What Is the Function of the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is ane of the 2 houses of the U.s.a. Congress.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the organizational structure of the Firm of Representatives and the qualifications for its members

Primal Takeaways

Cardinal Points

• The major power of the House is to pass federal legislation that affects the entire country although its bills must also be passed by the Senate and further agreed to by the U.S. President before becoming police.
• Each U.S. state is represented in the Business firm in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least i representative. The about populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives.
• In some states, the Republican and Democratic parties cull their candidates for each commune in their political conventions in spring or early summertime, which frequently use unanimous voice votes to reverberate either conviction in the incumbent or considering of bargaining in earlier private discussions.
• The House 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, just the choice of members is actually made by the political parties.
• The Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to impeach federal officials for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors and empowers the Senate to try such impeachment.

Primal 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 Firm of Representatives

Background

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the U.s. Congress (bicameral legislature). It is frequently referred to as the House. The other house is the Senate.

US Congress in Present Times: Using Weber'southward theory of stratification, members of the U.Southward. Congress are at the top of the social bureaucracy because they have loftier ability and condition, despite having relatively piddling wealth on average.

The composition and powers of the House are established in Article one of the Us Constitution. The major power of the House is to pass federal legislation that affects the unabridged country although its bills must as well be passed by the Senate and further agreed to past the U.s.a. President before condign law (unless both the House and Senate re-pass the legislation with a ii-thirds majority in each bedroom). The House has several sectional powers: the power to initiate acquirement bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the President in case there is no majority in the Electoral College.

Each U.Due south. state is represented in the House in proportion to its population but is entitled to at to the lowest degree one representative. The most populous state, California, currently has 53 representatives. Police fixes the total number of voting representatives at 435. Each representative serves for a 2-twelvemonth term. The Speaker of the United States Firm of Representatives, who presides over the bedchamber, is elected past the members of the House, and is therefore traditionally the leader of the Firm Autonomous Conclave or the House Republican Conference, whichever of the 2 Congressional Membership Organizations has more (voting) members.

Apportionment

The population of U.Southward. Representatives is allocated to each of the fifty states and DC, ranked by population. DC (ranked 50) receives no seats in the Firm. Under Commodity I, Department ii of the Constitution, population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years, apportions seats in the House of Representatives among united states. Each state, however, is entitled to at least i Representative.

Qualifications

Commodity I, Section ii of the Constitution sets 3 qualifications for representatives. Each representative must: (i) be at to the lowest degree 20-five years old; (2) take been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years; and (3) be (at the time of the election ) an inhabitant of the state they represent. Members are non required to live in the district they represent, but they traditionally do. The age and citizenship qualifications for representatives are less than those for senators. The constitutional requirements of Article I, Section 2 for election to Congress is the maximum requirements that can be imposed on a candidate. Therefore, Article I, Department 5, which permits each Business firm to be the approximate of the qualifications of its own members does non allow either House to establish additional qualifications. Likewise, a country could not establish additional qualifications.

Demographics

Congress is constantly irresolute, constantly in flux. In recent times, the American south and west have gained Firm seats according to demographic changes recorded by the census and includes more than minorities and women although both groups are even so underrepresented, according to i view. While power balances among the dissimilar parts of government proceed to change, the internal structure of Congress is important to empathise along with its interactions with so-called intermediary institutions such equally political parties, borough associations, interest groups, and the mass media.

Elections

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

In nearly states, major party candidates for each district 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 district in their political conventions in jump or early summer. They frequently utilise unanimous vocalisation votes to reflect either conviction in the incumbent or as the result of bargaining in before individual discussions.

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

The Senate

The Senate is composed of two senators from each country who are granted sectional powers to confirm appointments and identify holds on laws.

Learning Objectives

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

Key Takeaways

Primal Points

• The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Commodity One of the U.S. Constitution. Two senators, regardless of population, correspond each U.S. country. Senators serve staggered six-yr terms.
• It has the power to consent to treaties as a precondition to their ratification and consenting or confirming appointments of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, other federal executive officials, military officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, and other federal uniformed officers.
• The Constitution stipulates that no constitutional amendment may be created to deprive a country 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 one-third of the seats are up for ballot every two years.
• Senate process depends not just on the rules, but besides on a variety of customs and traditions. The Senate usually waives some of its stricter rules past unanimous consent. Party leaders typically negotiate unanimous consent agreements beforehand.

