The United States CongressThe United States CongressThe United States Constitution Article

One

The Two House CongressThe Two House Congress

The Congress is The Congress is bicameralbicameral. It is . It is divided into two houses:divided into two houses:– The The House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Representation based on populationRepresentation based on population– The The United States SenateUnited States Senate

Representation based on equal votes per Representation based on equal votes per state (2)state (2)

Each house must vote separately Each house must vote separately on all on all billsbills

Which Party Currently Holds the Which Party Currently Holds the Majority of Seats in Both Houses of Majority of Seats in Both Houses of

Congress? Congress?

House of Representatives United States Senate Number of Seats 435 seats: apportioned to each

state based upon a states population.

100 Senators: 2 per state

Term 2-year term. Unlimited terms. All members are subject to election at the same time, every 2 years.

6-year term. 1/3 of the seats elected at the same time (every 2 years)

Qualifications 25 years old. US Citizen for the last 7 years. Resident from the state which elected.

30 years old. US Citizen for the last 9 years. Resident of the state which elected.

Constituency Citizens within a congressional district.

All citizens of a state.

Presiding Officer Speaker of the House Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate. In his /her absence, the President Pro Tempore is in charge.

Why must all Tax/Revenue Bill Why must all Tax/Revenue Bill originate in the House of originate in the House of

Representatives?Representatives?Tax/Revenue bills originate in the Tax/Revenue bills originate in the H.O.R. because H.O.R. because the framers the framers designed the House to be the part designed the House to be the part of the Federal Government that is of the Federal Government that is most responsive (closest) to the most responsive (closest) to the people.people. (Taxation (Taxation WITH WITH Representation)Representation)Representatives in the House are Representatives in the House are closest to the people because they closest to the people because they have the have the smallest smallest constituencyconstituency, , and face the voters most oftenand face the voters most often. . (every 2 years) (every 2 years)

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

THE POWER TO THE POWER TO TAXTAX– Raise the money Raise the money

needed to run the needed to run the government and government and fund the treasury.fund the treasury.

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

To Borrow To Borrow MoneyMoney– Additional money Additional money

may be needed to may be needed to fund money (if tax fund money (if tax receipts are not receipts are not enough)enough)

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

Regulate CommerceRegulate Commerce– Responsible to make Responsible to make

sure businesses are sure businesses are responsibly run, and responsibly run, and trade is regulated.trade is regulated.

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

To Coin MoneyTo Coin Money– Only the federal Only the federal

government prints the government prints the currency (replacing the currency (replacing the system under the system under the Articles of Articles of Confederation)Confederation)

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

Declare War, Declare War, Raise & Support Raise & Support the Armed Forcesthe Armed Forces– Only the Congress can Only the Congress can

Declare War, however, Declare War, however, the President is the the President is the Commander in Chief of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forcesthe Armed Forces

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

Establish Establish Naturalization Naturalization ProceduresProcedures– Regulate Regulate

immigration and set immigration and set procedures for procedures for people to become people to become American citizensAmerican citizens

The Powers of CongressThe Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)(Enumerated/Delegated Powers)

Establish a Establish a Post OfficePost Office–Help the nation Help the nation

communicatecommunicate

The E L A S T I C ClauseThe E L A S T I C Clause

The Elastic Clause/The Elastic Clause/ImpliedImplied PowersPowers::– Congress may make all laws that are Congress may make all laws that are necessary and necessary and

properproper for carrying out its other powers. for carrying out its other powers.– The Elastic Clause allows the Congress to The Elastic Clause allows the Congress to change with change with

the timesthe times and regulate industries which were unforeseen and regulate industries which were unforeseen when the Constitution was first written (airline, TV, when the Constitution was first written (airline, TV, Communications, Auto ECT…)Communications, Auto ECT…)

Limits of Congressional PowerLimits of Congressional Power

Congress Congress CAN NOTCAN NOT::– Tax Tax EXPORTSEXPORTS– Grant Grant titles of nobilitytitles of nobility– Favor the ports of one Favor the ports of one

state over those of state over those of another stateanother state

– Suspend the writ of Suspend the writ of habeas corpushabeas corpus except except in an emergency in an emergency

COMING SOON!COMING SOON!

Laws are like Laws are like sausages, sausages, it is betterit is better

not to see them not to see them being made. being made.

Otto von Bismark

Rep Introduces a bill, The Speaker refers the bill to committee

Committee studies bill, hold

hearings,

Makes changes,

Sends bill to rules committee

Rules Committee places bill

on calendar for entire House of

Reps

House debates bill, may

make changes,

vote on bill

Bill is introduced to Senate, debated & voted on.

If the Senate passes a

different bill, the bill goes to a conference

committee

H&S members resolve

differences, and send bill back to their respective

chambers

If bill passes both

houses, it goes to the President

for his signature

Influence of Pressure GroupsInfluence of Pressure Groups

Special Interest Groups, Special Interest Groups, PAC’s PAC’s (Political Action (Political Action Committees),Committees), Lobbyists Lobbyists try to influence the law-try to influence the law-making process.making process.Businesses, Unions, Businesses, Unions, farmers, Senior Citizens, farmers, Senior Citizens, and others all use their and others all use their influence, and campaign influence, and campaign contributions to influence contributions to influence the political system.the political system.Lobbying for a bill is a Lobbying for a bill is a feature of the unwritten feature of the unwritten Constitution.Constitution.

Why is the Law Making Process so Why is the Law Making Process so Complicated? Complicated?

The law making process can involve thousands of The law making process can involve thousands of people! people! The Framers created this process to allow for citizen The Framers created this process to allow for citizen input into the legal process, remember, they feared input into the legal process, remember, they feared abuses of power by the government & wanted to prevent abuses of power by the government & wanted to prevent tyrannytyranny by high government officials by high government officials Out of hundreds of Out of hundreds of billsbills that are introduced in Congress, that are introduced in Congress, only a few actually become only a few actually become lawslaws. .