The House of Representatives Has How Many Members

The House of Representatives

The United States Firm of Representatives is one of the 2 houses of the U.s.a. Congress.

Learning Objectives

Talk over the organizational structure of the House of Representatives and the qualifications for its members

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• The major power of the House is to laissez passer federal legislation that affects the entire country although its bills must likewise be passed by the Senate and farther agreed to past the U.S. President before condign law.
• Each U.S. state is represented in the House in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least one representative. The nearly populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives.
• In some states, the Republican and Democratic parties choose their candidates for each district in their political conventions in jump or early summer, which often apply unanimous vocalisation votes to reflect either conviction in the incumbent or because of bargaining in earlier individual discussions.
• The Firm uses committees and their subcommittees for a variety of purposes, including the review of bills and the oversight of the executive branch. The entire House formally makes the appointment of committee members, but the choice of members is really made by the political parties.
• The Constitution empowers the Firm of Representatives to impeach federal officials for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors and empowers the Senate to try such impeachment.

Key Terms

• impeachment: the act of impeaching a public official, either elected or appointed, before a tribunal charged with determining the facts of the matter.

The House of Representatives

Background

The Us House of Representatives is ane of the two houses of the United States Congress (bicameral legislature). Information technology is frequently referred to equally the Firm. The other house is the Senate.

U.s. Congress in Present Times: Using Weber's theory of stratification, members of the U.S. Congress are at the top of the social bureaucracy because they have loftier power and status, despite having relatively footling wealth on average.

The composition and powers of the House are established in Article i of the U.s.a. Constitution. The major power of the House is to laissez passer federal legislation that affects the entire land although its bills must also be passed by the Senate and further agreed to by the United States President before becoming law (unless both the House and Senate re-pass the legislation with a ii-thirds bulk in each bedroom). The House has several sectional powers: the power to initiate acquirement bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the President in example at that place is no majority in the Electoral College.

Each U.S. country is represented in the House in proportion to its population only is entitled to at least one representative. The almost populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives. Law fixes the full number of voting representatives at 435. Each representative serves for a 2-twelvemonth term. The Speaker of the Us House of Representatives, who presides over the chamber, is elected by the members of the Business firm, and is therefore traditionally the leader of the Firm Democratic Caucus or the House Republican Conference, whichever of the 2 Congressional Membership Organizations has more (voting) members.

Circulation

The population of U.Due south. Representatives is allocated to each of the 50 states and DC, ranked by population. DC (ranked 50) receives no seats in the Business firm. Nether Article I, Section ii of the Constitution, population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years, apportions seats in the House of Representatives among united states of america. Each country, notwithstanding, is entitled to at least one Representative.

Qualifications

Article I, Department 2 of the Constitution sets iii qualifications for representatives. Each representative must: (1) exist at least twenty-five years old; (2) have been a citizen of the United States for the by seven years; and (3) be (at the time of the election ) an inhabitant of the state they stand for. Members are not required to live in the commune they represent, but they traditionally practice. The age and citizenship qualifications for representatives are less than those for senators. The ramble requirements of Article I, Section two for election to Congress is the maximum requirements that can exist imposed on a candidate. Therefore, Commodity I, Section 5, which permits each Business firm to be the approximate of the qualifications of its ain members does non permit either House to found additional qualifications. Besides, a state could not establish additional qualifications.

Demographics

Congress is constantly changing, constantly in flux. In recent times, the American south and west have gained House seats co-ordinate to demographic changes recorded by the demography and includes more minorities and women although both groups are still underrepresented, co-ordinate to i view. While ability balances amid the unlike parts of government continue to alter, the internal construction of Congress is important to empathize along with its interactions with so-called intermediary institutions such as political parties, civic associations, interest groups, and the mass media.

Elections

Elections for representatives are held in every fifty-fifty-numbered year, on Election Day the first Tuesday subsequently the first Mon in November. Representatives must be elected from single-member districts by plurality voting.

In most states, major political party candidates for each commune are nominated in partisan primary elections, typically held in spring to late summer. In some states, the Republican and Democratic parties choose their respective candidates for each commune in their political conventions in leap or early summertime. They oftentimes employ unanimous voice votes to reflect either confidence in the incumbent or as the upshot of bargaining in earlier private discussions.

Representatives and Delegates serve two-twelvemonth terms, while the Resident Commissioner serves for four years. The Constitution permits the House to expel a fellow member with a two-thirds vote. In the history of the The states, merely v members have been expelled from the House.

The Senate

The Senate is composed of ii senators from each state who are granted exclusive powers to confirm appointments and place holds on laws.

