Ch. 11 Congress (Legislature Branch)

What article gives Congress “legislature powers”?

Article I

How many years does a census happen?

Every 10 years

What is a census?

Count of every individual in a population. The house seats get adjusted solely based on how the state population changed. This process is known as reapportionment.

Malapportionment

Voting power of citizens become greater than the voting power of voters in another districts

Gerrymandering

District lines were drawn to gain partisan advantage.

What did the framers of the constitution design the Senate to be?

A check against democratic masses represented by the House.

Why do Senators serve longer terms according to Federalist No. 62?

To become more experienced in various aspects of public policy.

What are the powers for the House?

Implement revenue bills and impeach the president by majority vote.

What are the powers for the Senate?

Conduct impeachment trial and convicts by 2/3 votes, ratifies treaties by 2/3 vote, confirms high-level executive nominees by majority vote, and confirms federal judicial nominees by majority vote.

Speaker of the House

Position crated by the constitution which allows great influence over the house. The second most powerful official. Has influence over public policy bills and block proposed legislation.

House Majority Leader

Elected by House members from the political party with the most seats. Deals with internal decision making than the Speaker. Still has great influence over public policy.

House Minority Leader

Elected by House members from minority political party. Deals with governing of internal working. The top leader of the minority party.

President of the Senate

The VP also serves this role. Manage the Parliamentary procedure of Senate meetings. Only casts vote whenever the vote of the Senate is tied. Has little power in the Senate.

President Pro Tempore

Elected by the Senate, but the position is chosen by a majority political party. Allows other junior senators to manage the parliamentary procedure.

Senate Majority Leader

Elected by Senators with the most seats from that political party. Most powerful position in the senate. Schedule votes or block them for occurring.

Senate Minority Leader

Manages the internal governance of the minority party Senators. Lead mediator between the Senate majority and minority.

Joint Committees

Include members of both House and Senate officials.

Select Committees

Special committees created by either chamber.

Conference Committees

Reconcile different versions of the same bill.

In order for a bill to be labeled,

it must be sponsored by an actual Congress member.

Seniority

Time served on the committee. The system isn’t absolute.

How a bill becomes a law.

The bill is first introduced in the House or the Senate. Then the bill undergo by a full committee conducts investigations and hearings. Next, the bill undergoes a floor action by the chamber, if passed by both House and Senate by full majority, then it is sent to the president, if the president signs the bill, it becomes a law.