Key Terms

• cloture: In legislative assemblies that permit unlimited debate (filibuster); a movement, procedure or rule, past which debate is concluded and so that a vote may exist taken on the thing. For example, in the The states Senate, a three-fifths bulk vote of the body is required to invoke cloture and terminate contend.
• bicameral: Having, or pertaining to, two separate legislative chambers or houses.

Background

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United states House of Representatives comprises the The states Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article Ane of the U.S. Constitution. Ii senators, regardless of population, represent each U.S. state. Senators serve staggered six-yr terms. The bedroom of the U.s.a. Senate is located in the northward wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., the national majuscule.

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

The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the Business firm. These include the power to consent to treaties as a precondition to their ratification. The senate may also consent to or confirm the appointment of Chiffonier 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 past the House.

The Constitution stipulates that no constitutional amendment may be created to deprive a state of its equal suffrage in the Senate without that land'due south consent. The Commune of Columbia and all other territories (including territories, protectorates, etc. ) are non entitled to representation in either House of the Congress. The District of Columbia elects two shadow senators, just they are officials of the D.C. urban center regime and not members of the U.South. Senate. The Us has had l states since 1959, thus the Senate has had 100 senators since 1959.

Qualifications

Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution sets 3 qualifications for senators: 1) they must exist at least 30 years onetime, 2) they must accept been citizens of the United States for at to the lowest degree the by ix years, and 3) they must be inhabitants of us they seek to represent at the fourth dimension of their ballot. The age and citizenship qualifications for senators are more than stringent than those for representatives. In Federalist No. 62, James Madison justified this arrangement by arguing that the "senatorial trust" called for a "greater extent of information and stability of character. "

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution disqualifies from the Senate any federal or state officers who had taken the requisite oath to support the Constitution, simply later on engaged in rebellion or aided the enemies of the United States. This provision, which came into force before long after the cease of the Civil War, was intended to prevent those who had sided with the Confederacy from serving.

Term and Elections

Senators serve terms of half-dozen years each. The terms are staggered and then that approximately one-third of the seats are upwardly for election every two years. This was accomplished past dividing the senators of the 1^st Congress into thirds (chosen classes), where the terms of one-third expired later two years, the terms of another tertiary expired afterward four, and the terms of the terminal third expired later half-dozen years. This system 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 land are not contested in the same full general ballot, except when a mid-term vacancy is existence filled. Current senators whose half-dozen-twelvemonth terms expire on Jan 3, 2013, vest to Grade I.

Daily Procedures

Senate procedure depends not only on the rules, but also on a variety of customs and traditions. The Senate commonly waives some of its stricter rules past unanimous consent. Party leaders typically negotiate unanimous consent agreements beforehand. A senator may block such an agreement, but in do, 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 lodge.

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

Holds tin can be overcome, just require time-consuming procedures such as filing cloture. Holds are considered private 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 agree.

The House and the Senate: Differences in Responsibilities and Representation

The US Congress is composed of the Business firm 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

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Congress is split into 2 chambers—the House of Representatives and Senate. Congress writes national legislation past dividing work into separate committees which specialize in unlike areas. Some members of Congress are elected by their peers to exist officers of these committees.
• The disparity betwixt the most and least populous states has grown since the Connecticut Compromise, which granted each state two members of the Senate and at to the lowest degree one member of the House of Representatives, for a full minimum of 3 presidential Electors, regardless of population.
• The Senate has several distinct powers. The "advice and consent " powers, such every bit the power to approve treaties, are a sole Senate privilege. The Firm, however, tin 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 by term lengths and the number of districts represented. With longer terms, fewer members and (in all but seven delegations) larger constituencies, senators may receive greater prestige.

Primal Terms

• gerrymandering: The exercise of redrawing electoral districts to proceeds an balloter advantage for a political party.
• apportionment: It is the process of allocating the political power of a ready of constituent voters among their representatives in a governing body.

