The Legislative Branch Notes 7.1 - What is the U.S. Congress?
The U.S. Congress
• The “Legislative Branch” of the U.S. Government
• Consists of ________ members in a two house (“________________”) system.
• The two houses are made up of the: “______________________________________” and “_______________”
• _________________ gets its power from the __________________________.
What does The U.S. Congress do?
1. _______________ _______________. (This is the most important one, and the one you’ll hear me say ALL year)
2. Makes the ___________________.
3. Confirms the ____________________ _________________
4. Declares __________
5. _______________ ________________
The U.S. Congress
• Each session begins on January 3rd (of odd numbered years)
• We recently began the “112th Congress, 2nd Session”
• Main duty is to ____________ ___________ for the nation.
“U.S. House of Representatives”
• The “___________ _____________”
• Consists of _______ members
• Membership based on __________________ (each state gets at least one)
• ______ Year Terms
• Focused on the concerns of their local “___________________” (people they represent)
“U.S. House of Representatives”
• State populations are based on a ____ year “____________” (__________________ ___________) given by the
U.S. Census Bureau
• States may ________ or ___________ representatives based on the “census”.
• “Congressional _________________” are created in each state to create boundaries to give roughly the same
number of “Constituents”
• _______________________ are people represented by a _______________ or ______________________
• “___________________________” is the process of creating oddly shaped ____________ to increase the
__________ strength of a particular group.
• Florida (especially in the northeast) has been accused of this in the past.
• Sanford and Seminole are currently in the “7th/3rd Congressional District” in Florida.
o We are represented by John Mica(R)(7th) and Corrine Brown (D)(3rd).
“U.S. Senate”
• The “___________ ______________”
• Consists of ________ members. Membership based on _______ per ___________.
• ______ Year Terms (only 1/3 can be up for re-election at one time)
• Focused on the concerns of their ___________ “constituents” (people they represent)
Controlling Congress
• In the Congress, political parties control each house.
• The “____________ _____________” is the party with more than ½ of the membership within their party in that
house (other is the “____________ ____________”)
• Each “majority party” has a majority leader, who has the task of pushing party issues on the floor of each house.
Assisted by the “majority whip”
House Leadership
• “_____________ of the ______________”
o This is the most powerful position in the _____________ (3rd in line for presidency)
o Main task is to steer ______________ and keep control of any debates on the House floor.
o Also pushes the agenda of the majority party.
Senate Leadership
• The _________ __________________ is technically the presiding officer of the Senate.
• They ___________ ______________ debates and only vote in the event of a ________.
The “chairperson” of the Senate is the “_______________ ________ ________________”
o Is Latin, which means “for the time being”
• More ceremonial than influential (but is 4th in line for presidency)
• If the president dies here is the order: VP, Speaker of the House, Pro tempore.
Congressional Committees
• “__________________ __________________” are like mini-legislatures to divide up the work.
• There are _____ main types of Congressional committees.
• Placement on a committee is determined by the majority ________________.
• “Seniority” (years of service) often dictate who gets on these committees, as well as the leadership positions
themselves.
“Standing Committees”
• “_____________ committees” are ________________ committees that continue to work from session to session.
• The Senate has 16 and the House has 19 “standing committees”
“Sub Committees”
• “____________ Committees” are committees created to do a ___________ job for a ____________ period of time.
o Example: Homeland security, ethics, Indian affairs, etc.
“Joint Committees”
• “___________ committees” include members from both houses who work together on issues.
• The four “joint committees” are ______________, Printing, __________________, and Library.
“Conference Committees”
• “______________________ committees” helps the _____________ and _________ agree on the details of a
proposed law.
• These committees are temporary.
•
Test Your Civics Skills!
1. The Legislative Branch is made up of which two houses?
2. Who has the power to declare war? The President or Congress?
3. Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?
4. According to the Constitution, who is the leader of the Senate? We all know they “ain’t go time for
that,” so who is the one who plays the leadership role?
5. Which committee(s) is/are permanent and which is/are temporary?
6. Why is gerrymandering against the law?
Rate Your Civics Skills: 1, 2, 3, 4
Why are you this? ________________________________________________________________________________
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7.2 - The Legislative Branch and the United State’s Constitution
The U.S. Constitution: Legislative Powers
• Article 1, Section 8 spells out the major ___________ of the Congress.
• The first 17 clauses list “______________” or specific powers granted to
______________.
• Coursin Definition of Expressed Powers:
_________________________________________!
• Examples of Expressed Powers:
o _____________ _____________
o _____________ & establishing an _________
o ___________ ____________
o Establish ________ _____________
• Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 spells out “______________” (or ___________) powers
• Often called the “elastic clause” because it gives Congress authority to do whatever is “_______________ and
_____________”.
• Examples Of Implied Powers:
o To raise and support an ________ implies Congress can implement a _________
o Collecting ________ implies that Congress could use the money to support programs
o Establishing __________________ rules implies that Congress can limit the number of _______________.
