National Legislature or US Congress

-democrats control Senate

-more power to influence domestic policy than the president does

-January 3- new congress elections

-January 3- Republicans will control Senate

-Most domestic policy decisions require the action of the Congress

-all of the Congresses power is enumerated in article I of the Constitution

                                                                                                November 8, 2002

                                                                                                November 13, 2002

Implied Powers

-Article I, Section 8, clause 18

-“necessary and proper cause” or “The Elastic Clause”

-stretches meaning of the constitution

-implied powers all linked to enumerated powers

-only congress has the power to spend and borrow money

                                                                                                November 15, 2002

Basis of Representation in the Congress

-check chart

-reapportionment Act of 1929

            -set number of house representatives at 435

Senate                                                                                     House

Trent Lott-Majority Leader                                                       Tom Delay-Majority Leader

Mitch McConnell-Majority Whip                                              Roy Blunt-Majority Whip

Tom Daschle- Minority Leader                                    Nancy Pelosi-Minority Leader

Harry Reid-Minority Whip                                                        Steny Hoyer-Minority Whip

                                                                                                Denis Hastert-Speaker

Reapportionment is done once every 10 years after the census is conducted

-state legislatures are responsible for redrawing congressional district lines

            -compact

            -contiguous

                                                                                                November 18, 2002

Organization of the Congress

-congress is organized around political parties and committees

-party leadership in the house

            -speaker of the house-only position actually mentioned in the Constitution

            -member of the majority mentioned in the Constitution

            -elected to position by party

 Entire house

            -duties:

                        1.Preside over house

                        2. interprets the rules of the house

                        3. decides outcomes of votes

                        4. refers bills to appropriate standing committees

                        5. keeps order in the house

-Floor Leaders

            -are not official positions-party positions

                        -guide legislation through the congress

-Whips

            -vote counters

            -attempt to apply party discipline

November 20, 2002

-Committees

            -committees do the bulk of the work in the Congress

            -chairs are members of the majority party

            -3 kinds of Committees

            -standing Committees

                        -only permanent committees

                        -committees to which legislation is referred

                        -review all proposed legislation

            -Select Committees

                        -temporary

                        -investigative in nature

            -Conference Committees

                        -temporary

                        -iron out differences between house’s version of a bill and the Senates

  version of a bill

How does a Bill become a law?

-introduce a bill to the congress-most bills are proposed by the executive branch

-give the bill to the speaker-refers it to the appropriate standing committee

-standing committee discusses it and votes on it –if in favor it then goes to the full house (most bills die in a committee)

-full house debates and then votes

0then goes to the Senate where its referred to the appropriate standing committee

-debated and voted on the Whole Senate

-then goes to the Conference Committee which irons out the differences

-President

December 3, 2002

CEO-Chief Executive officer-1973-George Bush

-average CEO made 45 times what an average worker made

-Average CEO made 500 times what and average worker made back in the day

Roles Provided for in the Constitution

-Commander in Chief

                        -Head of the armed forces

December 9^th, 2002

-Chief executive

                        -executive that carries out the law

-Chief Legislator

                        -proposes law

                        -sign law

                        -vetoes law

Chief Economist

                        -leader of the world’s largest economy

                        -role in fiscal society

                        -role in monetary policy

Chief Citizen

Chief Administrator

                        -World Leader

                        -head of world’s largest military

December 13, 2002

Qualifications For Presidency

-most are non-formal

-formal

-35

-14 years resident

-natural born

 December 16, 2002

Presidential terms

-length-4 years

-22^nd amendment 1952

            -limits president to 2 terms or minimum of 10 years

-Presidential succession

            -John Tyler was the 1^st V.P. to succeed to the presidency 25^th Amendment

            1. V.P. does not become president upon the death of the President

            2. Provides a mechanism for replacing president during a serious illness

-President nominates replacement and entire Congress votes for approval

-Presidential Succession act of 1947

            -Vice President

            -speaker of the house

            -pres. Pro tempore

            -secretary of state

            -secretary of treasury

            -secretary of defense

            -Attorney general

December 18, 2002

The Vice President

-2 constitutional duties

1. Prepare to succeed to the Presidency

2. President of the Senate

            -gets to break ties

Presidential Selection

-2 years to election to announce your intention to run

-January 2004, Iowa Caucus-1^st measure of candidates strength

-February 2004, New Hampshire Primary (OPEN)

-June 2004, Republicans will host national nominating convention

-August 2003 Democrats will host national nominating convention

-September- begins Campaign

-November-general election

-December- 2^nd wed.-electors cast vote

            -12 amendment-electors can vote 2 but 1^st vote goes to president and 2^nd goes to

  V.P

-Jan 6, 2005-president of Senate opens and counts votes

-Jan 20 Inauguration