Background

Congress is split into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress writes national legislation past dividing piece of work into separate committees which specialize in dissimilar areas. Some members of Congress are elected by their peers to be officers of these committees. Ancillary organizations such as the Authorities Accountability Office and the Library of Congress provide Congress with information, and members of Congress accept 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 Circulation and Representation

The Constitution stipulates that no constitutional subpoena may be created to deprive a state of its equal suffrage in the Senate without that state's consent. The District of Columbia and all other territories (including territories, protectorates, etc.) are non entitled to representation in either Firm of the Congress. The District of Columbia elects two shadow senators, simply they are officials of the D.C. city government and not members of the U.S. Senate. The Us has had l states since 1959, so the Senate has had 100 senators since 1959.

The disparity between the well-nigh and least populous states has grown since the Connecticut Compromise, which granted each state two members of the Senate and at least 1 member of the House of Representatives, for a full minimum of three presidential Electors, regardless of population. This means some citizens are finer an guild of magnitude better represented in the Senate than those in other states. For example, in 1787, Virginia had roughly x times the population of Rhode Island. Today, California has roughly 70 times the population of Wyoming, based on the 1790 and 2000 censuses. Seats in the Firm of Representatives are approximately proportionate to the population of each country, reducing the disparity of representation.

Firm of Representatives Apportionment and Representation

Under Article I, Department 2 of the Constitution, seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states by population, as determined past the census conducted every ten years. Each state, withal, is entitled to at least one Representative.

The just constitutional dominion relating to the size of the Business firm reads, "The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty K. Congress regularly increased the size of the Firm to account for population growth until it stock-still the number of voting House members at 435 in 1911. The number was temporarily increased to 437 in 1959 upon the admission of Alaska and Hawaii, seating i representative from each of those states without changing existing apportionment, and returned to 435 4 years later, 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.Southward. Virgin Islands are represented by one non-voting delegate each. Puerto Rico elects a Resident Commissioner, but other than having a 4-year term, the Resident Commissioner'southward part is identical to the delegates from the other territories. The five Delegates and Resident Commissioner may participate in debates. Prior to 2011, they were as well allowed to vote in committees and the Committee of the Whole when their votes would not be decisive.

States that are entitled to more than than one Representative are divided into unmarried-member districts. This has been a federal statutory requirement since 1967. Prior to that police force, general ticket representation was used by some states. Typically, states redraw these district lines after each demography, though they may do and then at other times. Each state 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 Comparing: In this example, the more 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 Business firm, the Senate has several distinct powers. For example, the "advice and consent" powers are a sole Senate privilege. The House, however, tin initiate spending bills and has exclusive authority to impeach officials and cull the President in an Balloter College deadlock. The Senate and Business firm are further differentiated by term lengths and the number of districts represented. Unlike the Senate, the Business firm is more hierarchically organized, with leadership roles such as the Whips and the Minority and Majority leaders playing a bigger role. Moreover, the procedure of the Business firm depends not only on the rules, only too on a variety of customs, precedents, and traditions. In many cases, the House waives some of its stricter rules (including fourth dimension limits on debates) by unanimous consent. With longer terms, fewer members and (in all merely seven delegations) larger constituencies, senators may receive greater prestige. The Senate has traditionally been considered a less partisan chamber because it's relatively minor membership might have a better hazard to banker compromises.

The Legislative Office

The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative procedure; legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers.

Learning Objectives

Differentiate between the powers granted by the Constitution to the House and Senate

Cardinal Takeaways

Key Points

• Article I of the Constitution states all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the The states, which shall consist of a Senate and a Business firm of Representatives. Both are equal partners in the legislative process; legislation can't be enacted without both their consent.
• Congress has implied powers deriving from the Constitution's Necessary and Proper Clause which permit Congress to "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution…".
• Legislative, oversight, and internal authoritative tasks are divided amid about ii hundred committees and subcommittees which get together information, evaluate alternatives, and identify issues.

Key Terms

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

Groundwork

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

Congress has implied powers deriving from the Constitution'south Necessary and Proper Clause which permit Congress to "brand all laws which shall be necessary and proper for conveying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the Usa, or in any department or officer thereof. " Broad interpretations of this clause and of the Commerce Clause, the enumerated power to regulate commerce, in rulings such every bit McCulloch v Maryland accept effectively widened the scope of Congress's legislative authority far beyond that prescribed in Section 8.

