Legislative Branch: U.S. Legislative Branch: U.S. CONGRESSCONGRESS

Duty of the Legislative Branch is to make laws.Duty of the Legislative Branch is to make laws.

We call our national legislature CONGRESSWe call our national legislature CONGRESS

Congress is located in Washington D.C.Congress is located in Washington D.C.

Our current Congress is the 111Our current Congress is the 111 thth Congress (We Congress (We started numbering them from the first Congress started numbering them from the first Congress in 1790!)in 1790!)

Congress is BI-CAMERAL: meaning 2 housesCongress is BI-CAMERAL: meaning 2 houses

The two houses are: The House of The two houses are: The House of Representatives and The SenateRepresentatives and The Senate

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

► ► Referred to as the “Lower House”Referred to as the “Lower House”

► ► 435 Members435 Members

► ► 2 year terms2 year terms

► ► Elections: First Tuesday following the first Elections: First Tuesday following the first Monday in November every even numbered Monday in November every even numbered year year

► ► Qualifications: At least 25 years old, U.S. Qualifications: At least 25 years old, U.S. Citizen for 7 years, Resident of stateCitizen for 7 years, Resident of state

Legislative Branch:Legislative Branch:SenateSenate

Referred to as the “upper house”Referred to as the “upper house”100 Senators100 Senators6 year terms—1/3 of the Senate elected 6 year terms—1/3 of the Senate elected every two yearsevery two yearsElections: First Tuesday after the first Elections: First Tuesday after the first Monday in November every even Monday in November every even numbered yearnumbered yearQualifications: 30 years old, U.S. citizen Qualifications: 30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, resident of statefor 9 years, resident of state

Duties of the Legislative BranchDuties of the Legislative Branch

TO MAKE LAWSTO MAKE LAWSSpecific Duties:Specific Duties:

House: Impeachment duty: bring the House: Impeachment duty: bring the chargescharges

Electoral College: If candidate does not get Electoral College: If candidate does not get 271 electoral college votes needed, it goes 271 electoral college votes needed, it goes to a vote in the Houseto a vote in the House

Senate: Impeachment duty: try the chargesSenate: Impeachment duty: try the chargesAppointment power: approve appointments Appointment power: approve appointments

of the President (Supreme Court, Cabinet)of the President (Supreme Court, Cabinet)

Profile of the 111Profile of the 111thth Congress CongressParty:Party: House: 233 Democrat, 202 House: 233 Democrat, 202 RepublicanRepublican

Senate: 57 Democrats, 2 Independents, 41 Senate: 57 Democrats, 2 Independents, 41 RepublicansRepublicansRaceRace:: House: 369 Caucasian, 66 House: 369 Caucasian, 66 minority (42 AA, 24 Hispanic)minority (42 AA, 24 Hispanic)

Senate: 97 Caucasian, 3 minority (1 AA)Senate: 97 Caucasian, 3 minority (1 AA)GenderGender: House: 77 women, 362 men: House: 77 women, 362 men

Senate: 17 women, 84 menSenate: 17 women, 84 menhttp://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/minority_senators.htm

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Number per state: depends on populationNumber per state: depends on population100% elected every two years100% elected every two yearsDirect Vote of the people: Direct Vote of the people: single member single member districtsdistrictsPresiding officer: Speaker of the House—Nancy Presiding officer: Speaker of the House—Nancy PelosiPelosiSize of Constituency: (Constituents are the Size of Constituency: (Constituents are the people represented): district of the statepeople represented): district of the stateSalary: $165,200Salary: $165,200Established in Article I of the U.S. ConstitutionEstablished in Article I of the U.S. Constitution

Chicago/Suburbs:Chicago/Suburbs:

