How Congress Works

1. How Congress Works Learning Target: Students will be able to analyze the inner workings of Congress. The Legislative Process Turn in Current Events and Congress Final Research Paper Due Monday by 11:59pm through Turnitin.com

2. Student Council Cabinet Elections Voting is a Privilege but not required. These people will represent you next year. Video List of names is a class set. Please return. Vote early, vote often – just kidding, please only vote once. Even though only one position is contested, every candidate needs a minimum number of votes.

3. Bill- a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted A Bill v. A Law

4. Law- a bill or act passed by a legislative body and signed into law by the executive. A Bill v. A Law

5. Types of Bills • public bill– proposed legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern and application • private bill – a proposed legislative bill that deals with specific private, personal, or local matters rather than general affairs • appropriation bill– legislative motion authorizing the government to spend money

6. Types of Resolutions resolution - a measure expressing opinions on policies or issues • simple resolution– measure dealing with “house-keeping” or procedural matters that only affect one house • joint resolution – measure when approved by both houses and the president carries the force of law • concurrent resolution– legislative motion that must be approved by both houses, but does not have the force of law

7. Congressmen Wear Many Hats Legislator Representative Partisan Committee Member Politician

8. Floor vote on the Energy Bill! Trustee Delegate A Congressman’s Balancing Act How should I vote? My constituents first, my country, or my party???

9. Navigating the Legislative Obstacle Course

10. Step 1: An Idea for a Bill Sources: Member(s) of Congress Private Citizen Interest Group Federal Agency White House Governor(s) Mayor(s)

11. Senate: Bill formerly read aloud on floor Bill then given to clerk Referred to committee by Steering Committee House: Bill dropped in hopper Referred to committee by the Speaker Step 2: Writing & Introduction of Bill Sen. Smith introduces bill on the Senate floor ~ Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

12. Step 3: Committee Action(see page 154ff & 202ff of text book) Types of Committees • Standing – permanent, deal with bills of certain kinds of issues. Ex: House Armed Services Committee • Select – temporary, created to study a specific issue. Ex: House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis • Joint – Includes members from both houses. Typically acts as a study group. Ex: Joint Economic Committee. • Conference – a joint committee set up to reconcile the differences between similar bills passed by each house. Note: 2 bills  1 bill. Then bill must go back through each house and signed by the president.

13. Step 3: Committee Action(see page 154ff & 202ff of text book) • House & Senate committees conduct public hearings • Experts testify • Markup of bills • Committee vote: report favorably, unfavorably, or table bill House Armed Services Committee

14. Step 4: Floor Action - Senate • Party leaders schedule bills for floor debate on the calendar • Unlimited debate • Filibuster - member(s) keep talking to block debate on a bill • Cloturevote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster • Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act

15. Step 4: Floor Action - House • Rules Committee schedules bills on calendar & decides whether amendments may be added • Limited debate • Floor vote: Recorded, Standing, Voice

16. Step 5: Approved Bill Crosses Over to Other House • Approved bill must pass each chamber by a simple majority

17. Step 6: Conference Committee • Members from each chamber meet to reconcile differences in the two bills Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act

18. Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Final Version of the Bill

19. Step 8: President Considers Bill President can: • sign the bill into law • veto bill • pocket veto Note: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote in each house; only 4% of vetos have been overriden

20. Critical Thinking: The Do Nothing Congress

21. Critical Thinking: Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law. Explain why so few bills become law. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not?

22. Title: Imagine there’s no Congress Artist: Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette Date: 6/06/07 Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/

23. Title: Breaking the Filibuster is not Enough Source: http://www.republicanvoices.org/may_2005_newsletter.html

24. Artist: RJ Matson Date: 6/14/07 Source: http://themoderatevoice.com/category/politics/political-cartoons/

25. Source: http://bigpicture.typepad.com/Date: 5/6/06

26. I’m Just a Bill!