Chapter 5 The Legislative Branch

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Chapter 5The Legislative Branch
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5-1 Congressional Membership
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• The founders intended that the legislative
  branch have more power than any other branch.
• Each term of congress starts on Jan. 3 of
  odd-numbered years and lasts two years.
• It is divided into two sessions, or years.

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House of Representatives

• The House has 435 members.
• They are called representatives, congressmen
  or congresswomen
• Qualifications
• 25 years old
• US citizen for 7 years
• Legal resident of state that elects them
• Traditionally live in their district

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House of Representatives

• Reapportionment
• Census is done every 10 years
• If states gain or lose population, they gain or
  lose representatives
• Redistricting states set up new congressional
  districts after reapportionment

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Redistricting Abuses

• Gerrymandering majority party draws district
  lines to gain an advantage.
• Packing packing opposing partys voters into
  one district, so opposition will win, but other
  districts will be safe.
• Cracking dividing up opposing partys voters
  into as many districts as possible, to dilute
  their vote.

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Senate

• Qualifications
• 30 years old
• US citizen for 9 years
• Legal resident of state they represent
• Term of Office
• Six years
• A third of senators elected every two years

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Senate Privileges

• Automatic cost-of-living salary adjustments
• Franking privileges free postage for
  official business
• Medical clinic, gymnasium
• Large allowances to pay for office staff,
  assistants, trips home, phones, etc.
• Income tax deduction to help maintain two
  residences
• Free from all arrest, except in cases of
  treason, felony, and breach of the peace
• Cannot be sued for anything they say on the
  House or Senate floor
• Generous retirement

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Senator Statistics

• Almost half of senators are lawyers
• Typically white, middle-aged males
• Average age is over 50
• Congress is slowly becoming more diverse
• About 90 of incumbents are reelected each term

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5-2 The House of Representatives, 5-3 The Senate
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Rules

• House
• Complex rules, to move legislation quickly.
• Rules committee decides which bills reach the
  floor.
• Senate
• Fewer rules, to allow each senator full
  expression.
• Unanimous consent governs which rules reach the
  floor.

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Atmosphere Debate

• House
• Large
• Regulated
• Busy
• Debate lasts less than a day
• Senate
• Small
• Informal
• Few senators present except at votes
• Debate may last weeks or even months

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Power of Leader

• House
• Speaker powerful
• Second in succession to president
• Decides who may speak, in what order
• May appoint committee chairs
• Senate
• President (US Vice President) may not vote
  (except in case of a tie), may not participate in
  debate, and is rarely there
• President Pro Tempore usually presides
• President has less control over Senators than
  Speaker has over Representatives

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Prestige

• House
• Shorter term
• Senate
• Longer term
• Fewer senators more visible
• More responsibility
• More power approvals, ratifications

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Important Committees

• House
• Rules traffic officer for flow of
  legislation
• Ways Means
• Appropriations
• Senate
• Foreign Relations
• Finance
• Appropriations

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5-4 Congressional Committees 5-5 Staff and
Support Agencies
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Who really does the work?

• Committees!
• Allow members of congress to specialize
• Divide and conquer huge number of bills to
  consider
• Allow for more public input

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Types of Committees

• Standing Committees permanent
• Subcommittees subcategories of issues
• Select Committees temporary
• Joint Committee House Senate members
• Conference Committees reconcile House
  Senate versions of same bill

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Committee assignments

• Political parties assign members to committees
• Committee chairs are powerful
• Seniority usually governs committee assignments

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Who really does the work?

• Staff!
• Congress has too much to do
• Issues have grown incredibly complex
• Constituents expect a lot of assistance

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Types of Staff

• Personal staff
• Hired by senators or representatives
• 2/3 at capital 1/3 in home state
• Administrative Assistants run offices
• Legislative Assistants research issues, draft
  bills, attend committee meetings for Senator or
  Representative
• Caseworkers handle constituent requests for
  help
• Committee staff
• Work for committees experts in their areas
  study issues, draft bills, prepare reports