Congressional Powers
• Most congressional power is related to ___________ __________.
• It can also establish post offices, federal courts, raising & spending money, etc.
Congress & Funding
• To fund the U.S. Government, Congress has the power to levy _________.
• All tax bills are proposed or start in the ____________ of ___________________.
Congress & Trade
• Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 gives Congress power to regulate _____________ and __________________
__________.
• “______________ ________________” is the basis for many of Congress’ most important powers.
• Examples of this clause:
o Air _____________, ___________________, Trucking, Radio / TV, Pollution, __________ Market
Congress & Foreign Relations
• While the _________________ has the authority to negotiate ____________ and deals with other ____________,
all must be approved by ______________.
• While the _______________ has the authority send __________ into combat for up to 60 days, only ____________
has the power to declare __________ or create an __________.
Non-Legislative Powers
• “Non-Legislative” Powers are powers given to Congress to help “_________” the _________ of the other
_______________. These do not relate to the making of any laws.
• Examples: __________________, __________________, Removals, Investigations,
_________________________=
• “_________________________” is formally ______________ officials of ___________________ or wrong-doing.
o The House has sole authority to begin impeachment procedures.
• Congress also _____________ ____________________ into serious issues.
• Organized crime, fund raising, Watergate, Iran-Contra, etc.
Limits to Congressional Power
• Congress can not suspend the “______ of _____________ _____________” (court ________ requiring
____________ to bring a ________________ to ____________ to ___________ why they are holding that
person).
• Congress can not pass “________ of _____________” (laws that _____________ a _____________ without a
__________ trial)
• Congress can not pass “____ _________ __________ ___________” (or _________ that make an act a _________
_______ it has been _____________________)
Test Your Civics Skills!
1. What is the difference between “expressed powers” and “implied powers?”
2. What are three powers that Congress has?
3. If a president signs a treaty, who has to confirm it?
4. Congress’ main responsibility is...?
Rate Your Civics Skills: 1, 2, 3, 4
Why are you this? ________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
7.3 - “Representing the People”
Want to be a U.S. Senator?
Requirements to be a Senator:
1. Must be at least _____ years old
2. Must live in _________ you _____________
3. Must be a __________ of the U.S. for at least ____ years
Want to be a U.S. Representative?
Requirements to be a Representative:
1. Must be at least _____ years old
2. Must live in ________ you _______________
3. Must be a ____________ of the U.S. for at least ___ years
Career Backgrounds
• Nearly ______ of all Senators and Representatives are ____________
• They are also “____________” (people who are actively involved in community organizations)
• ____________________ are people who are in office and run again for office.
Benefits of being in Congress
• In 2009, the __________ for a member of the U.S. Congress is $_____,_____ a year (for both houses)
• Members also get an _________ space, free _____________, and ___________________ to their home state.
• Members get free “_________ privileges” (sending job-related _________ with paying _____________)
• Members get “_______________” (_________ ______________) in some cases so they may speak or act freely.
• This does NOT allow them to break the law.
Congressional, Personal, and Committee Staff
• The “___________ ___________” of a member of Congress run their Washington and state offices.
• They handle the _____ to ______ business for the member.
• The “____________ staff” also helps the members deal with different “___________” groups (people hired by
private groups to influence government decision makers)
• The “personal staff” is sometimes supported by ________ and _________ - students who volunteer their time to
learn more about the political process. (Think of my story about Ms. Brackman)
• The “_______________ staff” are people who work ___________ for a specific Congressional
_________________.
• These people usually have ________ knowledge of the __________ or _________ and keep the process moving.
Congress At Work
• Congress works in “sessions” or regular time periods.
• These sessions begin on January 3rd each year and continue throughout most of the year.
• Congress has 3 main jobs to accomplish
1. ______________________: Making ______ is the most important job the Congress accomplishes each session.
Hearing from the people, writing bills, etc.
2. _________________: (_________________________________________________________________________)
is also very important to keep the member “in touch” with it’s constituents. Some members of Congress get over 10,000
requests for help each year.
3. ______________ the ______________ or ____________: Looking out for or helping a member’s home district or
state is also very important. Pushing issues that help their own constituents is a priority, but they also look out for the
interests of the U.S. Members of Congress try to work to get their constituents their share of the federal budget each year.
Test Your Civics Skills!
1. What are the requirements of being a Senator and Representative?
2. What is the “franking privilege?”
3. What are the three main jobs of the people who are in Congress?
4. Why are these three so important?
Rate Your Civics Skills: 1, 2, 3, 4
Why are you this? ________________________________________________________________________________
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