Legislative Branch

1. Legislative Branch Law Making Branch

2. vocabulary • Bicameral • Census • Constituent • Gerrymander • Majority party • Minority party • Standing Committee • Seniority • Expressed powers • Implied powers • Elastic clause • Impeach • Writ of habeas corpus • Bill of attainder 15. Ex post facto law 16. Franking privilege 17. Lobbyist 18. Casework 19. Pork-barrel project 20. Joint resolution 21. Special-interest group 22. Filibuster 23. Cloture 24. Voice vote 25. Standing vote 26. Roll-call 27. Veto 28. Pocket veto

3. Qualifications Senate • 30 Years old • US citizen for 9 years • Live in state elected from. House of Representatives • 25 Years old • US citizen for 7 years • Live in state and district elected from. Patrick McHenry D Kay Hagan D Richard Burr R

4. Terms and Membership Senate • Six year terms • 100 members • Each state has two • 1/3 is up for reelection every 2 yrs. • Expected to prevent quick unwise changes in the law House of Representatives • Two year terms • 435 Members • North Carolina has 13 • California has 53 • Each state has at least 1

5. Special Powers Senate • Ratify treaties (2/3 vote) • Elects VP if no majority. • Act as the jury in Impeachment trials. • Confirms Presidential appointments. House of Representatives • Elects the President if no majority. • Starts Impeachment

6. Congressional Benefits • Salary: Approximately $174,000 a year. • Trips to home state are paid for. • Given discounts on many services. • Franking Privilege: Send job related mail without postage. • Given immunity for minor crimes.

7. Punishments • Expulsion: Forced to leave. 2/3 vote by either house. • Censure: Wrongdoings are made public. (Very embarrassing).

8. Congressional Districts • If a state has more than one representative, district lines are drawn. • Gerrymandering: Drawing of odd shaped districts for political reasons. • All districts must have the same number of constituents (voters).

9. Sessions • Regular: Two regular sessions, one for each year beginning on Jan. 3. • Special: Called by the President. Used normally in times of crisis. • Joint: House and Senate meet together. (State of the Union).

10. Congressional Leaders • The party with the most members is the majority party. The party with the least members is the minority party. • Floor leaders: Make sure that upcoming bills are in the best interest of the party. (Majority and minority). • Party whip: Keeps track of voting intentions. Works with floor leader to ensure members vote on party lines. (Majority and minority). • Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives. • According to the constitution, the vice-president is the leader of the Senate. • President pro tempore: Day to day leader of the Senate.

11. House of Representative Leaders Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Eric Cantor (R-VA)

12. Senate Leaders Vice-President of the United States President Pro Tempore Patrick J Leahy (D-VT) Joe Biden Majority Leader Minority Whip Minority Leader Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) John Cornyn (R-AZ) Richard Durbin (D-IL) Harry Reid (D-NV)

13. Congressional Committees • Discuss, research, and revise bills. “Congress at work”. • Standing: Permanent committees specializing in a certain area. Divided into subcommittees. • Select: Temporary committees formed to complete a task. • Joint: Members of both houses meet together. • Conference: Both houses meet together to discuss different versions of a bill.

14. Committee Membership • Majority party has the majority on all committees. Party leadership determines membership. • Seniority system: Desirable positions are given to those members who have served the longest.

15. Expressed or Implied Power • Expressed powers are those listed in Article I of the Constitution. • Implied powers come from the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) allowing Congress to stretch its power.

16. Non-Legislative Power • Powers that make the government run more effectively. • Congress has the power to propose amendments, investigate legislation, investigate crimes committed by others, and impeachment.

17. Limits on Power • Congress can not favor a state, tax trade between states, or tax exports. • Can not pass laws that interfere with the legal rights of individuals. • Can not interfere with powers reserved to the states. • Checks and balances interfere with Congressional power. • Economics will not allow congress to pass every law.

18. How a Bill Becomes a Law

19. Introduction • In the House of Reps., a bill is dropped into the “hopper” box and assigned to a committee. • In the Senate, a senator submits a bill to the clerk for a reading and committee assignment.

20. Committee Action • They can reject the bill immediately. • They can pigeonhole a bill. (Set it aside). • They can research and approve the bill. • They can change any and all aspects of a bill.

21. Floor Debates • Representatives in the house have a time limitation. • Senators can filibuster a bill. (Talk it to death). • Cloture: Limit the time senators may talk. Requires a 3/5 vote.

22. Voting • Roll call: Opinion given after name is called. • Voice vote: Used on procedural issues. • Standing vote: Person stands until counted.

23. Presidential Action • Sign a bill into law. • Veto a bill (reject). • Pocket veto: Take no action for ten days. If congress is in session after ten days, the bill becomes a law. If Congress is not in session after ten days, the bill is rejected.