Learning Objectives

Summarize the powers accorded the Senate and the qualifications set for Senators

Cardinal Takeaways

Key Points

• The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Commodity One of the U.S. Constitution. Two senators, regardless of population, stand for each U.S. land. Senators serve staggered half dozen-year terms.
• It has the power to consent to treaties equally a precondition to their ratification and consenting or confirming appointments of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, other federal executive officials, armed services officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, and other federal uniformed officers.
• The Constitution stipulates that no ramble subpoena may exist created to deprive a land of its equal suffrage in the Senate without that land's consent.
• Senators serve terms of six years each; the terms are staggered so that approximately 1-tertiary of the seats are upwardly for election every two years.
• Senate procedure depends not only on the rules, just likewise on a variety of customs and traditions. The Senate ordinarily waives some of its stricter rules by unanimous consent. Party leaders typically negotiate unanimous consent agreements beforehand.

Key Terms

• cloture: In legislative assemblies that permit unlimited debate (filibuster); a motion, procedure or rule, by which debate is ended so that a vote may be taken on the matter. For example, in the U.s.a. Senate, a iii-fifths majority vote of the body is required to invoke cloture and terminate debate.
• bicameral: Having, or pertaining to, two carve up legislative chambers or houses.

Groundwork

The Usa Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the The states, and together with the Usa House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Two senators, regardless of population, correspond each U.Southward. state. Senators serve staggered six-year terms. The chamber of the United states Senate is located in the north fly of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., the national capital.

Capitol-Senate: The Senate's side of the Capitol Edifice in Washington D.C.

The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the House. These include the power to consent to treaties every bit a precondition to their ratification. The senate may likewise consent to or confirm the engagement of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, other federal executive officials, military officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, and other federal uniformed officers. The Senate is also responsible for trying federal officials impeached by the Firm.

The Constitution stipulates that no constitutional amendment may exist created to deprive a state of its equal suffrage in the Senate without that land's consent. The District of Columbia and all other territories (including territories, protectorates, etc. ) are not entitled to representation in either House of the Congress. The District of Columbia elects ii shadow senators, but they are officials of the D.C. city government and not members of the U.South. Senate. The United States has had fifty states since 1959, thus the Senate has had 100 senators since 1959.

Qualifications

Article I, Section three of the Constitution sets three qualifications for senators: one) they must be at least 30 years onetime, 2) they must take been citizens of the United States for at least the past 9 years, and 3) they must be inhabitants of usa they seek to correspond at the time of their election. The age and citizenship qualifications for senators are more stringent than those for representatives. In Federalist No. 62, James Madison justified this arrangement past arguing that the "senatorial trust" called for a "greater extent of data and stability of character. "

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.s. Constitution disqualifies from the Senate whatever federal or state officers who had taken the requisite oath to support the Constitution, but subsequently engaged in rebellion or aided the enemies of the United States. This provision, which came into force soon later on the end of the Civil War, was intended to prevent those who had sided with the Confederacy from serving.

Term and Elections

Senators serve terms of six years each. The terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the seats are upward for ballot every two years. This was accomplished by dividing the senators of the i^st Congress into thirds (chosen classes), where the terms of i-tertiary expired later two years, the terms of another 3rd expired after four, and the terms of the terminal tertiary expired after six years. This arrangement was besides followed after the access of new states into the marriage. The staggering of terms has been arranged such that both seats from a given state are not contested in the same full general ballot, except when a mid-term vacancy is being filled. Current senators whose 6-year terms expire on Jan 3, 2013, belong to Course I.

Daily Procedures

Senate process depends not only on the rules, only likewise on a diversity of customs and traditions. The Senate commonly waives some of its stricter rules by unanimous consent. Political party leaders typically negotiate unanimous consent agreements beforehand. A senator may cake such an agreement, simply in practice, objections are rare. The presiding officer enforces the rules of the Senate, and may warn members who deviate from them. The presiding officer sometimes uses the gavel of the Senate to maintain gild.

A "hold" is placed when the leader's function is notified that a senator intends to object to a request for unanimous consent from the Senate to consider or pass a measure. A hold may be placed for any reason and can exist lifted by a senator at any time. A senator may identify a hold simply to review a bill, to negotiate changes to the beak, or to kill the nib. A bill can be held for as long equally the senator who objects to the nib wishes to cake its consideration.

Holds tin be overcome, but require time-consuming procedures such equally filing cloture. Holds are considered individual communications betwixt a senator and the Leader, and are sometimes referred to as "secret holds". A senator may disembalm that he or she has placed a hold.

The House and the Senate: Differences in Responsibilities and Representation

The US Congress is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which differ in representation, term length, power, and prestige.

