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Congress

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framers experienced the weakness of the congress under the Articles of Confederation ' ... How is the average member of Congress different from the average American? ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Congress


1
Congress
  • Chapter 9

2
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

3
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

4
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

5
Powers of Senate
  • Treaties
  • Remove officials from office
  • Filibuster
  • Presidential nominations

6
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

7
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8
Differences Between the House and the Senate
9
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

10
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

11
The Committee Structure of Congress
  • standing committees
  • select committees
  • conference committees
  • House Rules Committee

12
Leadership in the U.S. Congress
  • U.S. Senate
  • President of Senate
  • President pro tem

13
Leadership in the U.S. Congress
  • House of Representatives
  • Speaker of the House
  • Senate House
  • Majority Leaders
  • Congressional Whips

14
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15
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

16
  • 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

17
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)
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