Section 1 = The Legislative BranchSection 2 = The Executive BranchSection 3 = The Judicial Branch

Unit 3 – Powers of Government

The Legislative Branch

Unit 3 Section 1

Terms and SessionsTerm LimitsCongressional LeadersRules of Conduct

Organization of Congress

Size Set by Congress Based off of state population

Terms2 years

Congressional DistrictsApportion = house seats are given to each stateState legislature determines state district

boundariesGerrymandering

Districts are sometimes drawn for political reasonsFavor one party over the other

House of Representatives

2000-2010 District Map

What is up with Sarpy County?

Gerrymandering

QualificationsAt least 25 years oldU.S. citizen for at least seven yearsLegal resident of the state they represent

Salary and Benefits$145,100 annuallyPay increase if re-electedLots of Benefits

SizeSet by the ConstitutionTwo members per state

Terms6 years

QualificationsAt least 30 years oldU.S. citizen for at least 9 yearsLegal resident of the state they represent

Salary$145,100 annuallySame benefits and legal protection as House members

Senate

Usually business people or lawyersAlmost everyone has a college degree

Most have advance degreesMost members are white

Male 40 years of age or older

Members of Congress

Congressional LeadersHouse of

RepresentativesSpeaker

(R or D)Floor Leader

(R and D)Majority leader

Assistant to the Speaker

Minority leaderParty’s chief

spokesperson

Party Whips(R and D)monitor/influence

how the party’s members vote on legislation

Vice PresidentBreaks tie votes

President pro temporeFormal head of the senatePerson in the majority party who has been in

the senate the longestMajority Floor Leader

Party’s chief spokespersonMinority Floor LeaderParty Whips

Senate Leadership

Judge members’ qualificationsCan refuse to seat the elected member

Judge members’ behaviorDiscipline members

CensureExpulsion

Conduct

The Committee System

Standing CommitteePermanentDeal with trade, foreign policy, or finances

19 in the House16 in the Senate

SubcommitteesDivision of standing committeesMore specialized

About 215 in Congress

Types

Select CommitteesDeal with special issues Focus on investigationsUsually temporary

Joint CommitteesMade from members of both House and SenateMore effective than having 2 separate groups

Conference CommitteesMade from members of both House and SenateTemporary – work out a compromise on

versions of bills passed by both houses

Powers of Congress

Powers given to the federal government by the Constitution to make laws in the following areas:1. Government finance2. Regulation of commerce3. National defense4. Law enforcement5. National sovereignty

Expressed Powers

Raise & collect taxesRegulate foreign & interstate commerceCoin & print moneyProvide & maintain military forcesAdmit new states into the unionDetermine punishment for treasonTo borrow moneyEstablish rules for becoming a citizenSet standard of weights & measuresEstablish post officesDeclare warEstablish military lawsCall up a national militiaGovern the District of Columbia

Stated by the ConstitutionGiven to the Senate, House, or sometimes both

1. Impeaching officials Bring federal officials trial House and Senate

2. Approving treaties Senate

3. Approving appointments Senate

4. Deciding elections House

Special Powers

To make all laws which are necessary and proper.

“Necessary and Proper Clause”Creation of a National BankCreation of Military AcademiesMost laws created since 1900

Implied Powers

How A Bill becomes A Law

1. Bill must be introduced to Congress and referred to a committee.

2. Sent to a subcommittee for consideration3. Must obtain committee approval to advance

to the floor

Referral to Committee

Committee or subcommittee hearings which are open to the public

Supporters and opponents of the bill can testifyInterest groups and ordinary people affected

by it can also testify

Hearings

After a bill is approved in a subcommittee, the exact phrasing is decidedVery time-consuming processInvolves lots of details

Bill needs to be passed in a full committee to move forward

Markup

House Floor is 1st to vote on the approval of a bill

Senate Floor is 2nd Filibuster = delay tactics to hold off a final vote

VotingRoll-call “individual” vote

Floor Consideration

Compromise between the House and Senate on a bill

Conference Committee

Sign the bill, which makes it lawVeto the billKeep the bill for 10 days without signing it.

If Congress is in session, the bill becomes a law without the President’s signature

Pocket VetoPresident keeps it for 10 days when Congress

is not in session and it does not become a law

Presidential Action