Learning Objectives

Compare and contrast the structure and composition of the Business firm and Senate

Central Takeaways

Central Points

• Congress is split up into ii chambers—the Firm of Representatives and Senate. Congress writes national legislation past dividing work into separate committees which specialize in dissimilar areas. Some members of Congress are elected by their peers to be officers of these committees.
• The disparity between the most and least populous states has grown since the Connecticut Compromise, which granted each state two members of the Senate and at least one fellow member of the Business firm of Representatives, for a total minimum of three presidential Electors, regardless of population.
• The Senate has several distinct powers. The "advice and consent " powers, such as the ability to corroborate treaties, are a sole Senate privilege. The House, however, can initiate spending bills and has exclusive authority to impeach officials and choose the President in an Electoral College deadlock.
• The Senate and Business firm are further differentiated past term lengths and the number of districts represented. With longer terms, fewer members and (in all but vii delegations) larger constituencies, senators may receive greater prestige.

Key Terms

• gerrymandering: The practice of redrawing electoral districts to gain an electoral advantage for a political party.
• apportionment: It is the process of allocating the political power of a set of constituent voters amongst their representatives in a governing body.

Background

Congress is split into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress writes national legislation by dividing piece of work into separate committees which specialize in different areas. Some members of Congress are elected by their peers to be officers of these committees. Ancillary organizations such every bit the Regime Accountability Office and the Library of Congress provide Congress with information, and members of Congress have staff and offices to assist them. Additionally, a vast industry of lobbyists helps members write legislation on behalf of diverse corporate and labor interests.

Senate Apportionment and Representation

The Constitution stipulates that no constitutional amendment may be created to deprive a state of its equal suffrage in the Senate without that state'due south consent. The District of Columbia and all other territories (including territories, protectorates, etc.) are not entitled to representation in either House of the Congress. The District of Columbia elects two shadow senators, but they are officials of the D.C. metropolis government and not members of the U.S. Senate. The United States has had fifty states since 1959, and then the Senate has had 100 senators since 1959.

The disparity betwixt the near and least populous states has grown since the Connecticut Compromise, which granted each state two members of the Senate and at least ane member of the Firm of Representatives, for a full minimum of three presidential Electors, regardless of population. This means some citizens are finer an order of magnitude better represented in the Senate than those in other states. For case, in 1787, Virginia had roughly x times the population of Rhode Isle. Today, California has roughly seventy times the population of Wyoming, based on the 1790 and 2000 censuses. Seats in the Business firm of Representatives are approximately proportionate to the population of each land, reducing the disparity of representation.

Business firm of Representatives Apportionment and Representation

Nether Article I, Department two of the Constitution, seats in the Business firm of Representatives are apportioned among the states by population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years. Each country, however, is entitled to at least 1 Representative.

The only constitutional rule relating to the size of the House reads, "The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every 30 Thousand. Congress regularly increased the size of the House to account for population growth until it fixed the number of voting Firm members at 435 in 1911. The number was temporarily increased to 437 in 1959 upon the access of Alaska and Hawaii, seating one representative from each of those states without changing existing apportionment, and returned to 435 4 years afterwards, later on the reapportionment consequent to the 1960 census.

The Constitution does not provide for the representation of the District of Columbia or territories. The District of Columbia and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.Due south. Virgin Islands are represented by one not-voting consul each. Puerto Rico elects a Resident Commissioner, but other than having a 4-year term, the Resident Commissioner'due south role is identical to the delegates from the other territories. The five Delegates and Resident Commissioner may participate in debates. Prior to 2011, they were besides immune to vote in committees and the Committee of the Whole when their votes would not exist decisive.

States that are entitled to more than than one Representative are divided into single-member districts. This has been a federal statutory requirement since 1967. Prior to that law, full general ticket representation was used past some states. Typically, states redraw these district lines later on each census, though they may exercise so at other times. Each land determines its own district boundaries, either through legislation or through non- partisan panels. Disproportion in representatives is unconstitutional and districts must be approximately equal in. The Voting Rights Act prohibits states from gerrymandering districts.

Gerrymandering Comparison: In this example, the more than even distribution is on the left and the gerrymandered distribution is on the right.

Comparison to the Senate

As a check on the popularly elected House, the Senate has several singled-out powers. For example, the "communication and consent" powers are a sole Senate privilege. The House, however, can initiate spending bills and has exclusive authority to impeach officials and choose the President in an Electoral College deadlock. The Senate and Firm are further differentiated past term lengths and the number of districts represented. Unlike the Senate, the House is more than hierarchically organized, with leadership roles such equally the Whips and the Minority and Majority leaders playing a bigger part. Moreover, the procedure of the House depends not only on the rules, but also on a variety of community, precedents, and traditions. In many cases, the House waives some of its stricter rules (including time limits on debates) by unanimous consent. With longer terms, fewer members and (in all but seven delegations) larger constituencies, senators may receive greater prestige. The Senate has traditionally been considered a less partisan sleeping accommodation because it's relatively minor membership might have a amend run a risk to banker compromises.

