US Government: Principles in Practice
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Congress: The Legislative Branch Overture
Section-1
Congress
Section-2
The Powers of Congress
Section-3
The House of Representatives
Section-4
The Senate
Section-5
Congress at Work
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Section 1 at a Glance Congress • Members of Congress strive to represent the interests of their constituents while keeping in mind the needs of the country as a whole. • Congress is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. • Congress plays a vital role in the system of checks and balances.
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Congress Main Idea The voters elect members of Congress to represent them and to enact laws in their name. Congress plays a vital role in our government’s system of checks and balances.
Reading Focus • How does Congress represent the people? • Why is the structure of Congress important? • What is the role of Congress in the system of checks and balances?
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Congress and the People Congress is the representative body through which the will of the people is made into law.
Representing the People • Represent the interests of their constituents, the voters in the district that elected them • Attempt to balance the needs of their constituents with those of the nation as a whole • Civilization ended around 400 BC
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Members of Congress • Tend to be older than the general population • Tend to be wealthier • Most of them have been white men • In recent years, more representative of the nation’s diversity
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Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What groups do members of Congress represent?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What groups do members of Congress represent? Answer(s): individual constituents, groups of constituents, the nation as a whole
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
The Structure of Congress Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives • 1929: number fixed at 435 • Number of representatives each state can elect based on state’s population • Apportionment: distribution of seats according to population • Representatives serve two-year terms
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The Senate • 100 members • Each state represented by two senators • Senators serve six-year terms
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
The Structure of Congress {continued} The Two-House Structure • Bicameral legislature proposed at the 1787 Constitutional Convention • Great Compromise combined elements of two previously proposed plans, Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan • Bicameral system adopted parts of both plans: states would have equal representation in Senate, but proportional representation based on population in House of Representatives
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Reading Check Summarizing What are the key features and purposes of the bicameral structure?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are the key features and purposes of the bicameral structure? Answer(s): possible answer—two houses with representation in one based on population, the other with equal representation; to balance democratic representation with political stability
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Congress and Checks and Balances The Power of the Purse • Only Congress can deny funding requests from executive branch • Through appropriation, Congress can prevent president from carrying out policies
The Impeachment Power • Impeachment power rarely used • Congress can charge officials with wrongdoing, bring them to trial • Process only in cases involving treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors”
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The Power of Advice and Consent • Senate must approve treaties negotiated by president • Senate has power to reject presidential appointees
Other Checks and Balances • Begins process of amending Constitution • Can override presidential veto of bill • Congressional oversight: broad powers of executive review
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are some examples of checks and balances Congress has over the executive branch?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are some examples of checks and balances Congress has over the executive branch? Answer(s): possible answer—power of the purse, power of advice and consent, impeachment, veto override, oversight
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Section 2 at a Glance The Powers of Congress • Congress has extensive expressed, inherent, and implied powers. • The extent of Congress’s implied powers is a subject of debate. • The powers of Congress have expanded over time with the growth of government.
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Congress Main Idea The Constitution gives Congress many expressed powers, and it implies some others. The Constitution also places limits on the powers of Congress.
Reading Focus • • • • • •
What types of powers does Congress have? What are the expressed powers of Congress? What are the implied powers of Congress? What are some of Congress’s nonlegislative powers? What are some of the limits on the powers of Congress? How has the power of Congress changed during U.S. history?
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A Fire Leads to Change
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Defining the Powers of Congress • Three types of powers held by Congress —Expressed: spelled out in Constitution —Implied: suggested in Constitution in the necessary and proper clause —Inherent: powers a government maintains simply because it is a government • In addition to granting powers to Congress, the Constitution explicitly denies powers to the legislative branch.
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Reading Check Contrasting What is the difference between an expressed power and an implied power?
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Reading Check Contrasting What is the difference between an expressed power and an implied power? Answer(s): An expressed power is specifically granted by the Constitution, whereas an implied power is merely suggested by the Constitution.
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Expressed Powers of Congress Financing Powers • Uses power to “lay and collect taxes” by levying direct taxes and indirect taxes • Has power to borrow money on behalf of the United States in case of deficit
Defense-Related Powers • Framers granted Congress power to declare war • Congress retains power to raise army and navy and to provide for their funding
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Commerce Power • Has power to regulate interstate commerce under Constitution’s commerce clause • Only Congress can pass laws affecting economic activity that takes place across state lines.