Congress Overseeing the Executive Co-operative

1 of Congress'southward foremost non-legislative functions is the power to investigate and oversee the executive branch. Congressional oversight is unremarkably delegated to committees and is facilitated by Congress's subpoena ability. Some critics take charged that Congress has, in some instances, failed to exercise an adequate job of overseeing the other branches of regime. In the Plame affair, critics, including Representative Henry A. Waxman, charged that Congress was non doing an acceptable job of oversight in this example. There take been concerns almost congressional oversight of executive actions such equally warrantless wiretapping, although others respond that Congress did investigate the legality of presidential decisions.

Congress also has the exclusive 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 accept assumed important legislative and monetary powers that should belong to Congress. So-chosen 'signing statements' are i way in which a president tin can "tip the balance of power betwixt Congress and the White Firm a niggling more in favor of the executive branch," according to one account. Past presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush-league, Neb Clinton, and George Due west. Bush take made public statements when signing congressional legislation nearly how they understand a bill or programme to execute it, and commentators including the American Bar Association take described this practise as against the spirit of the Constitution. There take been concerns that presidential potency to cope with financial crises is eclipsing the power of Congress

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

Power in Committees

Committees write legislation. While procedures such every bit the House discharge petition procedure can introduce bills to the Firm floor and finer bypass committee input, they are exceedingly difficult to implement without committee action. Committees have power and have been called ' independent fiefdoms'. Legislative, oversight, and internal authoritative tasks are divided among about two hundred committees and subcommittees which gather information, evaluate alternatives, and place issues. They propose solutions for consideration past the full chamber. They also perform the function of oversight past monitoring the executive branch and investigating wrongdoing.

Bills and resolutions

In order to form a beak or resolution, first the House Fiscal Services committee meets. Commission members sit in the tiers of raised chairs, while those testifying and audience members sit down below. Ideas for legislation tin come from members, lobbyists, state legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, or executive agencies. Unremarkably, the next step is for the proposal to be passed to a committee for review. A submitted proposal commonly takes one of the following forms:

• A pecker, which is a police force in the making.
• A joint resolution, which differs little from a pecker since both are treated similarly. Notwithstanding, a joint resolution originates from the House.
• A Concurrent Resolutions, which affects both House and Senate and thus are not presented to the president for approval later on.
• Uncomplicated resolutions, which concern only the Business firm or only the Senate.

The Representation Part

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

Learning Objectives

Depict the result of the Connecticut Compromise

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Since 1787, the population disparity between large and small states has grown. For example, in 2006 California had 70 times the population of Wyoming.
• Critics, such as constitutional scholar Sanford Levinson, take suggested that the population disparity works confronting residents of large states and causes a steady redistribution of resource from large states to small states.
• The Connecticut Compromise gave every state, large and pocket-size, an equal vote in the Senate. Since each state has 2 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 close races. Congressional staff tin can help citizens navigate government bureaucracies.

Cardinal Terms

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

Background

The two-chamber structure had functioned well in country governments. A compromise plan was adopted and representatives were called by the population which benefited larger states. Two senators were called by state 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 one. The Connecticut Compromise gave every state, large and small, an equal vote in the Senate. Since each state has two senators, residents of smaller states have more ascendancy in the Senate than residents of larger states. Withal, since 1787, the population disparity between large and small-scale states has grown. For instance, in 2006 California had lxx times the population of Wyoming.

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

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 large states to small states. However, others fence that the framers intended for the Connecticut Compromise to construct the Senate so that each state had equal footing that was non based on population. Critics fence that the upshot is successful for maintaining residue.

Members and Constituents

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

Congressional Mode

According to political scientist Richard Fenno, there are specific ways to categorize lawmakers. First, is if they are generally motivated by reelection: these are lawmakers who never met a voter they did not similar and provide excellent constituent services. Second, is if they take good public policy: these are legislators who burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership. Tertiary, is if they accept power in the chamber: these are lawmakers who spend serious time along the rail of the Business firm floor or in the Senate cloakroom ministering to the needs of their colleagues.