The Legislative Function

The Business firm and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process; legislation cannot exist enacted without the consent of both chambers.

Learning Objectives

Differentiate betwixt the powers granted past the Constitution to the House and Senate

Key Takeaways

Fundamental Points

• Article I of the Constitution states all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the Usa, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Both are equal partners in the legislative process; legislation tin't be enacted without both their consent.
• Congress has implied powers deriving from the Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause which let Congress to "make all laws which shall exist necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested past this Constitution…".
• Legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks are divided among virtually two hundred committees and subcommittees which gather information, evaluate alternatives, and identify problems.

Key Terms

• Necessary and Proper Clause: the provision in Article One of the United States Constitution, section 8, clause 18, which states that Congress has the power "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper" for executing its duties
• bypass: It is to avoid an obstacle etc, past constructing or using a featherbed.
• legislative: That branch of government which is responsible for making, or having the power to make, a law or laws.

Groundwork

Article I of the Constitution states all legislative powers herein granted shall exist vested in a Congress of the Usa, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Business firm and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process—legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. Still, the Constitution grants each bedchamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments while the House initiates revenue-raising bills. The Business firm initiates impeachment cases, while the Senate decides impeachment cases. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an impeached person tin be forcibly removed from part.

Congress has implied powers deriving from the Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause which allow Congress to "make all laws which shall exist necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the authorities of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof. " Broad interpretations of this clause and of the Commerce Clause, the enumerated ability to regulate commerce, in rulings such as McCulloch v Maryland have effectively widened the scope of Congress'southward legislative authority far across that prescribed in Section 8.

Congress Overseeing the Executive Co-operative

One of Congress'south foremost not-legislative functions is the power to investigate and oversee the executive branch. Congressional oversight is usually delegated to committees and is facilitated by Congress'southward subpoena power. Some critics have charged that Congress has, in some instances, failed to practise an adequate task of overseeing the other branches of government. In the Plame affair, critics, including Representative Henry A. Waxman, charged that Congress was not doing an adequate job of oversight in this case. There take been concerns most congressional oversight of executive actions such as warrantless wiretapping, although others respond that Congress did investigate the legality of presidential decisions.

Congress too has the sectional power of removal, allowing impeachment and removal of the president, federal judges and other federal officers. There have been charges that presidents acting nether the doctrine of the unitary executive have causeless important legislative and budgetary powers that should belong to Congress. So-called 'signing statements' are i way in which a president tin "tip the balance of power between Congress and the White House a little more in favor of the executive branch," according to one account. Past presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush-league, Nib Clinton, and George Westward. Bush have made public statements when signing congressional legislation about how they understand a pecker or plan to execute information technology, and commentators including the American Bar Association accept described this practice every bit against the spirit of the Constitution. There take been concerns that presidential say-so to cope with financial crises is eclipsing the ability of Congress

The impeachment trial of President Clinton: Floor proceedings of the U.South. Senate, in session during the impeachment trial of Beak Clinton.

Power in Committees

Committees write legislation. While procedures such as the Business firm discharge petition process can innovate bills to the Firm floor and effectively featherbed committee input, they are exceedingly hard to implement without committee action. Committees have power and take been called ' independent fiefdoms'. Legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks are divided among about two hundred committees and subcommittees which assemble information, evaluate alternatives, and place problems. They advise solutions for consideration by the full sleeping room. They also perform the function of oversight past monitoring the executive branch and investigating wrongdoing.

Bills and resolutions

In order to grade a bill or resolution, first the House Financial Services committee meets. Committee members sit in the tiers of raised chairs, while those testifying and audience members sit beneath. Ideas for legislation can come from members, lobbyists, country legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, or executive agencies. Usually, the next step is for the proposal to be passed to a committee for review. A submitted proposal commonly takes ane of the following forms:

• A neb, which is a police in the making.
• A joint resolution, which differs piddling from a bill since both are treated similarly. However, a articulation resolution originates from the House.
• A Concurrent Resolutions, which affects both House and Senate and thus are non presented to the president for approval later.
• Simple resolutions, which business concern only the Business firm or only the Senate.

The Representation Function

A compromise plan was adopted where representatives were chosen past the population and ii senators were chosen by state governments.