Other Expressed Powers • Deal with regulation of national economy (coinage, postal service, copyrights and patents, weights and measures) • Include establishing bankruptcy law, naturalization process, courts
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Expressed Powers of Congress Clause 1: • To levy taxes
Clause 2: • To borrow money
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 3: • To regulate foreign and interstate commerce
Clause 4: • To establish uniform rules of citizenship
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 5: • To coin money; to set uniform weights and measures
Clause 6: • To punish counterfeiters
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 7: • To establish post offices and post roads
Clause 8: • To make copyright and patent laws
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 9: • To establish national courts inferior to the Supreme Court
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 10: • To define and punish piracy and other violations of international law
Clause 11: • To declare war
Clause 12: • To raise and support armies
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 13: • To raise and maintain a navy
Clause 14: • To establish military laws
Clause 15: • To call up a national militia in times of uprising or foreign invasion
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 16: • To organize, arm, and discipline a militia when it is called into service
Clause 17: • To exercise jurisdiction over the District of Columbia
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Expressed Powers of Congress {continued} Clause 18: • To make all laws necessary and proper to the execution of any of the other expressed powers
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Over time, Clause 18, the necessary and proper clause, has become the source of authority for much of the congressional legislation that affects Americans’ everyday lives.
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Reading Check Summarizing How do Congress’s expressed powers in finance, defense, and commerce give it a leading role in American life?
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Reading Check Summarizing How do Congress’s expressed powers in finance, defense, and commerce give it a leading role in American life? Answer(s): possible answer—The powers to coin money, borrow money, levy taxes, and regulate commerce give Congress great power over the economy and the direction and scope of federal programs. Its power to declare war and its role in the National Guard ensures that Congress plays a major role in defense. These powers ensure that Congress plays a leading role in American life.
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) Why It Matters: Gibbons v. Ogden was the first case in which the Supreme Court ruled on the Constitution’ commerce clause, which concerns Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce.
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Implied Powers of Congress Loose and Strict Constructionists • Founders disagreed about how necessary and proper clause should be defined • Strict constructionists —Congress should only exercise powers explicitly granted in Constitution —Known as Antifederalists • Loose constructionists —Congress should have more freedom to interpret Constitution —Known as Federalists
The Necessary and Proper Clause Today • Has led to expanded federal authority over time
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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Reading Check Identifying Cause and Effect How did the Supreme Court’s decision in McCulloch v. Maryland lead to extension of congressional power?
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Reading Check Identifying Cause and Effect How did the Supreme Court’s decision in McCulloch v. Maryland lead to extension of congressional power? Answer(s): by allowing Congress to take other reasonable actions in the interest of preserving the general welfare.
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Nonlegislative Powers Powers Common to Both Houses • Propose const itutional amendments • Conduct investigations • Ability to issue subpoenas, documents that require person to testify
Powers of the House • Under Twelfth Amendment, House can choose president if no candidate receives majority of electoral votes
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Powers of the Senate • May choose vice president • Provides advice and consent on presidential appointments • Must approve treaties negotiated by president
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Reading Check Making Inferences Why do you think the subpoena power is important for Congress?
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Reading Check Making Inferences Why do you think the subpoena power is important for Congress? Answer(s): To conduct its investigations honestly and effectively, Congress needs to be able to call people to testify.
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Limits on the Powers of Congress • Many clauses in Constitution protect citizens’ basic civil rights • Congress may not suspend writ of habeas corpus, except in cases of rebellion or invasion • Congress is forbidden from passing bill of attainder, law that allows person to be punished without trial • Constitution also forbids Congress from passing ex post facto laws, laws that criminalize a past action
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are some of the limitations on the powers of Congress?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are some of the limitations on the powers of Congress? Answer(s): possible answer—judicial review, executive veto, constitutional bans against passing bills of attainder and ex post facto laws.
