Congress
Mr. Jasiczek American Government
Organization of Congress
• The Senate consists of 100 members (2
from each State.) • The House of Representatives consists of 435 members. • Each Congressman represents about 570,000 people • According to the Census, States can lose or gain seats according to the population
Organization Of Congress
• In the House, Representatives are elected
for 2 year terms • In the Senate, service is a 6 year term • Congressional elections are held every two years. • All members of the House are up for election and 1/3 of the Senate.
Organization of Congress
• The Speaker of the House is the official leader of
• • • •
the House of Representatives. He/She is 3rd in line for the Presidency. The speaker controls the selection of Committee members in the House. The Majority leader is second in power behind the Speaker. He/She presents the official position of the party on issues and tries to keep party members loyal to that position
Organization of Congress
• The President of the Senate is the Vice–
President of the U.S. • In cases of a tie, (50 – 50) the VicePresident will cast the tie breaking vote. • For day to day operations, a president pro tempore is elected. • This person is usually party of the majority party and senior member of the Senate
Congressional Committees
• Much of the work that Congress does, is
done in the Committees. • Committees are where bill are introduced, hearings are held and the first votes are taken on proposed legislation. • The majority of all bills die in Committees
Powers of Congress
• All revenue bills must start in the House • The House can impeach the president,
however only the Senate can put the president on trial • The Senate alone must approve all presidential appointments, members of the Supreme Court and all treaties
Implied Powers
• In the Constitution Section 8 of Article 1 it
says that Congress can make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its powers. • This is often called the elastic clause and it stretches the authority of Congress • Establishing a National Bank would be an example of an implied power
Powers of Congress
• In the Constitution, Congress is given a list
of 27 specific powers. • These powers are known as the enumerated powers. • Collecting taxes, regulating commerce, coin money, declaring war, supporting a navy and army, and establishing lower federal courts are examples of enumerated powers