The Legislative Branch

1. The Legislative Branch Unit 5

2. The National Legislature Unit 5, Notes 1

3. What does Congress Do? • We live in a ____________________ democracy • That means we have __________ who actually do the day to day work of __________________ FOR us • This is _____________ – their job is to _____________ public will into public policy • The __________ in the ___________________ about Congress is the first and longest • Goes into more __________ about powers of Congress

4. Bicameral Congress • Made of ______ houses: __________ and House of Representatives • Set up this way for 3 reasons • ___________ - British __________________ had two houses, that is what the Framer’s ________ • Most ___________ used it 2) _____________ - Two houses _________ the conflict over representation that ____________ between large and small states • Senate = __________ representation • House of Reps = based on __________________

5. Bicameral Congress, Cont. • Theoretical – ________ house can act as a _________ to the other • To help ___________ the power of the legislative branch • Ex. If Bill passes in __________ it must then pass in _________, vice versa

6. Terms and Sessions • Each __________ of Congress lasts for _________ years • Starts in ____________ of every odd-numbered ________, and is numbered consecutively • Changed by _______ Amendment so that Congress would start in January instead to __________ • Elections held _________ numbered years in __________ • We are currently in the __________ Congress

7. Terms and Sessions, Cont. • A ___________ of Congress is a __________ each year when Congress is convened in Washington and is doing its work • There are ___________ sessions each term – _____ per year • Congress adjourns (breaks) a ________ times per _________ • Special Session • Only the ________________ has the power to call a special session • This is a meeting to _________ with an emergency ____________ • They are ________ when Congress is currently ______________

8. The House of Representatives Unit 5, Notes 2

9. Size and Terms • ______________ states that House seats shall be apportioned (distributed) among states on the basis of ____________ populations • Each state _________________ at least one seat no _________ population size • _______ also gets 1 ____________________ • ________ chosen every ________ years • So next __________ always _______ • Makes reps. pay more ____________ to people from their state and their _________ and needs • No _________ on ___________ of terms served

10. Reapportionment • _____________ to Constitution Congress must _______________ seats in House every 10 years • 1st ________________ had ____ seats • As population grew ________ seats needed to be added to ________ for more people in _________ • By 1930 Congress had problem – House had grown ________ large to have ___________ action • Passed _________________ Act of 1929 – Set up “____________ reapportionment” 1) ________________ size of House _______ 2) After each __________, The Census Bureau should determine number of _________ each state should have 3) When Bureau’s plan _________, President sends it to ____________ 4) If in ______ days neither house of Congress _______ plan, it goes into ________

11. Districts • The ______ members of House are chosen in ________ congressional districts • State legislatures responsible for __________ congressional _________ within state • All districts must be all ________ piece • Try to get as _________ number of people in each _________ as possible • But some states didn’t do this = __________________ • Drawn to _______________ of particular party that ___________ state legislature • Main goal to create as many “________” districts as possible – districts almost ___________ to be won by party in control of ____________________

12. Qualifications for House Members • ____________ qualifications – according to Constitution 1) At least _________ years old 2) __________ of the United States for ______ years 3) _________________ of _______ elected from • _________ to live in district you __________ • Should be ____________ familiar with _________ you represent • _____________ gives House power to judge “the ___________, Returns and Qualifications of its own ___________” • So if the __________ of member-elect to take seat is __________________, the _________ has power to decided Example • Rep. ____________________ from Utah because he was a _____________ (1900) • The House tried to ____________ Barney Frank because of relations with another _________ (1990) • Only ________ members have been _____________

13. Informal Qualifications • “______-getting” __________ • Can include ___________, gender, ______________ and political experience

14. Unit 5, Notes 3 The Demographics of Congress

15. Personal and Political Background • Members of Congress _____________ the people, but don’t __________ represent the make up of the American ________ • “___________” member is white male in early ________ • More ___________ and _______________ than ever before

16. Demographic Profile • ______ of House and over _______ of Senate are lawyers • _____ out of 5 have _____________ degrees • Several are _______________ • Most have _______________ experience

17. Voting Options • Casts hundreds of ________ during each session of ____________ • 4 “__________” when casting votes

18. 1. Trustee • Doesn’t feel _____________ to vote with ________________ • Votes based on personal _________ structure or _________ for the _____________ good (constituents may be misdirected/wrong) • Looks at ________________ on its merits • “_______ it like they _______ it”

19. 2. Delegate • Duty-bound to the _____________ of the constituents – must do what ____________ “back home” want • Must be willing to ________ against own _________________ • More likely to adopt this view when ______________ with a hot __________ among constituents • Aids in seeking _____________

20. 3. Partisan • Vote based on party ______________ • ________________ often vote based on party • Helps establish ___________ and committee ______________ • Role of president in power = “____________ politics” • Helps move party _____________

21. 4. Politico • Combine all ____________ and consider all before making ___________ • What _________ do, and is really what we want _________ to do

22. Congressmen as Servants • _________ is to serve the people • Try to help those that have an _________ with a federal ____________ • May involve social security, ________________, appointment to _____________ academy • Members of Cong. know that _____________ these requests may mean they __________ votes next election

