U.S. Congress Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Topic: U.S. Congress (Chapter 11 in textbook)
• Focus: Authority, Structure, Powers, and Processes of Congress

Authority of Congress

• Constitutional Basis:
  • Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution: All legislative powers vested in Congress (Senate & House of Representatives).
  • Necessary and Proper Clause (Article 1, Section 8): Grants Congress the power to make laws.

Structure of Congress

• Bicameral Legislature: Comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  • Both chambers have equal power and share powers.

House of Representatives

• Powers:
  • Levy and collect taxes.
  • Appropriations power ("Power of the Purse").
  • Initiates appropriation bills (dealing with money and funding).
• Membership:
  • Total of 435 members, each representing a district.
  • Districts originally represented about 30,000 people each; now about 750,000.
  • Fixed number since 1929.
• Requirements:
  • Minimum age: 25 years.
  • Term: 2 years, no term limits.
• Leadership:
  • Speaker of the House: Most important leadership position, only House officer mentioned in the Constitution.
  • Not required to be a House member, though all have been.
  • Role: Presiding officer, administrative head, majority party leader.
  • Second in line for presidential succession.
• Impeachment:
  • Writes articles of impeachment for federal officials.
  • Impeachment process starts in the House.

U.S. Senate

• Membership:
  • Total of 100 Senators (2 per state).
  • Term: 6 years.
  • Shift from state legislature appointment to direct election in 1913 (17th Amendment).
• Role in Impeachment:
  • Acts as jury in impeachment trials.
  • Chief Justice presides over presidential impeachment trials.
• Additional Powers:
  • Confirms presidential nominations (cabinet, Supreme Court justices).
• Leadership:
  • Vice President is President of the Senate: Breaks tie votes.
• Filibuster:
  • Senate tradition for minority party to prevent a vote on a bill.
  • Longest filibuster: 24 hours by Strom Thurmond.
• Cloture:
  • Process to end a filibuster with a two-thirds Senate vote.

Legislative Process

• Bill to Law:
  • Proposed by any Congress member, must clear both chambers.
  • Conference committees reconcile differences.
  • President signs or vetoes (10-day window).
  • Congress can override veto with two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Additional Powers and Topics

• Oversight: Power to review and monitor other government branches.
• Gerrymandering:
  • Redrawing legislative districts to favor political parties.
  • Both parties engage in the practice.
  • Results in partisan districts, considered controversial.

Conclusion

• Overview of the U.S. Congress structure, powers, and influence.
• Reminder to review Chapter 11 in the textbook.