In Massachusetts, a teenager cannot get a driver’s license until age-16-and-a-half, at which point the new driver is given a restricted Junior’s Operator’s License until age 18.

• Under which of the basic principles do the reserved powers fall?

Powers of States…• Establish public schools• Issue licenses• Enact land use laws• Regulate public facilities• Protect and promote public health• Public safety• General welfare

Powers denied to States…• Cannot enter into a treaty, alliance, or confederation• Cannot print money• Cannot deny anyone life, liberty, or property without due

process of law• Cannot tax agencies or function of the National Government

Review :HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW• Create a graphic organizer to display the steps from HOW A

BILL BECOMES A LAW.• MUST BE CREATIVE AND ORIGINAL• Must be organized and neat• Steps to Include:• Title• Illustrations[.