HOLT
American Civics
Chapter 5
The Legislative Branch
Section 1: The Senate and the House of
Representatives
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
OBJECTIVES
 How many members are in the House and
Senate, respectively, and what is the term
length for each position?
 What are the qualifications and salaries for
members of the House and the Senate?
 How does Congress deal with misconduct by
its members?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Members and terms lengths in the
House and the Senate:
 The House of Representatives has 435
members, who serve two-year terms.
 The Senate has 100 members, two for each
state, who serve six-year terms.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Qualifications and salaries in the
House and Senate:
 Representatives: must be at least 25 years old, a
U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a legal
resident of the state they represent
 Senators: must be at least 30 years old, a U.S.
citizen for at least nine years, and a legal resident
of the state they represent
 The yearly salary is $145,100.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 1: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Misconduct by members of Congress:
 May lead to expulsion with a vote of two
thirds of other members
 May lead to censure
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
OBJECTIVES
 When does a session of Congress begin, and
how long does the session last?
 Who leads the houses of Congress, and how
are these leaders chosen?
 What is the purpose of congressional
committees, and how are committee
assignments made?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Sessions
 Two sessions per term
 Sessions begin in January each year, and a
date to adjourn is agreed upon.
 Sessions usually adjourn in August or
September.
 The president may call a special session when
necessary.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Leaders
 Speaker of the House—elected from the majority party
 Floor leaders— elected in party caucuses to guide
proposed laws through Congress
 Party whips—persuade members to vote for legislation
 Vice president —according to the Constitution presides
over the Senate but only votes to break a tie
 President pro tempore—fills in for the vice president
when necessary
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Congressional Committees
 Study all bills before they are presented to Congress
 Members are nominated to committee assignments.
 Senators serve on at least two standing committees.
 Representatives serve on only two standing
committees.
 Standing committee membership is proportionate to
party majority in each house.
 Heads of Committee are now chosen by secret vote.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
OBJECTIVES
 What are the five major areas in which
Congress has the power to make laws?
 What is the significance of the elastic clause?
 What are the special powers of Congress, and
how are congressional powers limited?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Five major areas in which Congress
makes laws:
 Financing government
 Regulating and encouraging American trade
and industry
 Defending the country
 Enforcing laws
 Providing for growth
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
The Elastic Clause
 “to make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into execution the
foregoing powers”
 allows Congress to stretch its delegated
powers to manage new situations
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
The special powers of Congress:
 House—begins impeachment proceedings,
initiates bills to raise money, and selects
president when no candidate receives sufficient
electoral votes
 Senate—holds impeachment trials, selects vice
president when no candidate has sufficient
electoral votes, approves treaties, approves high
officials
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Congress is forbidden to:
 Pass ex post facto laws, pass bills of attainder,
suspend writ of habeas corpus, tax exports,
pass laws violating the Bill of Rights, favor
trade of any state, grant titles of nobility, or
withdraw money without a law
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
OBJECTIVES
 Where do ideas for bills originate?
 What happens to a bill once it is introduced in
each house of Congress?
 Once a bill is passed by both houses, what
actions can the president take regarding the
bill?
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Ideas for bills originate from:
 U.S. citizens—constituents making requests of their

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

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congressmembers
Organized groups—businesspeople and labor groups seeking
to protect their interests
Committees of Congress—investigating committees
determine needs for new laws
Members of Congress—experts in certain fields propose new
laws
The president—often introduces ideas for laws in the State of
the Union Address
HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills introduced in either house of Congress
 are read and placed in the Congressional Record.
 are sent to a standing committee to be studied.
 receive hearings by the committees and are amended.
 The committee majority can recommend that a bill be passed.
 Bills reported out of committee are placed on the calendar for
debate.
 The bill is voted on and sent to the other house of Congress
for consideration.
 Approved bills are sent to the president.
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON
HOLT
Chapter 5
American Civics
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Actions of the president regarding a bill:
 sign the bill and declare it a law
 veto the bill and send it back to Congress
 hold the bill for 10 days, when it becomes a
law or is killed by pocket veto
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HOLT, RINEHART
AND
WINSTON