Transcript Document
Congress Chapter 9 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” 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 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 Powers of Senate • • • • Treaties Remove officials from office Filibuster Presidential nominations The Powers of Congress (cont.) • Implied powers – from the necessary and proper clause – from the Supreme Court’s ruling in McCulloch v Maryland (1819) • allows Congress to enact laws directly related to the enumerated powers © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™ Differences Between the House and the Senate Congressional Elections operated 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 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 The Committee Structure of Congress • • • • standing committees select committees conference committees House Rules Committee Leadership in the U.S. Congress U.S. Senate • President of Senate • President pro tem Leadership in the U.S. Congress House of Representatives • Speaker of the House Senate & House • Majority Leaders • Congressional Whips 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 • 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 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)