Learning Objectives

Describe the outcome of the Connecticut Compromise

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Since 1787, the population disparity between big and small states has grown. For example, in 2006 California had 70 times the population of Wyoming.
• Critics, such as constitutional scholar Sanford Levinson, have suggested that the population disparity works against residents of large states and causes a steady redistribution of resources from big states to pocket-size states.
• The Connecticut Compromise gave every state, large and small, an equal vote in the Senate. Since each country has ii senators, residents of smaller states take more clout in the Senate than residents of larger states.
• Providing services helps members of Congress win votes because elections can make a difference in shut races. Congressional staff tin can aid citizens navigate authorities bureaucracies.

Key Terms

• framers: The authors of the American Constitution.
• cloakroom: A room, in a public building such as a theatre, where coats and other holding may be left temporarily.

Background

The 2-sleeping accommodation construction had functioned well in land governments. A compromise plan was adopted and representatives were chosen by the population which benefited larger states. Two senators were chosen by country governments which benefited smaller states.

When the Constitution was ratified in 1787, the ratio of the populations of large states to small states was roughly 12 to ane. The Connecticut Compromise gave every state, large and pocket-size, an equal vote in the Senate. Since each state has two senators, residents of smaller states take more clout in the Senate than residents of larger states. However, since 1787, the population disparity between big and pocket-size states has grown. For instance, in 2006 California had 70 times the population of Wyoming.

Congress Hall Committee Room in Philadelphia: The second committee room upstairs in Congress Hall, Philadelphia, PA.

Critics, such equally constitutional scholar Sanford Levinson, accept suggested that the population disparity works against residents of large states and causes a steady redistribution of resources from large states to small states. All the same, others argue that the framers intended for the Connecticut Compromise to construct the Senate so that each land had equal footing that was not based on population. Critics contend that the result is successful for maintaining balance.

Members and Constituents

A major office for members of Congress is providing services to constituents. Constituents request assistance with problems. Providing services helps members of Congress win votes because elections can brand a divergence in close races. Congressional staff can assist citizens navigate government bureaucracies. One academic described the complex intertwined relation between lawmakers and constituents as "home way. "

Congressional Style

According to political scientist Richard Fenno, at that place are specific means to categorize lawmakers. Get-go, is if they are more often than not motivated by reelection: these are lawmakers who never met a voter they did not like and provide excellent elective services. 2nd, is if they have proficient public policy: these are legislators who burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership. 3rd, is if they have power in the chamber: these are lawmakers who spend serious time forth the runway of the House floor or in the Senate cloakroom ministering to the needs of their colleagues.

Service to Constituents

A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents.

Learning Objectives

Summarize the services Congresspersons and their staff provide constituents

Central Takeaways

Key Points

• A major function for members of Congress is providing services to constituents. Constituents asking assistance with problems. Providing services helps members of Congress win votes and elections and tin can make a deviation in close races.
• The fellow member's constituency, important regional issues, prior background and experience may influence the choice of specialty. Senators often cull a unlike specialty from that of the other senator from their country to prevent overlap.
• Senators often choose a dissimilar specialty from that of the other senator from their state to foreclose overlap. Some committees specialize in running the business of other committees and exert a powerful influence over all legislation.

Key Terms

• constituency: An interest group or fan base.

Groundwork

A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents. Constituents asking aid with problems. Providing services helps members of Congress win votes and elections and tin can make a divergence in close races. Congressional staff can help citizens navigate regime bureaucracies. I academic described the complex intertwined relationship between lawmakers and constituents as "dwelling style. "

Committees investigate specialized subjects and advise the entire Congress well-nigh choices and merchandise-offs. The fellow member's constituency, important regional issues, and prior background and experience may influence the option of specialty. Senators often choose a different specialty from that of the other senator from their land to prevent overlap. Some committees specialize in running the business of other committees and exert a powerful influence over all legislation; for instance, the House Means and Means Committee have considerable influence over House diplomacy.

2004 Presidential Election by County: This map shows the vote in the 2004 presidential election by canton. All major Republican geographic constituencies are visible: red dominates the map, showing Republican strength in the rural areas, while the denser areas (i.eastward., cities) are blue. Notable exceptions include the Pacific coast; New England; the Black Belt, areas with loftier Native American populations; and the heavily Hispanic parts of the Southwest.