23. Compensation • ______________ a year • “fringe benefits” = special tax deductions for ____ homes, travel _______________, full medical care and insurance at low cost • ______________ plan based on _________ of service • _____________ with offices and staff

24. The Senate Unit 5, Notes 4

25. THE SENATE • The Senate is considered the “_________________” of the legislature (more _______________) • Many members of the ________ hope to one day become Senators

26. Size • Constitution _________ there will be two senators from every state = senate much ___________ than the HOR (100 senators) • ____________ hoped that the Senate would be the more responsible ________ and would think more about the _______ • They gave them a longer _________ and made the ____________ more demanding because of that

27. SIZE, Cont. • They thought the __________ would get caught up in the passions for their districts and try to work __________, whereas the Senate would have the time to step back and think about __________ • Senators represent an entire __________, so they all represent a __________ population and a broader range of issues

28. ELECTION • Originally Senators were to be chosen by the State ________________ –this got to be _________ because “wealthy friends” of the legislatures were chosen as senators • The ________ Amendment changed that = senators __________ by the people of the state • Only one senator from a ________ can be up for ________ at a time

29. TERM • Senators serve for _____ year terms • No ______ on number of terms they can serve • Terms are staggered – only _______ of them (33) are up for __________ at a time = that means every two years 1/3 of the senators terms are _________ • This makes the Senate a ___________ body – all the seats are __________ up for election at the same time • This _________ that there will be people with _______________ in the Senate at all times Robert Byrd

30. TERM, CONT. • The 6 yr. term is designed to give senators more job _________ and to make them less subject to _____________ of public • Their __________________(the people and interests the senators represent) are _________ for a reason too • They are not supposed to be _____________ in the issues of a small area, but should be more focused on the “_________________” of national interest

31. TERM, CONT. • They are seen more as national political _____________, whereas ________ are seen as more __________ • The large size of the HOR usually keeps their _____________ from being in the national ______________, but members of the __________ get more media attention (especially because many possible presidential ______________ are Senators)

32. Qualifications for Senators • Higher level of ________________ than HOR • Must be at least ________ yrs. Old • Have been a US citizen for at least _______ years • Inhabit the state ___________ from

33. Major Differences Between the House and Senate

34. Unit 5, Notes 5 Congress Organizes

35. Congress Convenes • A Speaker of the House is chosen on ____________________ in the ___________ • ______________ a long-standing member of the majority party • All members take _________ • In ___________, its much less _________ • Only ______ have to take oath

36. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE • Most powerful position in ____________ because it is an ___________ position, and it’s the majority party __________ • Speaker presides over all _________ sessions • Decides which __________ go to what ______________ • Enforces ________, puts __________ to a vote • Can _________ and vote on bills because he/she is a member of the _________ • Follows VP in _______ for __________________

37. _______________________ – R. OHIO

38. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE • Vice President is also the _______________ of the ________ • Pres. of Senate is not _____________ by the Senate • ______________ of this he/she sometimes may not even be _________ the majority party • Holds __________ power • Is a _____________ officer • Recognizes members to _____________, puts questions to a __________ • Can only __________ to break a __________!

39. JOE BIDEN– VP (D)

40. PRESIDENT PRO TEM • Elected by ____________ • Leading ______________ of _______________ party • Presides over ____________ in absence of ________ • Follows ____________ in line for ________________

41. DANIEL ______________ – D. HAWAII

42. FLOOR LEADERS • Each house of _____________ has a majority leader and a ____________ leader • Powerful ______________ • They are the _____________ strategists • Try to carry out ______________ of the party and __________ floor action in their party’s ____________ • ___________ leader • Assists Speaker of ____________ • _____________ leader • The party’s chief ____________________

43. SENATE FLOOR LEADERS MAJORITY LEADER – HARRY ________ (D) NV MINORITY LEADER – MITCH ________________ (R) KY

44. HOR FLOOR LEADERS HOR MAJORITY LEADER – Eric ____________, R - VA HOR MINORITY LEADER – Nancy Pelosi, D - CA

45. FLOOR WHIPS • Each __________ has a majority whip and a minority whip • ______________ to floor leaders • Serve as liaison between _________ leader and the rest of the party ______________ • Report to _____________ about status of party _________ • See that the ____________ of the party are present for important _________

46. SENATE FLOOR WHIPS SENATOR MAJORITY WHIP – RICHARD _____________, D - IL SENATE MINORITY WHIP – JON KYL, R - AZ

47. HOR FLOOR WHIPS HOR MAJORITY WHIP – Kevin McCarthy, R - CA HOR MINORITY WHIP – Steny ___________, D - MD

48. COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN • Most work in _____________ is done in ________________ • Committee chairmen are the _________ of standing committees in each ________ • Chosen from _____________ party • Decides when ____________ will meet and what bills they will hear, etc. • If committee’s ________________ goes to _________ • Chairmen will present it, __________ debate, and try to steer its ____________

49. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Unit 5, Notes 6

50. Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose • 1. ____________ Bills