INTRODUCTION TO CONGRESSMr. Geib and Mr. Fitz-Patrick

12th Grade Gov. and Econ.

December 9, 2014

STRUCTURE OF CONGRESS

• “Bicameral” legislature

– House of

Representatives

– The Senate

• Every 10 years a

census, House

changes to reflect

population.

– But House is always

435 seats

– Two senators per state

“CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS”

• After census, states

are supposed to

create new

“congressional

districts” of roughly

equal population.

– States do this

– Party control of state

often leads to

“gerrymandering.”

– Controversial

“Gerrymandered” 4th Congressional

District in Illinois sometimes called,

"The Horseshoe."

HOUSE VERSUS SENATE

• All 435 seats up for

election every two years

in House

– At least 25 years of age

and resident in

Congressional district

• 1/3rd of Senate up for

reelection every two

years

– Six year terms

– At least 30 years of age

The “lower” and “upper” houses.

Elections to the Senate more

competitive, expensive, and high

profile than in House.

HOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Only House can

initiate tax and

spending bills.

– House Ways and

Means Committee

– Senate can only

amend such bills.

• Founding Fathers

had a fear of the

power inherent in

legislatures

SENATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Only Senate can

confirm

nominations to

federal courts and

ambassadors to

foreign countries.

• Only Senate can

ratify treaties

Requirements for Holding

Federal Office

SENATOR

Must reside

in state in

which

elected

30 years old

9 years

ci tizenship

REPRESENTATIVE

25 years

Must reisde

in state in

which

elected

7 years

ci tieznship

Requirements for Holding

Federal Office

PRESIDENT

OF UNITED

STATES

35 years

14 years in

the United

States

SUPREME

COURT

JUSTICE

No specific

requirements

NEED BOTH HOUSES FOR…

• Taxing and borrowing

money

• Regulating commerce

• Raising an army and

militia and declare war

• Naturalization laws

• Post offices

• And any law deemed

“necessary and proper”

The “legislative process”

THE CHECKS AND BALANCES

WHAT CONGRESS CANNOT DO

• No bills of attainder

(law proclaiming

persons guilty of

crime without trial)

• No ex post facto

laws (punish people

for actions before

law made criminal.)

• No export taxes

• No titles of nobility

NON-LEGISLATIVE TASKS

• Oversight through

committees and

subcommittees of

work of federal

agencies.

• Hearing and floor

debates on public

issues.

• Representing

constituents within the

gov’t.

Congressman Adam Schiff (CA.- D.) of

Los Angeles congratulates the Service

Academy appointees from the 28th

Congressional District for the Class of

2016.