Congressional Style

One manner to categorize lawmakers, according to political scientist Richard Fenno, is past their general motivation:

• re-election, these are lawmakers who "never met a voter they did non like" and provide first-class elective services
• practiced public policy, legislators who brighten a reputation for policy expertise and leadership
• power in the chamber, lawmakers who spend serious fourth dimension along the rail of the House floor or in the Senate cloakroom ministering to the needs of their colleagues – famous legislator Henry Dirt in the mid-nineteenth century was described as an "outcome entrepreneur" who looked for issues to serve his ambitions
• gridlock, unless Congress tin begin to piece of work together through compromise, each member will be removed, by 1 means or another (i.e., by CPA).

The Oversight Function

The U.s. Congress has oversight of the Executive Branch and other U.South. federal agencies.

Learning Objectives

Depict congressional oversight and the varied bases whence its authorization is derived

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Congressional oversight is the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.
• Congress exercises this power largely through its congressional committee organization. Withal, oversight, which dates to the primeval days of the Republic, as well occurs in a broad multifariousness of congressional activities and contexts.
• It is implied in the legislature 's authority, amid other powers and duties, to appropriate funds, enact laws, heighten and support armies, provide for a Navy, declare war, and impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, and other civil officers.

Key Terms

• subpoena: A writ requiring someone to appear in courtroom to give testimony.

Background

Congressional oversight refers to oversight by the United States Congress of the Executive Co-operative, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight is the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation. Congress exercises this power largely through its congressional committee system. All the same, oversight, which dates to the earliest days of the Commonwealth, also occurs in a wide variety of congressional activities and contexts. These include potency, appropriations, investigative, and legislative hearings by standing committees; specialized investigations past select committees; and reviews and studies past congressional support agencies and staff.

Congress's oversight potency derives from its "unsaid" powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules. It is an integral part of the American organization of checks and balances.

Report on the Organization of Congress

Oversight is an implied rather than an enumerated power under the U.S. Constitution. The regime 'south charter does not explicitly grant Congress the authority to conduct inquiries or investigations of the executive, to take access to records or materials held by the executive, or to effect subpoenas for documents or testimony from the executive.

There was little discussion of the ability to oversee, review, or investigate executive action at the Ramble Convention of 1787 or subsequently in the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of ratification of the Constitution. The lack of debate was because oversight and its attendant authority were seen every bit an inherent power of representative assemblies, which enacted public police.

Oversight also derives from the many, varied express powers of the Congress in the Constitution. It is implied in the legislature's authority, amid other powers and duties, to appropriate funds, enact laws, enhance and back up armies, provide for a Navy, declare war, and impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, and other civil officers. Congress could not reasonably or responsibly do these powers without knowing what the executive was doing; how programs were being administered, by whom, and at what price; and whether officials were obeying the law and complying with legislative intent.

The Supreme Court of the United states of america made the oversight powers of Congress legitimate, discipline to constitutional safeguards for civil liberties, on several occasions. For case, in 1927 the High Court constitute that in investigating the administration of the Justice Department, Congress was because a discipline "on which legislation could be had or would be materially aided by the data which the investigation was calculated to elicit. "

Activities and Avenues

Oversight occurs through a broad variety of congressional activities and avenues. Some of the nigh publicized are the comparatively rare investigations by select committees into major scandals or executive branch operations gone awry. Examples are temporary select committee inquiries into: Prc's acquisition of U.South. nuclear weapons information, in 1999; the Iran-Contra matter, in 1987; intelligence bureau abuses, in 1975-1976, and "Watergate," in 1973-1974. The precedent for this kind of oversight goes dorsum ii centuries: in 1792, a special House commission investigated the defeat of an Army force past confederated Indian tribes.

Jim Greenwood Committee Chair: Congressman Jim Greenwood, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, gavels to start the hearing on human cloning.

The Public-Education Role of Congress

The Library of Congress provides public information and educates the public nigh legislation among other full general information.

Learning Objectives

Requite examples of the various roles the Library Congress plays in public instruction

Key Takeaways

Cardinal Points

• Putnam focused his efforts on making the Library more accessible and useful for the public and for other libraries. He instituted the interlibrary loan service, transforming the Library of Congress into what he referred to every bit a "library of last resort".
• Based in the Progressive era 's philosophy of science equally a problem-solver, and modeled after successful inquiry branches of country legislatures, the LRS would provide informed answers to Congressional enquiry inquiries on virtually any topic.
• The library is open to the general public for academic enquiry and tourists. Only those who are issued a Reader Identification Card may enter the reading rooms and admission the collection.

Key Terms

• endowment: The invested funds of a non-for-profit institution.

Background

The Library of Congress, spurred by the 1897 reorganization, began to grow and develop more rapidly. Herbert Putnam held the office for 40 years from 1899 to 1939, entering into the position ii years before the Library became the first in the United states to concur one 1000000 volumes. Putnam focused his efforts on making the Library more accessible and useful for the public and for other libraries. He instituted the interlibrary loan service, transforming the Library of Congress into what he referred to equally a library of concluding resort. Putnam also expanded Library access to "scientific investigators and duly qualified individuals" and began publishing primary sources for the benefit of scholars.

