U.S. Government and legislative branch

• Congress is a bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers.
• The Great Compromise led to the creation of a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population (Virginia Plan) and the Senate based on equal representation (New Jersey Plan).
• The House of Representatives has 435 members.
• The Senate has 100 members.

Qualifications for Members

• House of Representatives: Must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and reside in the state they represent (though not necessarily the district).
• Senate: Must be at least 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and reside in the state they represent.
• Members of the House of Representatives serve 2-year terms.
• Senators serve 6-year terms.

Congressional Sessions & 20th Amendment

• The 20th Amendment, also known as the "lame duck" amendment, sets the presidential inauguration date to January 20th.
• A new congressional session begins at noon on January 3rd, lasting for two years.
• Unfinished legislative business is cleared at the end of each session.
• The current congressional session lasts until January 3rd, 2027.

Leadership Structure: Floor Leaders

• Floor leaders act as the "captains" of their respective parties, leading debates and legislative efforts.
• Floor leaders can influence committee assignments based on party loyalty.
• Each political party has its own floor leader.

Leadership Structure: Whips

• Whips are "second in command" to the floor leaders, serving as enforcers and maintaining party discipline.
• They put pressure on members to vote with the party line.
• Each political party has its own whip.

House of Representatives Leadership

• Speaker of the House: The most important position, chosen by a vote of all members, but effectively selected by the majority party.
• Majority Floor Leader
• Minority Floor Leader
• Majority Whip
• Minority Whip

Senate Leadership

• Vice President: Most important role; casts the tie-breaking vote.
• President Pro Tempore: Second most important; a ceremonial position held by the longest-serving member of the majority party.
• Majority Floor Leader: Holds a powerful position in the Senate.
• Minority Floor Leader
• Majority Whip
• Minority Whip

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Introduction

• Only members of Congress can introduce legislation.
• The president cannot directly introduce legislation.
• The bill's introducer is known as the sponsor.
• Co-sponsors increase the bill's chances of passing.
• In the House, a bill is typed and placed in a wooden box called the hopper and is assigned a legislative name (HR#) according to a chronological number.
• In the Senate, a bill is introduced verbally following parliamentary procedure and is also given a legislative name (S#).

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Referral to Committee

• In the House, the Speaker decides which committee to refer a bill.
• In the Senate, the Majority Floor Leader makes the referral decision.
• Bills can be sent to multiple committees.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Hearings

• Hearings are open to the public.
• Lobbyists often attend and participate in committee hearings.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Markup

• Markup occurs in Committee.
• Markup is not open to the public
• During markup, the wording and numbers within the bill are finalized.
• This is a pivotal point where bills can die.
• To pass markup, a majority of committee members must agree to report the bill favorably.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Floor Consideration

• The entire chamber (House or Senate) decides whether to pass the bill.

Floor Consideration in the House of Representatives

• The Rules Committee assigns rules to each bill that passes markup.
• Open rules allow extensive debate, while closed rules limit debate and changes.
• Types of votes: roll call, voice, and electronic.

Floor Consideration in the Senate

• The filibuster and Rules Committee are institutional traditions.
• Filibuster: A delaying tactic used to prevent a vote by prolonged speech.
• Cloture: Requires a 3/5ths vote to end a debate and stop a filibuster.
• "Going nuclear" refers to changing Senate rules with a simple majority.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Conference Committee

• A joint committee with members from both House and Senate works out the differences between versions of the bill.
• Bills must be passed in identical form by both chambers.
• After reconciliation, the revised bill goes back to both chambers for a final vote.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Presidential Action

• The president can sign the bill into law.
• The president can veto the bill, which can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in both chambers of Congress.
• Pocket Veto: If Congress adjourns within 10 days of sending a bill to the president, the bill dies if the president does not sign it. If the session is still opened the bill becomes a law without a presidential signature.

Congress at Work: Committee System

• Pros: Allows for specialization and efficiency.
• Cons: Members outside the relevant committee have limited input.

Congress at Work: Committee Membership

• The ratio of Republicans to Democrats on committees reflects the ratio in the chamber.
• Seniority often determines committee assignments.
• The majority party holds the chair of every committee.
• The minority party leader on a committee is called the ranking member.

Types of Committees

• Standing Committees: Permanent law-making committees.
• Subcommittees: Divisions within standing committees.
• Select Committees: Temporary committees for investigations and reports.
• Joint Committees: Include members from both the House and Senate. These include Conference committees to resolve legislative differences.

The Most Powerful Committees

• These are formal, assigned by congressional party leaders, and have restricted membership.
• House: Appropriations (spending), Rules (debate rules), and Ways and Means (tax policy).
• Senate: Appropriations (spending), Finance (tax legislation), and Judiciary (federal judges and Supreme Court justices).

Congressional Caucuses

• Informal groups of representatives or senators sharing a common goal.
• Members can join multiple caucuses.

Styles of Representation: Partisan

• Decisions based on the political party's stance.

Styles of Representation: Delegate

• Decisions based on the opinions of constituents.
• Utilizes town halls or public opinion polls.

Styles of Representation: Trustee

• Decisions based on the representative's own judgment.

Styles of Representation: Politico

• Using all three models (partisan, delegate, and trustee) depending on the situation.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Powers of the Purse

• Congress controls money and the economy.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Military Powers

• Congress has the power to declare war.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Domestic Powers

• Congress has the power to create a postal service and issue patents.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Judicial Powers

• Congress has the power to create or destroy all inferior courts.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Special Powers

• Includes the power of impeachment (accusing an official of wrongdoing).
• If no presidential candidate wins a majority of the electoral vote, the House of Representatives chooses the president.

Expressed Powers of Congress: Key Clauses

• Necessary and Proper Clause: Gives Congress implied powers to enact laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its expressed powers.
• Commerce Clause: Congress regulates interstate trade and all economic activity.

Salary and Benefits

• Current salary: $174,000 per year.
• 27th Amendment: Pay increases for Congress do not take effect until the next session.

Franking Privilege

• Members of Congress can send mail for free using their signature.

Government Spending

• Pork-Barrel Spending: Wasteful spending that benefits few Americans.
• Earmarks and Riders: Additions to legislation.
• Germane: A requirement that added items be relevant to the bill.
• "Pet Projects": Projects members are passionate about funding.

Test your knowledge on the basics of the U.S. government and Legislative branch. Learn about the eligibility criteria for holding office in the House of Representatives and Senate. Understand key aspects of the U.S. political system through this content.