Legislative Branch Political Ideology • A consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue. Liberal and Conservative • Take liberal or conservative test If you scored • 13-20: Very liberal • 21-29: Somewhat liberal • 30-35: Moderate • 36-44: Somewhat Conservative • 45-52: Very Conservative Liberal • Active national government would intervene in the economy, create social welfare programs, and help labor unions gain bargaining power. Conservative • A less active government that favors free market, states rights, and greater reliance on individual choice in economic affairs. Ideological Differences Liberal • Pro Choice • Against death Penalty • Allow same sex marriage • Legalize marijuana Conservative • Pro Life • For Death Penalty • Prohibit same sex marriage • Marijuana illegal Liberal Conservative • Less religion in • More religion in school school • More gun • Less gun regulations regulations • Allow flag • Prohibit flag burning as burning speech Economic differences Liberal • • • • Big government More welfare More Taxes Increase minimum wage • Support workers and unions Conservative • • • • Small government Less welfare Tax cuts Lower or eliminate minimum wage • Support business owners Other differences Liberal • More environmental protections • Less military spending • Support gov’t health care • Poor Conservative • Less environmental protections • More military spending • Oppose gov’t health care • Rich Pew research and PBS test • Political Ideology test • Interest Groups: An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy. • Interest groups Lobbyist • a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest; Example Lets say that there are 9 members of the Brandon Valley school board And a Superintendant • A majority vote of the school board and approval of the Superintendent is needed to pass the policy • The school board is considering making a new policy that allows all BVHS students to have open lunch. Interest Groups • • • • • • • • School Lunch Program Students Parents Gas stations/convenience stores Restaurants Law Enforcement General Public Teachers Would each be for or against the proposed policy? Why? • • • • • • • • School Lunch Program Students Parents Gas stations/convenience stores Restaurants Law Enforcement General Public Teachers Policy changes that lobbyist have tried to get into the policy if it passes Try to determine who would lobby in favor of the following changes to the policy. Can only walk (no vehicles) • Who would want this? • Who would be against this? Only for Juniors and Seniors • Who would want this? • Who would be against this? Lengthen lunch to an hour • Who would want this? • Who would be against this? The open lunch rule didn’t pass. Lets say that there are 9 members of the Brandon Valley school board What could they do differently? • In the next election, help get people elected who already support open lunch PAC’s • PAC stands for Political Action Committees • They are the political wing of Interest Groups • PAC’s use money collected from members of Interest Groups to help candidates who share their views. • PACs give money to candidate who support their cause • Conservative PACs will typically give money to Republican candidates • Liberal PACs will typically give money to Democratic candidates • The more money and members a Interest Group has equates to more power and influence. • OpenSecrets.org Congress Bicameral • Having two legislative chambers House of Representatives qualifications for HR • 7 years a citizen of the • Must be at least 25 years old • resident of the state elected from the term of office for members of the House of Representatives • 2 years How many total seats are there in the House of Representatives? • 435 House of Representatives (435 seats) • Party Divisions (September 14, 2014) • 234 Republicans • 201 Democrats • 0 Independents • 0 vacancies • Representation in the HR is base on • Proportional representation Proportional Representation Means… • Representation is based on population • The more populated states get more members of the House • No state can have fewer than 1 • A census is taken every 10 years for the purpose of Reapportionment Reapportionment after 2000 census Minnesota House Districts Kansas HR Districts Indiana Louisiana What is an Incumbent • The existing holder of a political office • Congress approval rating Incumbency re-election rate in Congress Gerrymandering Videos • Explaining gerrymandering (4:30 long) • Safe districts (start at minute 4) (2:30 long) • Daily show explains gerrymandering (5:30 long) South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem (Republican) Speaker of the House • Presiding officer and most powerful leader in the House of Representatives • Always comes from the majority party Speaker of the House John Boehner Republican Ohio Senate Other qualifications for Senate • 9 years a citizen of the US • Must be at least 30 years old • resident of the state elected from the term of office for members of the Senate is • 6 years How many total seats are there in the Senate? • 100 Senate Today 100 seats Party Divisions (as of September 14, 2014) • 53 Democrats • 45 Republicans • 2 Independent (lean left) • Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was reelected in 2006 as an Independent, and became an Independent Democrat. • Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was elected as an Independent Representation in the Senate is based on • Equal representation Senate Leadership The Constitution states that… • The Vice President is the head of the Senate • However, they can only vote