Service to Constituents

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

Learning Objectives

Summarize the services Congresspersons and their staff provide constituents

Key Takeaways

Key Points

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

Cardinal Terms

• constituency: An interest group or fan base of operations.

Background

A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents. Constituents request assistance with issues. Providing services helps members of Congress win votes and elections and can make a deviation in close races. Congressional staff can help citizens navigate government bureaucracies. One academic described the complex intertwined relationship between lawmakers and constituents as "domicile style. "

Committees investigate specialized subjects and advise the entire Congress about choices and merchandise-offs. The member'southward constituency, important regional problems, and prior groundwork and experience may influence the selection of specialty. Senators often choose a different specialty from that of the other senator from their state to prevent overlap. Some committees specialize in running the business of other committees and exert a powerful influence over all legislation; for example, the Business firm Ways and Ways 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.e., cities) are blue. Notable exceptions include the Pacific coast; New England; the Black Belt, areas with high Native American populations; and the heavily Hispanic parts of the Southwest.

Congressional Manner

Ane way to categorize lawmakers, according to political scientist Richard Fenno, is by their full general motivation:

• re-ballot, these are lawmakers who "never met a voter they did non similar" and provide excellent constituent services
• good public policy, legislators who burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership
• ability in the bedroom, lawmakers who spend serious fourth dimension along the rail of the Firm flooring or in the Senate cloakroom ministering to the needs of their colleagues – famous legislator Henry Clay in the mid-nineteenth century was described as an "upshot entrepreneur" who looked for bug to serve his ambitions
• gridlock, unless Congress tin can brainstorm to work together through compromise, each fellow member volition be removed, by one means or another (i.e., by CPA).

The Oversight Office

The U.s.a. Congress has oversight of the Executive Branch and other U.Due south. federal agencies.

Learning Objectives

Draw congressional oversight and the varied bases whence its potency is derived

Key Takeaways

Primal Points

• Congressional oversight is the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.
• Congress exercises this ability largely through its congressional committee system. However, oversight, which dates to the earliest days of the Commonwealth, also occurs in a wide variety of congressional activities and contexts.
• It is unsaid in the legislature 'southward say-so, among other powers and duties, to advisable funds, enact laws, raise and back up armies, provide for a Navy, declare state of war, and impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, and other civil officers.

Key Terms

• subpoena: A writ requiring someone to announced in court to requite testimony.

Background

Congressional oversight refers to oversight by the United States Congress of the Executive Branch, 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 commission system. Even so, oversight, which dates to the earliest days of the Republic, also occurs in a wide multifariousness of congressional activities and contexts. These include authorization, appropriations, investigative, and legislative hearings by standing committees; specialized investigations by select committees; and reviews and studies by congressional support agencies and staff.

Congress'south oversight authority derives from its "implied" powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules. Information technology is an integral part of the American system of checks and balances.

Study on the Organisation of Congress

Oversight is an unsaid rather than an enumerated power under the U.South. Constitution. The authorities 's charter does not explicitly grant Congress the authorization to conduct inquiries or investigations of the executive, to have 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 power to oversee, review, or investigate executive activity at the Ramble Convention of 1787 or after in the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of ratification of the Constitution. The lack of contend was considering oversight and its attendant potency were seen as an inherent power of representative assemblies, which enacted public police.

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

The Supreme Court of the The states fabricated the oversight powers of Congress legitimate, subject to constitutional safeguards for civil liberties, on several occasions. For instance, in 1927 the High Courtroom found that in investigating the administration of the Justice Department, Congress was considering a field of study "on which legislation could be had or would be materially aided by the information which the investigation was calculated to arm-twist. "

Activities and Avenues

Oversight occurs through a broad multifariousness of congressional activities and avenues. Some of the virtually publicized are the comparatively rare investigations by select committees into major scandals or executive branch operations gone awry. Examples are temporary select commission inquiries into: Mainland china's acquisition of U.S. nuclear weapons information, in 1999; the Islamic republic of iran-Contra affair, in 1987; intelligence agency abuses, in 1975-1976, and "Watergate," in 1973-1974. The precedent for this kind of oversight goes back two centuries: in 1792, a special House committee investigated the defeat of an Ground forces strength by 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 outset the hearing on human cloning.

