Congress  Notes

I. House of Representatives

435 members

based upon population

2 year term

3^rd Congressional District

Mark Souder

Reapportionment

Gerrymandering

25 years old, 7 year citizen, resident of the State

Speaker of the House-Dennis Hastert

Powers- elect the Pres. If the Electoral College fails

                                    Initiate impeachment

                                    Power of the purse

Closer to the people

            1= 20,000

            1=600,000

II. Senate

Upper house

Fed- all States equal-2

6 year term, 30 yrs. Old, 9 year citizen,

act as the jury during impeachment trial

North chamber

                        Junior or Senior member

                        More conservative

                        President of the Senate

                        President of the Senate pro tempore

                        Hillary Clinton, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer

                        Daniel Webster, John Calhoun

                        Continuously organized- 1/3^rd

                        Filibuster and cloture

                        Approves treaties

                        Approves Pres. Appointments

                        Elects VP

III. Committee System

A. Standing Committee

B. Select Committee

                        C. Joint Committee

                        D. Conference Committee

IV. The Powers of Congress

A.  Legislative

-Delegated powers

-Article I, Section 8

-Implied Powers

B.  Non-Legislative powers

1. Electoral powers-when the Electoral College fails, the House elects the President and

               the Senate elects the VP.

2. Executive powers

3. Judicial powers

4. Investigative powers-KKK, Watergate, Whitewater

5. Constituent powers-has to do with the Constitution, Amendment process

6. Administrative powers-creates new agencies, Senate approves appointments

7. Territorial powers- has control over all United States territories,  admit new States,  govern DC

8. Internal powers-sets its own rules, judges the actions of its own members

9. Representative powers-speak for the people- House represent the district, Senators represent the State

V. How a Bill Becomes a Law

Important Steps:

1. Source

2. Committee Assignment

3. House Rules Committee

4. Debate

5. Conference Committee

6. Action by the President

VI. How does Congress decide?

1. Constituency

2. Interest Groups

3. Party Discipline

VII. Leadership

A. House

 * Speaker of the House

                                    -  Nancy Pelosi  D-CA

 * Majority Leader

- Steny Hoyer  D-MD

                                      * Majority Whip

- James Clyburn  D- SC

   * Minority Leader

-      John Boehner-R-OH

                                       * Minority Whip       

- Roy Blunt  R-MO     

-

  * Republican Conference Ch.

- Adam Putnam  R- FL

               * Dem. Caucus Ch.

- Rahm Emanuel D-IL

B. Senate

* President of the Senate

    - Vice President

                                                                  Richard Cheney-R

* President pro tempore-

                                    Robert Byrd- D- WV

                                    * Majority Leader

- Harry Reid  D-NV

* Majority Whip

- Dick Durbin  D-IL

* Minority Leader

- Mitch McConnell  R-KY

* Minority Whip

                                  -    Trent Lott- R-MS