The Congress

 

Generally:

            quorum (majority) must be present to conduct business

            Congressmen have immunity from arrest on civil charges and misdemeanors

                        during sessions

            Congressmen are immune to lawsuits for libel and slander for things mentioned

                        in Congress

            Each Congress lasts 2 years and are numbered consecutively

            Each Congress meets in 2 regular sessions beginning on January 3rd

            Each session lasts as long as Congress feels it has important work to do

            Main duty of Congress is to pass laws for the nation’s welafare

            May also conduct hearings and investigations related to the passage of laws

 

The House of Representatives:

            25 years old, citizen of the US for seven years, resident of the state from which

                        (s)he is elected, 435 total members

            number for each state is calculated from ratio of state to national population

            term of office: 2 years

            all are elected every two years: capacity for large scale changes

            presiding officer is the Speaker of the House (member of majority party)

            has strict rules on debate which allows the House to be more efficient

            Special powers:

                        all tax and revenue bills must start here

                        bringing impeachment charges against federal officials

                        electing the president if the electoral college fails to give a majority     

 

The Senate:

            30 years old, citizen of the US for nine years, resident of state from which (s)he

                        is elected, 100 total members (2 per state)

            term of office is 6 years

            elections are staggered so only 1/3 are up for election every 2 years

            presiding officer is the Vice President although he only votes in the case of a tie

            President Pro Tempore (for the time being) is elected along party lines

            usually allows unlimited debate which allows for filibusters and cloture

            Special Powers:

                        ratifying treaties negotiated by the President (2/3 vote)

                        approving Presidential appointments (majority vote)

                        acts as jury in impeachment proceedings (2/3 vote)

                        elects the VIce President if electoral college is deadlocked (majority)

 

The Committee System:

            Any Congressman can introduce any bill (except money bills)

                        In the Senate: announced orally

                        House: placed in a basket called the hopper

            Each house of Congress is divided into smaller bodies called committees

            Presiding officer of each house refers bill to proper committee

            Each house has about 20 standing (regular) committees

            Each committee must have a majority of the majority party in Congress

            Committee members are expected to become experts in that field

            Chairmen of committees are chosen from majority party based on seniority

            Committees pigeonhole (defer indefinitely) about 90% of bills

            Bills that are considered have hearings, fact-finding, discussion and then:

                        passed, passed with amendments or rejected by majority vote

            If approved, it is placed on the calendar (by Rules Committee in House) for

                        consideration by the entire House

            Whole House debates, possibly amends and votes on the bill

            Majority leader (and whip) seek votes for their bills, minority leader (and whip)

                        direct the opposition party

            If majoirty votes it down, the bill dies

            If majority passes it, the bill is submitted to the other house

            In the 2nd House, the bill takes the same path: intro, referred to committee,

                        consideration in committee, referral to whole house, decision

            If the 2nd house approves the bill with some changes, each presiding officer

                        selects members to meet in a temporary conference committee to resolve

                        differences, the compromise bill is submitted to both houses for approval

            The bill then goes to the president for his approval. He can:

                        Sign it within 10 days and it becomes law

                        Hold it longer than 10 days without signing it and it becomes law (if

                                    Congress is still in session)            

                        If Congress is not in session and he holds it over 10 days: pocket veto

                                    and the bill is killed

                        Veto the bill and return it to originating house with a statement of reasons

                                    for his veto

                        The veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in each house

 

Lobbying:

            Interest groups try to pressure Congress through lobbyists

            Lobbyists try to influence Congressional votes by:

                        drafting bills, testifying at hearings, supplying supporting data

                        creating personal contacts with Congressmen via parties, funds, favors

                        urging the public to flood Congress with letters, postcards etc.

            Lobbyists now must register with Congress and submit quarterly report on

                        the source of funds and nature of spending

            Enforcement has been difficult, law defines lobbyists in a limited way,  there are

                        no boundaries on activities or spending of lobbyists

 

Logrolling: trading votes between Congressmen

Pork-Barrel Legislation: bills that provide the Congressman’s home district with public

            works even if unnecessary, usually passed via logrolling

Gerrymandering: readjusting Congress’ district boundaries for electoral advantage

Rider: unrelated provision on a bill added to a vital bill to gain passage by President