The Public-Education Function of Congress

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

Learning Objectives

Give examples of the diverse roles the Library Congress plays in public education

Key Takeaways

Key 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 as a "library of terminal resort".
• Based in the Progressive era 's philosophy of scientific discipline equally a problem-solver, and modeled after successful enquiry branches of state legislatures, the LRS would provide informed answers to Congressional research inquiries on nigh any topic.
• The library is open up to the general public for academic research and tourists. Simply those who are issued a Reader Identification Carte may enter the reading rooms and access the collection.

Key Terms

• endowment: The invested funds of a not-for-profit establishment.

Groundwork

The Library of Congress, spurred by the 1897 reorganization, began to grow and develop more than rapidly. Herbert Putnam held the role for 40 years from 1899 to 1939, inbound into the position 2 years earlier the Library became the get-go in the United States to agree i million 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 as a library of concluding resort. Putnam also expanded Library admission to "scientific investigators and duly qualified individuals" and began publishing master 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 one thousand thousand manuscripts.

Putnam's tenure likewise saw increasing diverseness in the Library'southward acquisitions. In 1903, he persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to transfer by executive club the papers of the Founding Fathers from the State Department to the Library of Congress. Putnam expanded foreign acquisitions also.

In 1914, Putnam established the Legislative Reference Service as a separative administrative unit of the Library. Based in the Progressive era's philosophy of scientific discipline as a problem-solver, and modeled after successful research branches of state legislatures, the LRS would provide informed answers to Congressional research inquiries on near any topic. In 1965, Congress passed an human activity allowing the Library of Congress to plant 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 as John D. Rockefeller, James B. Wilbur and Archer 1000. Huntington. Gertrude Clarke Whittall donated five Stradivarius violins to the Library and Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge'southward donations paid for a concert hall within the Library of Congress building 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's expansion eventually filled the Library's Primary 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 Building) in 1930. Although delayed during the Depression years, information technology was completed in 1938 and opened to the public in 1939.

When Putnam retired in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Archibald MacLeish as his successor. Occupying the post from 1939 to 1944 during the peak of World War II, MacLeish became the near visible Librarian of Congress in the Library'due south history. MacLeish encouraged librarians to oppose totalitarianism on behalf of republic; dedicated the South Reading Room of the Adams Building to Thomas Jefferson, commissioning creative person Ezra Wintertime to pigment four themed murals for the room; and established a "commonwealth apse" in the Chief Reading Room of the Jefferson Building for important documents such equally the Declaration, Constitution and Federalist Papers.

Even the Library of Congress assisted during the war effort. These efforts ranged from the storage of the Proclamation of Independence and the Us Constitution in Fort Knox for safekeeping to researching weather data on the Himalayas for Air Strength pilots. MacLeish resigned in 1944 to get Assistant Secretary of State, and President Harry Truman appointed Luther H. Evans every bit Librarian of Congress. Evans, who served until 1953, expanded the Library's acquisitions, cataloging and bibliographic services as much as the fiscal-minded Congress would permit, just his primary achievement was the creation of Library of Congress Missions effectually the world. Missions played a multifariousness of roles in the postwar world: the mission in San Francisco assisted participants in the meeting that established the United Nations, the mission in Europe caused European publications for the Library of Congress and other American libraries, and the mission in Nihon aided in the creation of the National Nutrition Library.

In 2016, Dr. Carla Hayden was appointed as the 14th Librarian of Congress, the first adult female, and the offset African-American to serve in the position.The library is open to the general public for academic research and tourists. Only those who are issued a Reader Identification Card may enter the reading rooms and access the collection. The Reader Identification Card is available in the Madison edifice to persons who are at to the lowest degree 16 years of age upon presentation of a authorities issued picture identification (e.one thousand. commuter'southward license, state ID card or passport). However, only members of Congress, Supreme Courtroom Justices, their staff, Library of Congress staff and sure other government officials may actually remove items from the library buildings. Members of the general public with Reader Identification Cards must use items from the library collection within the reading rooms merely. 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 not readily available elsewhere.

