Response Questions

Use the timeline to answer the following about Lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

2. What kinds of clients does Abramoff have as a Lobbyist? And what does he provide for them?

1. How are Abramoff’s main three collaborators and what are their positions?

3. What does Abramoff get in trouble for in the end?

The Legislative Branch

Article 1 of the Constitution

• “All legislative powers (powers to create laws) herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”

• The Founding Fathers intended that the legislative branch have more power than any other branch.

Legislative Branch Powers

1. Function:Make the Laws

2. Congressional Joint Powers (powers both branches share)

A. Levy and collect taxesB. Raise and maintain militaryC. Grant statehoodD. Control national lands1. Regulate interstate trade2. Naturalize citizens3. Declare war4. Control making of currency

People say that Congress has the “Power of the Purse.” What do you think that means?

Congress is Bicameral:

• Bicameral: Has 2 Houses• What are these 2 houses?

Congress

1.) Senate 2.) House of Representatives

Why Bicameral?

Great Compromise

House of Representatives

1.) Qualifications: • 25 years old • US Citizen for 7 yrs.• Resident of state elected

•2.) Method of Election: • Elected by the people of district in a direct

election.

House of Representatives contd.

3.) Term of Office: (how long they serve):

• 2 years

4.) Number of Members: • For states: Based off State’s Population • 435 Total Congressmen• CA has 53

House of Representatives

5. Powers reserved for the House only: A. Originates money bills (taxes)B. Begins impeachment processC. Elects President if Electoral College fails to do so

Leader of House of Reps

• Speaker of the House

• John Boehner (Republican) from Ohio

Officers of the Legislative Branch

• Speaker of the House• Job:

• Sets the agenda• acknowledges speakers• signs bills• appoints committees• calls a vote.

Other leaders

House Majority Leader

Eric Cantor (R)

House Minority Leader

Nancy Pelosi (D)

2.) Senate

1. Qualifications:a. 30 Years Oldb. American citizen for 9 yearsc. Resident of state elected

2. Method of Selection:– Election by the people

3. Term of office: – 6 years4. Members per state – 2

2.) Senate

5. Powers reserved for Senate only: a. Confirm Presidential

appointmentsb. Approve/reject treatiesc. Jury for impeachment trial

What do you notice about these?

President of the Senate

• Vice President Joe Biden (although really he is only ceremoniously the leader.

• He only votes to break ties.

Senate Majority Leader

• Harry Reid (D) from Nevada

Senate Minority Leader

Mitch McConnell (R) from Kentucky

House• Complex rules, to move legislation quickly.• Rules committee decides which bills reach the floor.

Senate• Fewer rules, to allow each senator full expression.• Unanimous consent governs which rules reach the floor.

Rules

House• Large

• Regulated

• Busy

• Debate lasts less than a day

Senate• Small

• Informal

• Few senators present except at votes

• Debate may last weeks or even months

Atmosphere & Debate

Officers of the Legislative Branch

• Floor leaders: • majority and minority in the House and

Senate• Legislative strategists

• Committee Chairmen• Heads of standing committees• Chosen by majority• Usually by seniority rule

Congressional Committees

• A congressional committee: is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty (rather than the general duties of Congress).

• Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction

3 main types of Committees in Congress

1.) Standing committee:

2.) Select committee-

3.) Joint Committees-

Types of Committees: 1.) Standing

• Standing Committees: Permanent legislative panels specific to either the House or Senate• Consider bills, issues, and make

recommendations.

• House has 22• Senate has 15

Standing Committees

• Appropriations

• Education

• Environment

• Finance, Revenue, & Bonding

• Government Administration & Elections

• Judiciary

• Planning & Development

• Transportation

• Banks

• Energy & Technology

• General Law

• Human Services

• Insurance & Real Estate

• Labor & Public Employees

• Public Health

• Public Safety

• Commerce

• Higher Education & Employment

3 main types of Committees in Congress

2.) Select committee- a special group set up for a specific purpose for a limited time. (ex. Senate Watergate Committee)

There is currently 3 select committees: •Aging•Children •Veterans' Affairs

Types of Committees

• 3.) Joint Committees- members from both houses. • Permanent committees but generally

conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks rather than consider measures

How does a Bill become a law?