if there is a tie Vice President Joe Biden (Dem) Delaware Tie breaking votes When the VP is not around the presiding officer is the … • Pres Pro Tem • Today, a strictly honorary position President Pro Tempore Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT), The real power in the Senate is the • Senate Majority Leader • Most powerful position in the Senate • Always comes from the majority party Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Dem) Nevada Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Rep) Kentucky South Dakota Senators Tim Johnson (Dem) John Thune (Rep) House of Representatives Senate 2 years term 6 year term Represent state Represent district Elected by people of state 435 members At least 25 years old Proportional representation Speaker of HR Represent state Bring up charges in impeachment No filibuster At least 30 years old Equal representation Share enumerated powers Make laws 100 members VP and Majority leader Jury in impeachment Allow filibuster Confirmation of judges Ratify treaties POWERS OF CONGRESS Powers of Congress • Implied Powers Enumerated Powers • Powers specifically given to Congress and listed in the Constitution • Example: Raise and army and navy Implied Powers • Powers that are hinted at but not specifically listed in Constitution. • The originate from the “necessary and proper clause” and must to related to an enumerated power. • Example: Draft Money Powers *(1)Power to tax (must be uniform throughout country) *(2)Power to borrow money *(3)Regulate commerce *(4)Laws on bankruptcies (also set rules for citizenship) (5)Coin money (standards for weight and measurement) *(6)Punishments for counterfeiters Military Powers (Ensures civilian control of the military) *(11)Declare war *(12-13)Raise army and navy *(12)Funding for military *(14) Set Rules for military *(15-16)Rules for militia and power to call into service Misc. Powers *(7)Post offices and roads *(8)Copyrights and patents *(9)Establish federal courts (17)*Laws for Washington, DC Necessary and Proper (18) Can make All laws that are necessary and proper “Power of the Purse” • All Taxing, spending, borrowing of money is done by Congress Confirmation Power • All Presidential appointments must be confirmed with a majority vote of the SENATE Ratification Power • All treaties must be approved with a 2/3rds vote of the SENATE Impeachment Who can be impeached? • President • Vice President • Federal judges What can they be impeached for? • Treason • Bribery • High Crimes (felony) • Misdemeanor Role of Congress in impeachment • House of Rep. • Votes to impeach • Majority vote • Senate • Serves as the jury • 2/3rds vote to convict Punishment: • Kicked out of office • Prevented from holding political office. • President Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives. He was impeached in 1868 for dismissing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the approval of the Senate as required in the Tenure of Office Act and for attacking congressional policies on the Reconstruction in the South. • In October of 1998 the House of Representatives voted to start a formal impeachment inquiry into charges brought by independent counsel Kenneth Starr alleging that President William Jefferson Clinton committed impeachable offenses, including perjury and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from an investigation of Clinton's efforts to conceal an extramarital affair with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Congressional Record How a bill becomes a law Senate Today 100 seats Party Divisions (as of September 14, 2014) • 53 Democrats • 45 Republicans • 2 Independent (lean left) House of Representatives (435 seats) • Party Divisions (Sept 14, 2014) • 201 Democrats • 234 Republicans • 0 Independents • Senate Committees • House Committees Committees • 1. Hold hearings of outside experts • 2. Change the bill with a majority vote • 3 Vote on the bill. It takes a majority vote to pass Floor Vote • 1. Debate the bill – HR Floor debate – Senate debate • 2. Change the bill with a majority vote • 3. Vote on the bill. A majority vote is needed to pass. Filibusters • Only allowed in the Senate • Traditional • Double Track Legislation • Cloture Rule Famous Filibusters • During the 1930s, Senator Huey P. Long effectively used the filibuster against bills that he thought favored the rich over the poor. The Louisiana senator frustrated his colleagues while entertaining spectators with his recitations of Shakespeare and his reading of recipes for "pot-likkers." Long once held the Senate floor for fifteen hours Famous Filibusters • South Carolina's J. Strom Thurmond who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. • He read recipes and names out of a phone book for part of the time. To the 2nd house • Exact same steps as first house Conference committee • Members from both houses that try to come up with a version of the bill that both houses can agree with. • Is needed because the bill may have been changed throughout the process and both houses must pass an identical bill Floor Vote (Again) • Both houses must pass the exact same bill. • They can do the following: • 1. Debate • 2. Vote (it takes a majority vote to pass) • NO CHANGES can be made on the bill anymore. 1. Sign the bill • The bill becomes law 2. Veto the Bill • The President rejects the bill • Overriding a veto • The bill can still become law if each house of Congress passes the bill with a 2/3rds vote 3. Do nothing • 1. Bill becomes law after 10 days • 2. Pocket Veto – If congress adjourns then the bill dies after 10 days • Presidential Vetoes