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The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch. Structure & Power. What is the L egislative Branch?. Bicameral Legislature Bicameral=2 Part House of Representatives 435 members (Representatives) Senate 100 members (Senators) Why is there such a difference in the #’s?. Qualifications of Congress.

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The Legislative Branch

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  1. The Legislative Branch Structure & Power

  2. What is the Legislative Branch? • Bicameral Legislature • Bicameral=2 Part • House of Representatives • 435 members (Representatives) • Senate • 100 members (Senators) • Why is there such a difference in the #’s?

  3. Qualifications of Congress Turn to pg. 5 in Interactive Notebook, Complete - Use MD General Assembly article on back to complete page

  4. Powers of Congress • Why bicameral? • H.of R.= Representation based on population • Ex- New York vs. Delaware • Senate= Equal representation • Everyone gets 2 • Enumerated Powers • War Powers, Levy Taxes, etc • Implied Powers

  5. Implied Powers of Congress • Elastic Clause • Necessary & Proper clause • Effects on functioning of government • Increase in size & scope • Regulation of finance, health care

  6. Traffic Light Activity • Create a foldable that explains the powers of the legislative branch • Cover: Create a title & picture • Green= Expressed Powers • Inside Left • 2 Examples from each • Yellow= Implied Powers • Inside Middle • 2 Examples from each • Red= Denied Powers • Inside Right • 2 examples from each • Effects of Necessary & Proper Clause • 3 Effects (Outside left) • Bicameral: House & Senate Facts (5 qualifications each) • EX- # of representatives; citizenship; age; basis of # of seats • Middle Outside *You may use books, notes, or Interactive notebook pgs. 2-3

  7. What is this cartoon saying?

  8. Legislative Tools • Filibuster (Senate) • Historical method to delay vote or block debate • Increase visibility of issue; lead to compromise • 60 votes to stop it (longest ever 24+ hours) • Cloture • Video Clip • http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6297689n • Should the filibuster be eliminated? • Do you agree or disagree with the speaker • ? Why/why not?

  9. Legislative Tools • Conference Committees • Set up by House & Senate to settle disagreement on a bill • Remember, a bill must pass thru House and Senate before becoming law!!! • Overriding a Presidential Veto • 2/3 vote by Senate

  10. The Legislative Branch Lawmaking Process

  11. Representation & Reapportionment • Census is taken every 10 yrs • Reapportionment • Change in the # of representatives each state has • Based on population size • # of House of Reps members • Pg. 10-13 in interactive notebook • Complete pg. 10, 11 & 13 • Discuss

  12. Re-Districting

  13. Re-districting • State Legislators draw boundaries for Congressional districts • Power is sometimes abused • Unequal districts drawn • Gerrymandering • Should be base on pop. (1 person=1 vote) • Many times, increase in racial/ethnic representation • No guidelines in Constitution

  14. Re-Districting

  15. Gerrymandering • Drawing state lines to give one party an electoral advantage • “Packing & Cracking” • Funky shaped districts use to: • Pack one party/group into one district • Crack one party/ethnic group into many districts • Both reduce influence • Irregular shapes drawn for political reasons • Pg. 126 Gerrymandering map

  16. Gerrymandering in MD

  17. Referendum & Recall • Recall • Voters kick an elected official out of office • Referendum • Special election used to recall official

  18. Initiative • Citizens propose a constitutional amendment or law

  19. The Legislative Branch External Factors

  20. External Factors that influence lawmaking • Media • Lobbyists • Political Action Committees • Interest Groups • Citizens • Public Opinion

  21. Media • The media can have a major influence on public policy • Coverage of events on TV/News • Amount of time certain topics get in spotlight • More TV exposure means more people form opinions about a certain issue • Social media • Citizens get instant news and info.

  22. Interest Groups • Interest Groups • A group with common goals who organize to influence government • Public Interest Groups • A group that seeks policy goals that it believes will benefit the nation • Many interest groups have ties to business, labor, or agriculture • Interest Group Spending: • http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/index.php

  23. Why Form Interest Groups? • Many voices with the same message have a greater impact than 1 voice!

  24. Interest Groups • What is the idea behind this political cartoon?

  25. Are you a free-rider? • Free Rider • An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.

  26. Interest Groups • Turn to pg. 30 in Interactive Notebook • Use graphic organizer to categorize interest groups • Read Summaries of the different kinds of interest groups • Read pgs. 31-33 • Highlight key points and ideas • Answer questions at the end of each section

  27. Lobbyists & PAC’s • Lobbyist: • An interest group representative • Lobbying: • Direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors • Political Action Committees • Interest groups that raise & spend large sums of money to influence election campaigns • Free Rider • An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.

  28. Lobbyists & PAC’s • Turn to pg. 35 in Interactive Notebook • Read Study Guide 18.2 • Mark text to pick out important points • Answer the question at the end of each section

  29. Start up an interest group • http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387331n • Think about some social issues that are important to you • Brainstorm at least 5 issues that America faces • Select the one issue that you care about the most & come up with a name for your interest group • You may either: • Create a 30 second commercial script • Write a newspaper article (2 paragraphs) to express your viewpoint • Write a rap/song/poem to express you viewpoints • Create a print ad (like from a newspaper or magazine) • You will share your work with class mates at the end of the period

  30. Public Opinion • Public Opinion • Polls/surveys are taken to find the opinions of a representative group of Americans on many issues • Government officials take poll numbers into account when making policy decisions • Iraq War------------->

  31. Citizen Influence on Policy • You have the power to make changes! • Contact local legislators • City Council • State Legislators • Representatives • Testify at Congressional Hearings • Join an interest group • Organize a PAC • Use the news media to your advantage • Call the local paper or TV station about your concerns

  32. Activity • As a class, read: • The Public Choices of Senator AspyerTu More • Volunteer for a role or read along • Pg. 38-45 in Interactive Notebook • Answer Bulleted Questions on pg. 47 of Interactive Notebeook • 4 groups: • Chamber of Commerce • The Locals • The Fishermen • Retired People • Discuss Roles & Answer questions

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