Branches of Government Legislative, Executive and Judicial Congress Lawmaking body National government Bicameral legislature = 2 houses Senate (upper house) House of Representatives (lower house) 111 th Congress ( ) Congress: Important facts Meet for terms = 2 years Divide terms into 2 one-year sessions Term begins January 3 of odd numbered years Meet from January until November/December Recesses for holidays and vacations Members must vote to adjourn or take a break Members of Congress Average = white male; fifties Major duties: Pass laws Represent what is best for their constituents Oversee the workings of the federal government Help constituents solve problems with the federal government Senate: Qualifications 30 years old Citizen for at least 9 years Live in the state from which he/she is elected Term of Office: 6 years Salary: $158,000 House of Representatives: Qualifications 25 years old U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Live in the state from which he/she is from Term of office: 2 years Salary: $158,000 Members of Congress: Privileges and benefits Tax deduction (homes in their district and Washington, D.C.) Free postage for all official business franking privilege Free printing of speeches and newsletters Low-cost health and life insurance Members of Congress: Duties Serve on committees Help constituents as they interact with the federal government Duties of Each House House of Representatives Propose revenue laws (tax laws) Elect president in the event of a tie Senate Confirm or reject presidential nominees Confirm or reject treaties with other nations Representation Determined by The Great Compromise Senate = equal representation Two per state 100 total House of Representatives = population Use census to determine number of state representatives 435 total Reapportionment = seats are reassigned after census (taken every 10 years) Based on gains or losses in states population Redistricting Occurs when a states gain or lose seats in the House of Representatives Must redraw districts Political party in power (state-level) will sometimes set up districts to help its members win elections Creates funny shaped districts gerrymandering House of Representatives: Leadership Speaker of the House member of majority party Speaker of the House member of majority party Most important and powerful member: presiding officer Chosen by a caucus (closed meeting) of the majority party and approved by the full House Maintain order Lead majority party Appoint members to committees Schedule bills for votes and send bills to committees House of Representatives: Leadership Majority leader (2 nd most powerful) Help the speaker Guide partys agenda through the House Main spokesperson for his/her party in the House Minority leader Determine how their party will react to the majority partys programs Whips Assistants to the party leaders Job is to make sure members vote as leadership desires Political position not official positions Senate: Leadership Vice president: presiding officer of Senate Votes only in event of tie President pro tempore: presiding officer for daily sessions President pro tempore Usually senior member of majority party Elected by whole Senate Position lacks the power of the Speakers of the House Majority party Minority party House of Representatives: Committees Most of the work is done in committees Committees = small groups of representatives Chairperson belongs to the majority party Majority of members in a committee will always be from the majority party Review and discuss bills House of Representatives: Rules Committee Powerful committee Only in the House Know as the traffic cop Must issue a rule = decision on how quickly or slowly a bill will be voted on Can keep a bill from reaching the House floor May limit how long the House has to debate a bill and the number of amendments can be added Senate: Committees Bills are introduced by any member Majority leader has power to decide what happens to the bill Less formal More flexible = allows senators more time to discuss, think about issues and repeat Debate may run weeks Unlimited debate = filibusterfilibuster Senators may express their views on the issues before the entire Senate Committees: Four types Standing Committees permanent House of Representatives = 19 Senate = 18 Subcommittees = small working groups of members of the standing committees Select temporary; created for special purposes Study one topic or issue (i.e.: Watergate scandal) Joint permanent or temporary; comprised of members from House and Senate (i.e.: Printing) Conference temporary; members from both houses Creating Laws Bill is written and submitted Introduced by Senator or Representative Sent to committee for study: collect information, hold hearings, suggest changes Read and debated on the floor Proceeds through the other house of Congress Conference Committee resolves differences Final approval by a vote in both houses Sent to the President to be signed Introduced in HouseIntroduced in Senate Introduced Committee Read and Debated on Senate Floor Committee Introduced Read and Debated on House Floor Conference Committee Final Approval by vote in both houses President How a Bill Becomes a Law LAW VETO Filibuster and Cloture Create a Bill In groups of two: Create a bill to be introduced in the House. The bill is going to address an issue in education. (ex.. standardized testing, school start times, college scholarships, vocational training, and curriculum) Include: Title catch the attention of representatives and introduce the bill Sponsors names-authors of legislation Purpose-explain the goals of the bill Why should your bill become a law? How does it meet the needs of your constituents? Will it benefit every American citizen or the people of a single state? *Your bill will attempt to make its way through Congress.* The President The Executive Branch Executive Branch: The president Qualifications Native-born citizen of the United States 35 years old Lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years President: Terms of office Serve a term of 4 years May serve two terms (8 years) A vice president who becomes president and serves two years or less of the presidents term may be elected for two full terms. (22 nd amendment) President: Salary and benefits $400,000 salary $100,000 travel allowance 50,000 expense allowance Free health care Living rent-free in the White HouseWhite House Retirement pension President: Privileges Use Air Force One Use of Camp David (presidential retreat) Roles of the President p.174 Chief Executive Ensure that laws are carried out Issue executive orders, pardons or reprieves (postponement of a punishment) Head of State Living symbol of the nation; represents the U.S. to the world Ceremonial duties Chief Diplomat Represents the nation when dealing with other nations Directs foreign policy of the U.S.; make treaties Roles of the President Commander in Chief Leader of the military Use military force to support foreign policy goals Legislative Leader Propose legislation to help Americans Proposes annual budget Economic Leader Attempts to help the countrys economy prosper Proposes a federal budget Party Leader Head of his political party Make speeches to help fellow party members running for office Powers of the President Power to veto Make treaties Create Executive Agreements Informal document made with other nations Issue executive orders Statement carrying the force of law Grant pardons Excuses a person from being punished for a criminal offense Commute sentences Shorten the time someone must spend in prison for a crime Offer reprieves Delay the implementation of a sentenceusually for new evidence The State of the Union Report to Congress from time to time Outlines what he wants Congress to do in the coming yearwants Congress st State of the Union by President Washington Vice President Qualifications: Same as President. Constitution lists only two duties. President of the Senate. Becomes president if the president is unable to carry out presidential duties. Live at the Naval Observatory In this I am nothing, but I may become everything. -- John Adams Presidential Succession Order of who becomes president if the current president cant serve Presidential Succession Act 1947 Twenty-fifth Amendment Vice President 2. Speaker of the House 3. President pro tempore Presidential portrait of Harry Truman. Truman pushed through the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. Removing a president Must violate the Constitution Impeachment House impeaches (President, VP, or civil officers of the US) Doesnt mean they are guilty or will be removed Trial takes place in the Senate 2/3 of Senate must vote to remove 2/3 of Senate must vote to remove person from office Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton- neither convicted Presidents Cabinet Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General (Justice Department) Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor White House Chief of Staff Director, Office of Management and Budget Director, Environmental Protection Agency Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security United States Trade Representative Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy VP Blue = Exec. Departments Red = Inner Cabinet Executive Departments State Foreign countries and U.S. citizens abroad Treasury Secret Service, IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and taxes Defense Military Justice FBI, ATF and DEA Homeland Security Newest department (2001) PATRIOT Act- allows government officials extended power to protect the U.S. against terrorism Health and Human Services Distribute monies and handle issues dealing with welfare, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Judicial Branch Federal Courts Supreme Court