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The Changing Power of Congress In the twentieth-century Congress expanded its power to meet the needs of the growing nation. • Responded to severe economic crisis in 1930s: provided Social Security, help to unemployed • Post–World War II, responded to new status of nation as dominant world power: created new U.S. Air Force, CIA, NASA • Delegated some powers to federal agencies it created
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What has happened to the powers of Congress over time?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What has happened to the powers of Congress over time? Answer(s): possible answer—They have grown with the scope of Congress’s activities.
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Section 3 at a Glance The House of Representatives • Membership in the House of Representatives is apportioned to each state on the basis of its population. After each census, seats in the House are reapportioned among the states and new district boundaries are drawn. • The Speaker of the House is one of the most powerful leaders in government. • The House relies on a committee system to conduct much of its business.
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The House of Representatives Main Idea The House of Representatives, with its frequent elections and regular reapportionment, is the more representative chamber of Congress. Its members carry out much of their work in committees.
Reading Focus • • • •
What are the key features of the House of Representatives and its membership? What are some of the challenges that reapportionment and redistricting raise? How is the leadership of the House organized? What is the role of committees in the operation of the House?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
The Power of the Speaker
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Membership in the House Formal Qualifications • House members chosen by direct popular vote • According to Constitution, House is responsible for “Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members” • Representative must be at least 25 years old and resident of state he or she represents. • Members must also have been U.S. citizen at least 7 years
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Informal Qualifications • Candidates with military backgrounds, celebrities often popular choices for House membership • Ability to raise significant funds for campaigning is important informal qualification for House membership
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are the formal and informal qualifications for membership in the House?
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Reading Check Identifying Supporting Details What are the formal and informal qualifications for membership in the House? Answer(s): at least 25 years old, U.S. citizen for seven years, resident of state represented, high voter appeal, ability to raise money
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Reapportionment and Redistricting Changes in Population • Each state must have at least one representative • Constitution requires that House redistribute number of seats available to each state every 10 years • Reapportionment based on most current census figures
Gerrymandering • State governments responsible for creating voting districts within state • Gerrymandering: redrawing district boundaries for political gain
One Person, One Vote • According to Constitution, each person’s vote must have same basic value • Gerrymandering has been used to disenfranchise racial minorities • Supreme Court has restricted use of gerrymandering
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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Reading Check Sequencing What are the steps by which House seats are assigned to different states?
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Reading Check Sequencing What are the steps by which House seats are assigned to different states? Answer(s): A census is held; Congress reapportions seats to the states based on the changes in population
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Leadership in the House The Speaker of the House • The presiding officer of the House is called the Speaker of the House. —Elected by his or her peers — Member of majority party • The Speaker has authority over much of the business of the House. — Presides over debates — Rules on points of order — Assigns bills to committees • The Speaker is behind the vice president in the line of succession to the presidency.
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Leadership in the House (cont’d.) Other Leadership Posts • • • •
Party officers elected at beginning of term at party caucus Both Democratic and Republican Parties elect floor leader Majority leader serves as assistant to Speaker of the House Both parties elect whips, function is to secure votes in line with party leadership
House Rules • House has congressional authority to make own rules • House Rules Committee very powerful, responsible for setting conditions under which bills are debated
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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Reading Check Making Inferences What role does the leadership play in running the House?
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Reading Check Making Inferences What role does the leadership play in running the House? Answer(s): possible answer—Leadership sets committee assignments, shapes the House’s agenda and debates, and enforces party discipline.
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The Role of Committees Standing Committees • Standing committees: permanent committees that address broad topics • Subcommittees: specialize in areas within a broader topic
Committee Chairs • Position of committee chair very powerful • Chairs chosen by majority party • Position usually goes to most senior member on committee”
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Other Committees • Select committees: meant to carry out specific task • Joint committees include both House and Senate members; address issues that affect both chambers
Committee Membership • House members usually serve on two standing committees, four subcommittees at a time • Members request assignments based on personal interest, concerns of constituents
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What is the advantage of having committees in the House?
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Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea What is the advantage of having committees in the House? Answer(s): possible answer—Committees divide the workload and allow members to specialize on specific areas of public policy.
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Section 4 at a Glance The Senate • Each state has two senators, regardless of population. Like the House, the Senate relies on a system of committees. • Senate traditions, such as open debate, make it a distinctive body.