Melissa Bean—D Melissa Bean—D Mark Kirk—R Mark Kirk—R

88thth Congressional District Congressional District 10 10thth Congressional District Congressional District

http://www.house.gov

www.firstgov.gov

The SenateThe Senate

2 per state2 per state33% elected every two years33% elected every two yearsDirect vote by the peopleDirect vote by the peoplePresiding Officer: Vice-President of the Presiding Officer: Vice-President of the United States—Joe BidenUnited States—Joe BidenSize of Constituency: entire stateSize of Constituency: entire stateSalary: $165, 200Salary: $165, 200Established in Article I of U.S. Established in Article I of U.S. ConstitutionConstitution

IL Senators:IL Senators:

Dick Durbin—D Dick Durbin—D Roland Burris—Roland Burris—D D

Roles a congressperson plays:Roles a congressperson plays:

Trustees:Trustees: Believe that each question and Believe that each question and decision they face must be decided on its merit. decision they face must be decided on its merit. They use their own conscience and judgement They use their own conscience and judgement to make their decision.to make their decision.Delegate:Delegate: See themselves as agents of those See themselves as agents of those who elected them (their constituents) They need who elected them (their constituents) They need to vote on how “the folks back home” would wantto vote on how “the folks back home” would wantPartisans:Partisans: Lawmakers who owe their first Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political partyallegiance to their political partyPoliticos:Politicos: Combine all three: vote on what Combine all three: vote on what they think is right, what their constituents want, they think is right, what their constituents want, and considering where their party standsand considering where their party stands

Review basics:Review basics:

U.S. National Legislature is called?U.S. National Legislature is called?It is a _________________ legislatureIt is a _________________ legislatureWe are currently in the _______CongressWe are currently in the _______CongressCongress convenes: Congress convenes: TOTAL members of Congress:TOTAL members of Congress:IL has how many representative? IL has how many representative? Senators?Senators?Who are YOUR reps and senators?Who are YOUR reps and senators?

Review of Terms:Review of Terms:

Constituents:Constituents:Gerrymandering: See CartoonGerrymandering: See CartoonStrict Constructionists: Interpret the U.S. Strict Constructionists: Interpret the U.S. Constitution very literally—Congress should only Constitution very literally—Congress should only be able to use expressed powers (things be able to use expressed powers (things specifically listed in Constitution) Tend to be specifically listed in Constitution) Tend to be more Republicansmore RepublicansLiberal Constructionists: a broad construction of Liberal Constructionists: a broad construction of the powers given to Congress—utilize implied the powers given to Congress—utilize implied powers. Tend to be Democratspowers. Tend to be Democrats

Powers of CongressPowers of Congress

EXPRESSED: power to tax, borrow money, EXPRESSED: power to tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, declare warregulate commerce, coin money, declare warIMPLIED: Necessary and Proper Clause: IMPLIED: Necessary and Proper Clause: minimum wage laws, interstate highways, Social minimum wage laws, interstate highways, Social Security, discrimination lawsSecurity, discrimination lawsNONLEGISLATIVE duties: proposing NONLEGISLATIVE duties: proposing amendments, electoral duties (House—electoral amendments, electoral duties (House—electoral college) impeachment, appointments, college) impeachment, appointments, investigatory power (baseball-steroids)investigatory power (baseball-steroids)Things Congress CANNOT do: violate Bill of Things Congress CANNOT do: violate Bill of Rights, ex post facto law, suspend habeas Rights, ex post facto law, suspend habeas corpus, corpus,

How does Congress Work?How does Congress Work?

It is organized! See leadership handout.It is organized! See leadership handout.Bulk work of Congress is done in:Bulk work of Congress is done in:

COMMITTEES! Standing committees and joint COMMITTEES! Standing committees and joint committees. committees.

Ex’s: Agriculture, Budget, Education, Health, Ex’s: Agriculture, Budget, Education, Health, Homeland Security, Science, Veterans AffairsHomeland Security, Science, Veterans Affairs

Joint: Taxation, EconomicJoint: Taxation, Economic

Chairman and membership of committees is Chairman and membership of committees is based on the seniority rule custom.based on the seniority rule custom.

Main Role of Congress: To Make Laws Main Role of Congress: To Make Laws