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PSCI 1101 11 October 2007

PSCI 1101 11 October 2007. Congress A. The Constitutional Congress B. Basic definitions C. Steps in the legislative process. The U.S. Constitution and the Role of the Congress: Providing formal guidelines for the member. The U.S. Constitution and the Role of the Congress.

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PSCI 1101 11 October 2007

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  1. PSCI 110111 October 2007 Congress A. The Constitutional Congress B. Basic definitions C. Steps in the legislative process

  2. The U.S. Constitution and the Role of the Congress:Providing formal guidelines for the member

  3. The U.S. Constitution and the Role of the Congress Article I, Sec. 1: “All Legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress. . .” Article I, Sec. 2: “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People…” Article I, Sec. 3, with Amendment XVII: “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof,…”

  4. The U.S. Constitution and the Role of the Congress The dual roles of Congress: Lawmaker (or legislator) (Article I, Sec. 1) Representative (Article I, Sec. 2 & 3)

  5. Congress:Basic definitions • Legislator: the person (lawmaker, member of Congress) • Legislation: policy proposals (bills & resolutions) • Legislature: the body of legislators (the body of Congress generally, or the House of Representatives and/or the Senate) Legislators consider legislation in the legislature.

  6. Congress:Basic definitions • To legislate = to make laws Members of Congress consider legislation with the goal of making laws. Bills that pass the Congress become public laws.

  7. How a Bill Becomes a Law For more information, see: Project Vote Smart http://www.vote-smart.org/resource_govt101_02.php

  8. Process Box 5.2 top

  9. Steps in the Legislative Process 1. Introduction and referral (either chamber)

  10. Types of Legislation(proposals before Congress) Bills (H.R. or S.):most legislation, requiring approval of both the House and Senate and presidential signature to become law. Joint Resolutions (H.J.Res. or S.J.Res.):Noeffective difference from bills, but typically narrower in focus. Concurrent Resolutions (H.Con.Res. or S.Con. Res.): Requires adoption by both chambers but not sent to the president, thus does not have the force of law. Resolutions (H.Res. or S. Res.):Deals with matters completely within one chamber.

  11. Bills introduced, 110th Congressas of 8 October 2007 House bills introduced to date: 3,772 Senate bills introduced to date: 2,157

  12. Steps in the Legislative Process 1. Introduction and referral (either chamber) 2. Committee action

  13. “Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.”-- Woodrow WilsonCongressional Government (1885)

  14. Committee Action a. Hearings * Legislative * Oversight b. Mark-up c. Committee report

  15. Steps in the Legislative Process 1. Introduction and referral (either chamber) 2. Committee action 3. Floor action

  16. Floor Action a. Scheduling floor consideration (House Rules Committee) b. Debate • Decision * unanimous consent * roll call votes

  17. How to Track Legislation THOMAS: http://thomas.loc.gov/ In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, legislative information from the Library of Congress

  18. Steps in the Legislative Process • Introduction and referral (either chamber) • Committee action • Floor action • Upon passage, referral to other chamber; • repeat above • legislation can be introduced in either the House or Senate • In order to become law, legislation must pass both the House and the Senate in identical form

  19. Steps in the Legislative Process • Introduction and referral (either chamber) • Committee action • Floor action • Upon passage, referral to other chamber, • repeat above • Final passage • Agreement on identical language • Conference committee negotiations on identical language

  20. Steps in the Legislative Process • Introduction and referral (either chamber) • Committee action • Floor action • Upon passage, referral to other chamber; repeat above • Final passage • Final votes: cleared for the White House • Presidential action • Options: • Signature → becomes law • Veto → the bill dies • Veto→Congress overrides • → becomes law

  21. Public Laws Enacted to date in the 110th Congress: 93 public laws (as of 10/08/07) Number of public laws enacted: 109th Congress: 482 108th Congress: 498 107th Congress: 377 106th Congress: 580 105th Congress: 394

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