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The Senate Main Idea Senators represent entire states, have longer terms, and follow different rules of debate. These features help give the Senate its reputation as a more weighty and careful body than the House.
Reading Focus • • • •
What are the major features of the Senate and its membership? What are the Senate’s leadership posts? What is the role of committees in the Senate? What are some of the distinctive rules and traditions of the Senate?
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The Power of the Speaker
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The Senate and Its Membership Formal Qualifications • • • •
Must be at least 30 years old Must reside in state he or she represents Must be U.S. citizen at least nine years Serve six-year terms
Informal Qualifications • Tend to be older and wealthier than House members • Senate does not reflect diversity of U.S. population • Less diverse body than HouseElection of Senators
Election of Senators • State legislatures originally chose senators • Since 1913, 17th Amendment, elected by direct popular vote
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Contrasting How do requirements for a senator’s seat differ from those for a House member?
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Reading Check Contrasting How do requirements for a senator’s seat differ from those for a House member? Answer(s): senator, at least 30 years old, instead of 25, must have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years instead of seven
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Senate Leadership Constitutional Positions • Senate’s presiding officer —Vice president of the United States is president of the Senate —Largely ceremonial; votes only in circumstance of tie, casts deciding vote
• When presiding officer absent —President pro tempore presides in absence of president of the Senate, traditionally longest-serving senator of majority party —Third in line in presidential succession behind Speaker of the House
Party Leaders • Leading the majority —Senate majority leader most powerful position in Senate —Chosen by party caucus, works to fulfill party’s agenda in Senate
• Minority leader guides work of minority party in Senate
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Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea and Details What is the Senate leadership structure?
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Reading Check Identifying the Main Idea and Details What is the Senate leadership structure? Answer(s): President of the Senate presides; president pro tempore presides in the absence of the president of the Senate; Senate majority and minority leaders head their respective parties.
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Committees in the Senate Types of Senate Committees • 16 standing committees and dozens of subcommittees • Assignments allow senators to become familiar with specific issues of public policy
Committee Chairs • No senator can chair more than one committee • Committee chairmanships generally chosen by seniority rule
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Membership in Committees • Usually serve on three committees and five subcommittees • Members seek assignments that align with constituents’ concerns and personal interests.
Senate Committee Power • Top nominees of president reviewed by relevant Senate committee • Debate and vote on treaties, need twothirds majority to become law
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Reading Check Contrasting How do committee assignments differ in the House and Senate?
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Reading Check Contrasting How do committee assignments differ in the House and Senate? Answer(s): Senate committee assignments are made by the party caucus rather than by party leaders.
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Rules and Traditions The Filibuster • Senate places fewer limits on debate than House • Senators may use stalling tactics like filibuster —Opponents of measure refuse to stop talking hoping to prevent measure from coming to vote —Cloture can limit filibuster, requires two-thirds vote to end debate
Discipline in the Senate • Constitution states Senate should judge conduct of own members • Senators can be expelled or censured
Filling Vacancies • Vacancy occurs if senator dies in office or retires during term • State’s governor appoints temporary replacement
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Reading Check Summarizing What are some of the unique traditions of the Senate?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are some of the unique traditions of the Senate? Answer(s): filibuster, cloture, governor-appointed replacements
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Debating the Issue: The Seniority System Should seniority be a determining factor for committee chairs in the House of Representatives and the Senate? For most of the twentieth century, committee chairs were chosen strictly according to the seniority system, which reserved these posts for the long-serving committee members of the majority party. A series of reforms in the 1970s and 1990s empowered party conferences to elect their committee chairs through secret ballots and set term limits on a chair’s service. Still, committee chairs and ranking minority party members are almost always the longest-serving members of their respective parties on a committee.
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Debating the Issue
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Section 5 at a Glance Congress at Work • Bills may be introduced in either house and usually get assigned to committees for analysis and revision. • Floor debates differ in the House and Senate. • Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved in a conference committee. • The president needs to sign a bill for it to become law.
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Congress at Work Main Idea The main job of Congress is to make laws. The process of making laws is well established and orderly.