• Bills- proposed laws, or drafts of laws presented to the House or Senate for enactment.

• Two types:• Public- measure applying to the nation as

a whole- (tax bills)• Private-only apply to certain persons or

places rather than to the nation generally.

How does a Bill become a law?

• Only members may introduce bills to the house.

• The clerk of the house numbers each bill and gives it a short title

• The bill is referred to a standing committee, where most bills die.

• Discharge petition: enables members to force a bill that has been in committee 30 days.

How does a Bill become a law?

• Subcommittees: divisions of existing committees, holds public hearings or may take a junket, or trip to an area affected by a measure.

• Committee’s choices• “do pass”• Pigeonhole: refuse to report• Support with unfavorable

recommendation.• Report a committee bill

How does a Bill become a law?

• The House Debates the bill• The House votes on the bill

• Amendments can be added during this time.

• Voting is now electronic• Same process in the Senate• If versions are the same it goes to the

president.• If versions are different it goes to a

conference committee.

• Filibuster: an attempt to “talk a bill to death.” in the senate.

• Record: Senator Strom Thurmond: held the floor for 24 hours in an attempt to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

• November 14th-November 23rd 2012

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

• An ongoing struggle between Israeli’s (people of Israel) and Palestinians (people of Palestine) that began in the early 1900s.

• Struggle between the Zionists (those that support a nation-state for Jews) and Arabs (Muslims that believe in Islam) of Palestine.

Issues that they argue over

• The remaining key issues are: • mutual recognition (seeing each other as

states)• borders• security • water rights • control of Jerusalem • Israeli settlements• Palestinian freedom of movement

Palestine

• Currently, Palestine is not recognized as an actual country.

• The US in 2011 vetoed giving them status as a country.

• Palestine wants: Their territory in green to be considered an actual state. • Believe the Gaza Strip and West Bank

would be a good location for this.

Divisions within Palestine

• Since 2003, the Palestinian has been divided between the Fatah, the traditionally dominant party, and Hamas.

• Following Hamas' seizure of power in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, the territory controlled by the Palestinian National Authority (the Palestinian interim government) is split between Fatah in the West Bank, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas’s

• Goals: • The destruction of Israel. • Palestine’s borders extended and opened

up to the world. • An end of the attacks on Gaza.

USA considers the Hamas to be a terrorist organization since it is violent and is supported by Iran.

Beginning of the conflict

• Israel attacked Hamas’s 2nd in command Ahmed Jabari in Gaza on November 14th 2012.

• This attack was followed by more “targeted assaults by Israel into the Gaza Strip.

• This prompted Hamas and Palestine to respond.

Cease Fire

• The cease-fire was brokered on November 23rd.

• The ongoing talks come as Palestinian Authority leaders plan to renew their bid for statehood before the United Nations this week.

• Cease Fire: A stop to the fighting, doesn’t mean peace; just that they will hold off on more attacks.

Results

• Egypt and the United States helped forge the cease-fire as Israeli ground forces gathered near the Gaza border for a possible ground invasion.

• The eight-day conflict left more than 160 Palestinians dead, many of whom were civilians.

• 6 Israelis also died, including civilians and soldiers

Negotiations

• Israel demands:• long-term border security• An end to Palestinian missile launching

over the border.

• Hamas wants:• An end to the Israeli embargo.

2 Parties Engaged in Negotiations

Israeli PresidentPalestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

Benjamin NetanyahuMahmoud Abbas

Also involved in Negotiations

President of Egypt US Secretary of State

Mohamed Morsi Hilary Clinton