Congress 101

1
Congress 101

• National Association of Health Education

2
The Federal Government

• The Federal Government is comprised of three
  branches
• Executive Branch
• The President
• Departments/Agencies (HHS, CDC, NIH, etc.)
• Judicial Branch
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Legislative Branch
• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate

3
The Role of the Legislative Branch

• Powers granted to Congress under the Constitution
  include the power to
• Introduce and pass laws
• levy taxes, borrow money, regulate interstate
  commerce
• impeach and convict the president
• declare war
• discipline its own membership, and determine its
  rules of procedure

4
The Makeup of the Legislative Branch

• The legislative branch of the federal government
  consists of the Congress, which is divided is
  divided into two chambers
• Senate
• House of Representatives

5
U.S. Senate

• Membership
• Each state has two Senators
• 100 seats
• Term 6-years
• Qualifications
• U.S. Citizen for at least 9 years
• At least 30 years old
• Resident of the state seeking to represent
• Election Elections are staggered 1/3 every two
  years

6
U.S. House of Representatives

• Membership
• Based on state populations (1 per 650,000 people)
• 435 seats
• Term 2-years
• Qualifications
• U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years
• At least 25 years old
• Resident of the state seeking to represent
• Election All seats up at the same time

7
Overview of 110th Congress110th Congress -
January 2, 2007- January 3, 2009

• U.S. House of Representatives
• 435 Members of Congress
• 229 Democrats
• 196 Republicans
• Non-Voting Delegates - D.C., Guam, Virgin
  Islands, Puerto Rico
• U.S. Senate
• 100 Senators
• 49 Democrats
• 49 Republicans
• 2 Independent (both plan to Caucus with
  Democrats)
• Source http//www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title
  110th_United_States_Congress

8
Leadership of U.S. Senate110th Congress -
January 2, 2007- January 3, 2009

• Vice President - President of the Senate
• Tie-breaking vote
• Majority
• Majority Leader - Harry Reid (D-NV)
• Majority Whip - Richard Durbin (D-IL)
• Minority
• Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
• Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS)
• Source http//www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title
  110th_United_States_Congress

9
Leadership of U.S. House of Representatives
110th Congress - January 2, 2007- January 3,
2009

• Majority
• Speaker of the House - Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
• Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
• Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC)
• Minority
• Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
• Minority Whip -Roy Blunt (R-MO)
• Source http//www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title
  110th_United_States_Congress

10
Legislative Process

• Ideas for legislation come from anyone
• Individual Constituents
• Organizations
• Senators
• Representatives
• YOU!!

11
Once legislative idea has been formulated and
presented to a legislatorLegislation may begin
in either chamber.
Similar proposals are often introduced in both
chambers.
12
Bill must pass both the House and Senate in
IDENTICAL form before being presented to the
President.
13
Legislation is presented to the President
14
Conference Committee
Senate
White House
15
Congressional Office Structure