Library of Congress: The collections of the Library of Congress include more than 32 million cataloged books and other print materials in 470 languages; more than 61 million manuscripts.

Putnam's tenure also saw increasing multifariousness in the Library's acquisitions. In 1903, he persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to transfer past executive order the papers of the Founding Fathers from the Country Department to the Library of Congress. Putnam expanded foreign acquisitions as well.

In 1914, Putnam established the Legislative Reference Service as a separative administrative unit of the Library. Based in the Progressive era'southward philosophy of science as a problem-solver, and modeled after successful research branches of country legislatures, the LRS would provide informed answers to Congressional enquiry inquiries on almost any topic. In 1965, Congress passed an human activity allowing the Library of Congress to establish a trust fund board to accept donations and endowments, giving the Library a role as a patron of the arts.

The Library received the donations and endowments of prominent individuals such equally John D. Rockefeller, James B. Wilbur and Archer M. Huntington. Gertrude Clarke Whittall donated 5 Stradivarius violins to the Library and Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge's donations paid for a concert hall inside the Library of Congress edifice and the establishment of an honorarium for the Music Division. A number of chairs and consultantships were established from the donations, the best known of which is the Poet Laureate Consultant.

Library of Congress Expansion

The Library'south expansion eventually filled the Library's Chief Building, despite shelving expansions in 1910 and 1927, forcing the Library to expand into a new structure. Congress caused nearby land in 1928 and approved construction of the Annex Building (later the John Adams Edifice) in 1930. Although delayed during the Depression years, it was completed in 1938 and opened to the public in 1939.

When Putnam retired in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Archibald MacLeish equally his successor. Occupying the mail service from 1939 to 1944 during the tiptop of World War 2, MacLeish became the nearly visible Librarian of Congress in the Library'southward history. MacLeish encouraged librarians to oppose totalitarianism on behalf of commonwealth; dedicated the Due south Reading Room of the Adams Building to Thomas Jefferson, commissioning artist Ezra Winter to paint 4 themed murals for the room; and established a "democracy alcove" in the Primary Reading Room of the Jefferson Edifice for important documents such as the Declaration, Constitution and Federalist Papers.

Even the Library of Congress assisted during the war effort. These efforts ranged from the storage of the Annunciation of Independence and the Usa Constitution in Fort Knox for safekeeping to researching atmospheric condition data on the Himalayas for Air Forcefulness pilots. MacLeish resigned in 1944 to go Banana Secretary of State, and President Harry Truman appointed Luther H. Evans as Librarian of Congress. Evans, who served until 1953, expanded the Library's acquisitions, cataloging and bibliographic services every bit much as the fiscal-minded Congress would allow, simply his main accomplishment was the creation of Library of Congress Missions around the globe. Missions played a multifariousness of roles in the postwar world: the mission in San Francisco assisted participants in the coming together that established the United nations, the mission in Europe acquired European publications for the Library of Congress and other American libraries, and the mission in Japan aided in the creation of the National Nutrition Library.

In 2016, Dr. Carla Hayden was appointed as the 14th Librarian of Congress, the starting time woman, and the start African-American to serve in the position.The library is open to the full general public for academic research and tourists. Only those who are issued a Reader Identification Card may enter the reading rooms and access the drove. The Reader Identification Card is available in the Madison edifice to persons who are at least 16 years of historic period upon presentation of a government issued motion-picture show identification (e.g. driver'south license, state ID card or passport). However, but members of Congress, Supreme Courtroom Justices, their staff, Library of Congress staff and certain other government officials may actually remove items from the library buildings. Members of the general public with Reader Identification Cards must employ items from the library drove inside the reading rooms only. Since 1902, libraries in the United States have been able to request books and other items through interlibrary loan from the Library of Congress if these items are non readily available elsewhere.

The Conflict-Resolution Office

Both the Senate and the House have a conflict-resolution procedure earlier a beak is passed as a piece of legislation.

