Congress

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Congress

• Chapter 9

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Why was Congress Created?

• framers experienced the weakness of the congress
  under the Articles of Confederation
• The Great Compromise
• Bicameralism
• Article 1, sec 1 of constitution
• All Legislative powers shall be vested in
  Congress

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The Functions of Congress

• Lawmaking
• representation
• as a trustee
• as an instructed delegate
• as a combination of roles
• oversight
• public education- press conference, floor debate
  etc.
• conflict resolution- accommodation laws

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The Powers of Congress

• Enumerated powers (Article I, section 8)
• impose taxes
• borrow and spend money
• regulate commerce
• coin money
• establish court system
• declare war
• raise an army

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Powers of Senate

• Treaties
• Remove officials from office
• Filibuster
• Presidential nominations

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The Powers of Congress (cont.)

• Implied powers
• from the necessary and proper clause
• from the Supreme Courts ruling in McCulloch v
  Maryland (1819)
• allows Congress to enact laws directly related to
  the enumerated powers

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Differences Between the House and the Senate
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Congressional Electionsoperated by individual
state governments

• House of Representatives
• elected every two years
• by popular ballot
• number of seats is determined by population
• each state has at least one representative
• each district has about a half million residents

• U.S. Senate
• elected every six years
• by popular ballot
• one third of the Senate is elected every two
  years
• each state has two Senators

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Congressional Reapportionment

• reapportionment determining the amount of seats
  in the House of Rep among states after each
  census
• redistricting the redrawing of the boundaries
  of the districts within each state
• gerrymandering

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The Committee Structure of Congress

• standing committees
• select committees
• conference committees
• House Rules Committee

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Leadership in the U.S. Congress

• U.S. Senate
• President of Senate
• President pro tem

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Leadership in the U.S. Congress

• House of Representatives
• Speaker of the House
• Senate House
• Majority Leaders
• Congressional Whips

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Bills in house senate

• H.Con.Res. 4 (ih) Expressing the sense of the
  Congress that the United States Postal Service
  should issue commemorative postage stamps
  honoring Americans who distinguished themselves
  by their service in the armed forces. Introduced
  in House
• H.Con.Res. 11 (ih) Requiring the display of the
  Ten Commandments in the Hall of the House of
  Representatives and the Chamber of the Senate.
  Introduced in House
• H.Con.Res. 19 (ih) Expressing the sense of
  Congress that the people of the United States
  should observe the 60th anniversary of the
  liberation of Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp during
  World War II, and honor all the victims of the
  Holocaust, and for other purposes. Introduced in
  House

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• H.Con.Res. 25 (rfs) Recognizing the contributions
  of Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair, Jr.), David
  Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain, the
  Greensboro Four'', to the civil rights
  movement. Referred in Senate
• H.Con.Res. 44 (rfs) Recognizing the historical
  significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de
  Mayo. Referred in Senate
• ? of all bills become law

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Discussion

• Why is it relatively easy to kill a bill in
  Congress?
• How much power do congressional leaders have?
• How is the average member of Congress different
  from the average American?
• Why do incumbents usually win reelection?
• What are important differences between the House
  and Senate?
• Earmarks pork
• At issue Redistricting pg 230
• Representatives (p 241)