Three Branches of Government

1. Three Branches of Government

2. The National Legislature • The Legislative Branch – or Congress – is made of two bodies: • House of Representatives and Senate. • This means that Congress is bicameral – “bi” means two, and “cameral” means chamber.

9. The National Legislature • Why did the founding fathers develop two houses? • One reason was because it is what they were used to from the British government. • Second reason is they wanted as many “checks and balances” as possible.

10. The National Legislature • However, the third and most important reason was because it served as a compromise during the Constitutional Convention. • Remember – there was an argument as to how the states should be represented as votes. • Big states said it should be based on population – little states said it should be equal.

11. The National Legislature • The Great Compromise created two houses in Congress – HOR and Senate. • House of Representatives gets reps based on state population. • Senate gets two reps from each state regardless of population.

13. The National Legislature • Total – there are 435 members of the House of Representatives. • Total – there are 100 (50 states X 2 Senators from each state) members of the Senate. • How many total members of Congress are there?

14. The National Legislature • Congress meets for two-year terms – 1st Congress met on March 4, 1789. • The 112th Congress began on January 3, 2011 and ended on January 3, 2013. • The 113th Congress will meet on January 3, 2013, and will end on January 3, 2015.

15. The National Legislature • In each two-year term there are two sessions – one session per year. • When Congress begins a session it is called “convenes”, and it is called “adjourn” when it ends. • There are numerous “recess” periods in a session as well.

16. The National Legislature • The President of the United States may call a special session during an emergency or a critical issue comes up. • This has happened 27 times in our nations’ history. • In 1933 President Roosevelt called an emergency session to deal with Great Depression.

17. The National Legislature • President Roosevelt also called an emergency session in 1939. • The issue then was outbreak of war in Europe – the Nazis – and U.S. policy to sell weapons to England. • Many times the President “threatens” a special session to force Congress to compromise on an issue.

18. The National Legislature • summary

19. House and Senate • Remember there are 435 members – with the state’s population determining how many members per state. • Every state must have at least on seat – or member. • Every 10 years, the HOR is reapportioned to recalculate how many members per state – never goes above 435 total though.

21. House and Senate • During the 1st Congress in 1789 there were 65 members in the House. • Every member in the House serves two-year terms. • This makes each member highly accountable for their actions and votes – always an election year upcoming.

22. House and Senate • There are no limits on how many times a member can be elected. • The election is always held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November on even numbered years. • Each member in the House represents their district from their state.

23. House and Senate • Because there are 435 members in the House, that means there are 435 districts in the U.S. • Districts are created very carefully – they have boundaries and borders. • Districts have to be near equal in total population.

25. House and Senate • Districts also have to be one piece – not bunches of pieces. • Every 10 years districts boundaries are re-drawn. • These rules lead to all different types of district shapes and sizes.

26. House and Senate • Re-drawing districts also brings “gerrymandering” into play. • Gerrymandering is named after former Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812. • Political parties in control of the state governments “gerrymander” district boundaries.

27. House and Senate • They re-form the districts with a strategy in mind to try to keep their members in office. • Gerrymandering is the reason why we see REALLY strange district shapes. • Arizona’s 2nd district is a great example of gerrymandering.

29. House and Senate • Anyone can become a House of Representatives member – you need to meet these simple requirements: • Minimum age of 25 years. • Minimum 7 years as U.S. Citizen. • Live in the state in which you represent. *However, other members of the House can reject you, punish you, or expel you based on a majority vote.

30. House and Senate • It is extremely expensive to run a campaign in order to become a member of the House. • The average cost of a campaign is $1 million. • Also, once you are in, it is very hard to lose an election – 90% of the incumbents – or current members – lose an election.

31. House and Senate • There are 100 total members of the Senate – 50 states X 2 per state = 100. • The Senate is viewed as more esteemed and more important than the House. • Before 1913, Senators were chosen by the state governments – since 1913 they are voted in by the citizens.

32. House and Senate • Senators are elected during the same elections as House members in November. • Each state can have only one Senate seat up for election at a time. • This means that only 1/3 of the Senate is up for election at once.

33. House and Senate • Senators serve 6-year terms and there is no limit on how many times they can be elected. • The Senate was set up this way to counter the knee-jerk reactions of the House. • Senators have a “cushion” of 6 years and are able to look at the “bigger picture” of an issue.

34. House and Senate • Senators must be: • 30 years old. • A U.S. Citizen for at least 9-years. • Live in the state in which they serve.

35. House and Senate • Just like the House, it is very expensive to run a campaign to become a Senator – millions of dollars. • Incumbents win most elections – part of this is credited to name recognition. • Also, just like the House, an elected Senator can be rejected by 2/3 majority vote, or expelled.

37. House and Senate • summary

38. Members of Congress • Who are the members of Congress – where do they come from, and what are they like? • The average members is male, white and in his 50s. • Of the 535 members, 95 are women, 42 African-American, 25 Spanish, 7 Asian.

39. Members of Congress • 1/3 of the House members are lawyers, ½ of the Senate members are lawyers. • Almost all 535 members have advanced degrees – meaning higher then a bachelors. • Several members are millionaires, and 1/3 of Senators were once House members.

40. Members of Congress • In other words, the Legislative Branch (Congress) is not an accurate cross section of the American population. • Instead they represent the upper-middle class population. • Some people feel this makes Congress “out of touch” with “normal” Americans.

41. Members of Congress • Senators and House members both receive $174,000 salary per year. • However, there are also other fringe benefits they receive as well. • They receive breaks on taxes because they are forced to own two homes.

42. Members of Congress • They also receive travel allowances – or money to travel with. • Congressional members also receive full medical benefits for themselves and their families at reduced prices. • When they retire, they also receive a pension – or yearly income until they die.

43. Members of Congress • Other benefits include “operating costs” to hire workers to run their offices. • They receive a franking privilege – allowed to use the postal service free of charge. • They also receive free parking on Capitol Hill and free airport parking.

44. Members of Congress • But, all of these benefits come with a heavy burden on representing thousands of people. • Members are required to use their votes to make decisions for our country. • In this role, members choose their vote in a variety of ways.

45. Members of Congress • Some members choose to vote as delegates – based on what they believe their people want. • Some members choose to vote as trustees – or base their decisions on their own morals and values. • Some members choose their vote as partisans – or base their choice on what the rest of their party does.

46. Members of Congress • summary

47. How a Bill Becomes a Law • To become a law, a proposed bill usually starts in the House of Representatives. • A bill can be introduced in a variety of ways – citizens demands, President recommendation, Congressional idea. • Each proposed bill is turned into the clerk and given a title and a number.

48. How a Bill Becomes a Law • For example, “H.R. 3,410: A bill to provide…” • After it is given a number and a title, the bill is entered into the House Journal and the Congressional Record. • The Speaker of the House reads the bill and refers it to the correct standing committee.

49. How a Bill Becomes a Law • Every member in Congress serves in a committee – a small group that is responsible for certain functions of our country. • There are dozens of committees, such as transportation, natural resources, foreign policy, and oversight. • That committee researches the bill to determine its worth.

50. How a Bill Becomes a Law • After the committee is done researching the bill they report their information back to the House. • They could recommend that the bill be passed, recommend it be denied, or change the wording to make it better. • After the bill is reported the House Rules Committee schedules time for debate on the floor.