Learning Objectives

Summarize the steps by which a neb becomes police

Fundamental Takeaways

Key Points

• Representatives innovate a bill while the Business firm is in session by placing information technology in the hopper on the Clerk's desk-bound. It is assigned a number and referred to a commission. The committee studies each pecker intensely at this phase.
• Each bill goes through several stages in each firm including consideration past a committee and advice from the Government Accountability Role. Most legislation is considered past standing committees, which have jurisdiction over a particular subject such as Agriculture or Appropriations.
• Once a neb is approved by 1 house, it is sent to the other house which may laissez passer, turn down, or ameliorate it. For the neb to become law, both houses must concur to identical versions of the beak.
• After passing through both houses, a neb is sent to the president for blessing. The president may sign it making it law or veto information technology and return it to Congress with his objections. A vetoed bill tin all the same become law if each house of Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds majority.
• If Congress is adjourned during this catamenia, the president may veto legislation passed at the end of a congressional session just by ignoring it. This maneuver is known as a pocket veto. Information technology cannot be overridden by the adjourned Congress.

Central Terms

• appropriation: Public funds set aside for a specific purpose.
• amend: To make a formal alteration in legislation by adding, deleting, or rephrasing.

Background

Representatives innovate a bill while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper on the Clerk's desk. It is assigned a number and referred to a commission. At this stage, the committee studies each nib intensely. Drafting statutes requires "great skill, knowledge, and feel" and can sometimes take a year or more. On occasion, lobbyists write legislation and submit it to a member for introduction. Joint resolutions are the normal way to propose a constitutional subpoena or declare war. On the other mitt, concurrent resolutions (passed by both houses) and simple resolutions (passed by only one house) do not have the force of law, but they limited the opinion of Congress or regulate procedure. Any member of either business firm may introduce bills. Yet, the Constitution provides states that: All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. While the Senate cannot originate revenue and appropriation bills, it has the power to amend or pass up them. Congress has sought means to establish advisable spending levels.

Bill and Resolutions

Each pecker goes through several stages in each house including consideration by a committee and advice from the Government Accountability Office. Almost legislation is taken into consideration by continuing committees, which take jurisdiction over a detail subject such every bit Agriculture or Appropriations. The House has twenty standing committees; the Senate has 16. Standing committees meet at to the lowest degree in one case each month. Most all standing committee meetings for transacting business must be open to the public unless the commission publicly votes to close the coming together. A committee might call for public hearings on of import bills. A chair who belongs to the majority party and a ranking member of the minority political party atomic number 82 each committee. Witnesses and experts tin can nowadays their example for or against a bill. So, a bill may go to what is called a marking-upwardly session where commission members debate the bill'due south claim. The committee members may offer amendments or revisions. Committees may likewise amend the bill, simply the full business firm holds the ability to accept or refuse commission amendments. After fence, the committee votes whether it wishes to report the measure to the full house. If a bill is tabled, and so it is rejected. If amendments are extensive, sometimes a new pecker with amendments built in will be submitted every bit a so-called "make clean bill" with a new number. Generally, members who have been in Congress longer accept greater seniority and therefore greater power.

U.S. Firm Commission: The Firm Financial Services Commission meets. Committee members sit down in the tiers of raised chairs, while individuals testifying and audience members sit beneath.

A bill, that reaches the floor of the full house, can be unproblematic or complex. Information technology begins with an enacting formula such as "Exist it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. " Consideration of a bill requires, itself, a rule which is a uncomplicated resolution specifying the particulars of debate—time limits, possibility of farther amendments, and such. Each side has equal time and members can yield to other members who wish to speak. Sometimes opponents seek to recommit a bill, which means to change part of it. Generally, give-and-take requires a quorum, commonly half of the full number of representatives, earlier discussion can begin, although there are exceptions. The business firm may fence and amend the bill. The precise procedure used past the Firm and Senate differs. A final vote on the nib follows.

Once a bill is approved by one house, it is sent to the other which may pass, decline, or amend it. For the bill to become law, both houses must agree to identical versions of the bill. If the second house amends the bill, then the differences between the two versions must be reconciled in a conference committee. This is an ad hoc commission that includes both senators and representatives and uses a reconciliation process to limit budget bills. Both Houses use a budget enforcement mechanism informally known every bit "pay-as-you-get" or "pay-become" which discourages members from because acts which increase budget deficits. If both houses concur to the version reported by the briefing commission, the neb passes, otherwise information technology fails.

The Constitution, yet, requires a recorded vote if demanded past 1-fifth of the members present. If the vocalization vote is unclear or if the thing is controversial, a recorded vote usually happens.

After passage by both houses, a beak is enrolled and sent to the president for approval. The president may sign it making information technology law. If the pecker is vetoed, the president returns it to Congress with his objections. A vetoed bill can yet become law if each firm of Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. However, if Congress is adjourned during this period, the president may veto legislation passed at the end of a congressional session simply past ignoring it. This maneuver is known as a pocket veto. It cannot be overridden by the adjourned Congress.

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Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-politicalscience/chapter/the-nature-and-function-of-congress/

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