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Congress

6. Congress. Scott J. Ferrell/ Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images. 6. Learning Objectives. Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution. 6.1.

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Congress

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  1. 6 Congress Scott J. Ferrell/ Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

  2. 6 LearningObjectives Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution. 6.1 Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection. 6.2

  3. 6 LearningObjectives Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress. 6.3 Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress. 6.4

  4. 6 LearningObjectives Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions. 6.5 Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, the courts, and the people. 6.6

  5. Roots of the U.S. Congress 6.1 • Bicameral legislature • House • Representatives based on population • Two-year term • Senate • Two from each state • Six-year term

  6. 6.1 How long are members' terms? Steve Jacobs/The Post-Star/AP Images

  7. 6.1 TABLE 6.1 What are the powers of Congress?

  8. Eligibility and Apportionment Members of the House Twenty-five years old and a citizen for at least seven years Senators Thirty years old and a citizen for at least nine years Census Conducted every ten years 6.1

  9. Key Powers Make laws Both House and Senate must pass bills. Raise and spend revenue Impeachment Other powers "as necessary and proper" to carry out the functions of Congress 6.1

  10. TABLE 6.2 What are the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate? 6.1 continued on next slide

  11. TABLE 6.2 What are the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate? 6.1

  12. 6.1 6.1According to the Constitution, where must all revenue bills originate? • Executive Branch • Senate • House of Representatives • A joint committee of the House and Senate

  13. 6.1 6.1According to the Constitution, where must all revenue bills originate? • Executive Branch • Senate • House of Representatives • A joint committee of the House and Senate

  14. The Members of Congress 6.2 • Congressional Demographics • Running for and Staying in Office • Incumbency • Redistricting

  15. TABLE 6.3 What is a Typical Day like for a Member of Congress? 6.2

  16. Congressional Demographics Better educated than general population Two-thirds of members hold advanced degrees Wealthier than general population Senate "Millionaires Club" Recent increases in minority representation 6.2

  17. Running for and Staying in Office 6.2 • Political party membership • Republican or Democrat • Incumbency

  18. 6.2 Who are the nonvoting members representing Washington, D.C.? The Washington Post/Getty Images

  19. 6.2 TABLE 6.4 What are the advantages to incumbency?

  20. Redistricting Follows census State Legislatures redraw districts Often political in nature Party in power controls the process Gerrymandering Drawing a district to favor a party or candidate 6.2

  21. 6.2 FIGURE 6.1 What is Gerrymandering? Bettmann/Corbis

  22. 6.2 6.2Responsibility for redistricting most often belongs to: • Congress • State legislatures • Political parties • Independent commissions

  23. 6.2 6.2Responsibility for redistricting most often belongs to: • Congress • State legislatures • Political parties • Independent commissions

  24. How Congress Is Organized 6.3 • Leadership in the House of Representatives • Leadership in the Senate • The Committee System

  25. 6.3 FIGURE 6.2 How are the House of Representatives and the Senate Organized?

  26. Leadership in the House of Representatives 6.3 • Speaker of the House • Most powerful position in the House • Leadership Teams • Majority Leader • Minority Leader • Whips

  27. FIGURE 6.3 What is the partisan composition of the 114th Congress? 6.3

  28. 6.3 Who was the first female speaker of the House? The White House

  29. Leadership in the Senate 6.3 • Presiding Officer • Majority Leader • Leadership Teams

  30. The Committee System 6.3 • Types of committees • Standing committees • Joint committees • Conference committees • Select (or special) committees • Committee chairs • Committee membership

  31. 6.3 TABLE 6.5 What were the committees of the 113th Congress?

  32. 6.3 TABLE 6.5 What were the committees of the 113th Congress?

  33. 6.3 6.3Which committees are responsible for hammering out differences in House and Senate bills? • Standing committees • Joint committees • Special committees • Conference committees

  34. 6.3 6.3Which committees are responsible for hammering out differences in House and Senate bills? • Standing committees • Joint committees • Special committees • Conference committees

  35. Powers of Congress 6.4 • The Law-making Function • The Budgetary Function • The Oversight Function

  36. The Law-making Function Committee Referral Floor Debate Final Approval 6.4

  37. 6.4 FIGURE 6.4 How does a bill become a law?

  38. 6.4 What is the president's role in lawmaking? J. Scott Applewhite/AP Images

  39. The Budgetary Function 6.4 • Congressional Budget Act of 1974 • Establishes levels of spending • Reconciliation process to limit debates • Pork and Programmatic Requests

  40. 6.4 TABLE 6.6 What is the timeline for the congressional budgetary process?

  41. The Oversight Function 6.4 • The War Powers Resolution • Congressional Review • Confirmation of Presidential Appointees • Impeachment

  42. War Powers Resolution 6.4 • Passed over President Nixon's veto • Requires Congressional approval to commit troops • Limits power of president as commander in chief

  43. Congressional ReviewConfirmation of Presidential Appointees 6.4 • Congressional review allows Congress to overrule regulations for federal agencies. • Senate confirms Supreme Court, federal district court, and Cabinet nominations.

  44. Impeachment 6.4 • Power to remove official from office • House votes to impeach • Senate conducts trial

  45. 6.4 On what issues does Congress conduct oversight hearings? Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images

  46. 6.4 6.4Which of these is among Congress's oversight authority? • Impeachment • Congressional review • Senate confirmations • All of the above

  47. 6.4 6.4Which of these is among Congress's oversight authority? • Impeachment • Congressional review • Senate confirmations • All of the above

  48. How Members of Congress Make Decisions 6.5 • Political Parties • Constituents • Colleagues and Caucuses • Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and Political Action Committees • Staff and Support Agencies

  49. Political Parties Influence of political parties on the passage of legislation Divided government Different political parties control presidency and Congress Unified government Same political party controls presidency and Congress 6.5

  50. Constituents 6.5 • People who live, work and vote in a member's district • Wedge issues

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