The Legislative Branch Functions

1. The Legislative Branch Functions

2. Congressional Districts • Single-Member: The voters in each District elect on of the State’s Representatives. • At-Large: Elected from the State as a whole, rather than from a particular district. The House of Representatives

3. Congressional Districts 2002 2012 The House of Representatives

4. The Senate

5. Congressional Districts • Gerrymandering: Districts that have been drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature. The House of Representatives

6. The Senate • Originally the Senate was chosen by State Legislatures

7. The Senate • Continuous Body: • A governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time. The Senate

8. Congressional Duties • 1. legislatures 2. Committee members 3. Representatives of their constituents 4. politicians

9. Officers of the Legislative Branch • Speaker of the House • Currently: • John Boehner • Presiding officer of the House • Job: acknowledges speakers, signs bills, appoints committees, calls a vote.

10. Officers of the Legislative Branch • President of the Senate- • V.P. • Less power • Presiding officer but may not speak or debate • President pro tempore • Resides in V.P.’s absence • Elected by the Senate • Majority Party Leader • Currently: Patrick Leahy

11. Officers of the Legislative Branch • Floor leaders: • majority and minority in the House and Senate • Legislative strategists • Committee Chairmen • Heads of standing committees • Chosen by majority • Usually by seniority rule

12. 2013Congress House Leadership Republicans SPEAKER MAJORITY LEADER MAJORITY WHIP CONFERENCE CHAIR POLICY CHAIR NRCC CHAIR Democrats MINORITY LEADER Ast. MIN. LDR. MINORITY WHIP CAUCUS CHAIR DCCC CHAIR

13. 2012Congress Senate Leadership Republicans MINORITY LEADER MINORITY WHIP CONFERENCE CHAIR NRSC CHAIR Democrats MAJORITY LEADER MAJORITY WHIP CONFERENCE CHAIR DSCC CHAIR

14. Committees in Congress • Standing committee:permanent groups which all similar bills could be sent. (Ex. Budget committee) • Select committee-a special group set up for a specific purpose for a limited time. (ex. Senate Watergate Committee) • Joint Committees-members from both houses.

15. Committees in Congress • Informal groupings-Black caucus, democratic study group, House Republican study group, pro-Life caucus, etc. • Conference Committee-temporary joint body to iron out different versions of a measure

16. SESSIONS A session of Congress is that period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business. *There are two sessions to each term of Congress, one each year.

17. SESSIONS Article II, Section III Of the Constitution does give the President the powers to Porogue. * End, Discontinue a session, but only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment. No President has ever had to use that power.

18. SPECIAL SESSION • Only the President may call Congress into Special Session. • A meeting to deal with some emergency situation. Only 26 special sessions of Congress have even been held.

19. QUESTIONS???