Reading Focus • • • • •
How are bills introduced in Congress? What happens to a bill in committee? What happens to a bill on the floor of the House and Senate? What is a conference committee? What actions can a president take on a bill?
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Purpose of Laws
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Bills in Congress Introducing Bills • Both houses of Congress introduce bills — Most bills are public and affect entire country — Private bills affect only one individual or small group of people
• Rider: provision added to a bill that has little or no relationship to bill’s main intent — Usually unpopular provisions unlikely to pass on their own Other Types of Action • Joint resolution: similar to a bill — Used for certain circumstances — Must be signed by president, carries force of law
• Concurrent resolutions: address operations in both chambers, do not carry force of law
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Reading Check Summarizing What are some of the legislative actions that Congress takes?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are some of the legislative actions that Congress takes? Answer(s): passing bills, passing joint resolutions, passing concurrent resolutions
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Bills in Committee Most bills submitted to Congress do not become law.
Referral • Bills first referred to particular committee in House or Senate • Bill may later be assigned to subcommittee
Committee and Subcommittee Hearings • Public hearings get input on bills under consideration
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The Subcommittee’s Report • Subcommittee issues report on bill to full committee following hearing • Subcommittee’s report based on majority of committee members’ recommendation • Report can be favorable, unfavorable, neutr
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Bills in Committee {continued} The Markup Process • Full committee further debates bill, considers any amendments • If committee decides to take no further action, bill is virtually killed • Rarely, discharge petition used by House to force bill out of committee
House Rules • House Rules Committee sets rules to govern how bills debated or amended • Some major budget or appropriations bills bypass Rules Committee • Three main types of rules: open, closed, modified —Open rules allow amendments —Closed rules forbid amendments —Modified rules limit amendments
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Reading Check Summarizing What are the steps a bill follows while it is in committees?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are the steps a bill follows while it is in committees? Answer(s): assigned to subcommittee, hearings held, subcommittee report, markup process, committee votes on how to report bill to full chamber or takes no action on bill, if approved by committee, bill passes to Rules Committee
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
The Bill on the Floor After a bill leaves committee, it moves on for the full consideration by the House or Senate.
The Bill in the House • House votes to accept rules • Committee of the Whole is formed by all members • Debates bill, recommends amendments • Quorum for Committee of the Whole is only 100 • Members must publicly state votes in rollcall vote
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The Bill in the Senate • Requests for debate limits and amendment restrictions require unanimous consent of Senate. • Important bills subject to roll-call votes, as in House
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Comparing and Contrasting How does floor debate on a bill differ in the House and Senate?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Comparing and Contrasting How does floor debate on a bill differ in the House and Senate? Answer(s): possible answer—The House limits time allowed for debate and the right to offer amendments; the Senate usually does not place such limitations.
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
The Conference Committee Resolving differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is the responsibility of a conference committee. • No formal rules for dual-chamber committee meetings • If conference committee does not reach agreement, bill may die • If conference committee does reach agreement, issues report to both houses • If both House and Senate accept, bill moves on for president’s approval
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Comparing and Contrasting What is the purpose of a conference committee?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Comparing and Contrasting What is the purpose of a conference committee? Answer(s): to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill; create a common bill acceptable to both
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Presidential Action on a Bill • President can sign bill into law • President can choose not to sign bill. —After 10 days if Congress still in session, bill becomes law —If Congress adjourns during 10-day period, bill does not become law; known as a pocket veto • President may outright veto bill • Congress can override veto with two-thirds majority vote in both houses
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are the different ways a president has to reject a bill?
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Reading Check Summarizing What are the different ways a president has to reject a bill? Answer(s): pocket veto and veto
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution The Sources of Laws Where do members of Congress get ideas for legislation and information in deciding which bills to introduce or support? As the people’s representatives, they must be open to ideas from a number of sources. • The executive branch • Constituents • Interest groups
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
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US Government: Principles in Practice Chapter 5
Print Slide Show 1. On the File menu, select Print 2. In the pop-up menu, select Microsoft PowerPoint If the dialog box does not include this pop-up, continue to step 4 3. In the Print what box, choose the presentation format you want to print: slides, notes, handouts, or outline 4. Click the Print button to print the PowerPoint presentation
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