The Conflict-Resolution Function

Both the Senate and the House have a conflict-resolution procedure before a bill is passed every bit a slice of legislation.

Learning Objectives

Summarize the steps by which a neb becomes law

Key Takeaways

Primal Points

• Representatives introduce a neb while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper on the Clerk'due south desk-bound. Information technology is assigned a number and referred to a committee. The committee studies each bill intensely at this stage.
• Each bill goes through several stages in each house including consideration by a committee and communication from the Authorities Accountability Office. About legislation is considered by standing committees, which have jurisdiction over a item subject such as Agriculture or Appropriations.
• Once a pecker is approved by i house, information technology is sent to the other house which may pass, decline, or amend it. For the beak to become law, both houses must agree to identical versions of the bill.
• Later on passing through both houses, a pecker is sent to the president for approving. The president may sign it making it law or veto information technology and render information technology to Congress with his objections. A vetoed bill can however become law if each firm of Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds bulk.
• If Congress is adjourned during this period, the president may veto legislation passed at the finish of a congressional session simply by ignoring it. This maneuver is known as a pocket veto. Information technology cannot be overridden past the adjourned Congress.

Central Terms

• appropriation: Public funds fix bated for a specific purpose.
• amend: To make a formal alteration in legislation by calculation, deleting, or rephrasing.

Background

Representatives innovate a bill while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper on the Clerk'southward desk. It is assigned a number and referred to a committee. At this stage, the committee studies each bill intensely. Drafting statutes requires "groovy skill, noesis, and experience" and can sometimes take a year or more. On occasion, lobbyists write legislation and submit it to a fellow member for introduction. Articulation resolutions are the normal style to propose a constitutional amendment or declare war. On the other hand, concurrent resolutions (passed by both houses) and elementary resolutions (passed by merely one house) do not have the force of constabulary, but they limited the opinion of Congress or regulate procedure. Whatever member of either house may introduce bills. However, the Constitution provides states that: All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the Firm of Representatives. While the Senate cannot originate acquirement and cribbing bills, it has the ability to amend or decline them. Congress has sought ways to found appropriate spending levels.

Neb and Resolutions

Each bill goes through several stages in each firm including consideration by a committee and advice from the Government Accountability Office. Near legislation is taken into consideration by standing committees, which accept jurisdiction over a particular subject such as Agriculture or Appropriations. The House has 20 standing committees; the Senate has 16. Standing committees meet at least one time each month. Almost all standing commission meetings for transacting business must be open up to the public unless the committee publicly votes to close the meeting. A commission might call for public hearings on important bills. A chair who belongs to the majority party and a ranking fellow member of the minority political party lead each committee. Witnesses and experts can nowadays their instance for or against a neb. Then, a bill may go to what is called a marking-up session where commission members debate the bill's claim. The committee members may offer amendments or revisions. Committees may also amend the bill, but the full house holds the power to accept or pass up commission amendments. Subsequently fence, the commission votes whether it wishes to report the measure out to the total house. If a bill is tabled, and so it is rejected. If amendments are extensive, sometimes a new neb with amendments built in volition be submitted as a so-called "make clean bill" with a new number. Mostly, members who have been in Congress longer have greater seniority and therefore greater power.

U.S. House Committee: The Firm Financial Services Committee meets. Committee members sit in the tiers of raised chairs, while individuals testifying and audition members sit below.

A bill, that reaches the flooring of the full business firm, tin be elementary or complex. It begins with an enacting formula such as "Be it enacted by the Senate and Business firm of Representatives of the United states of america of America in Congress assembled. " Consideration of a bill requires, itself, a rule which is a simple resolution specifying the particulars of contend—time limits, possibility of further 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 pecker, which means to change part of it. Generally, discussion requires a quorum, usually half of the total number of representatives, earlier discussion can begin, although in that location are exceptions. The business firm may argue and amend the bill. The precise procedure used by the Business firm and Senate differs. A final vote on the pecker follows.

One time a bill is canonical by one firm, it is sent to the other which may pass, pass up, or amend it. For the bill to go police, both houses must agree to identical versions of the pecker. If the second firm apology the bill, then the differences between the two versions must be reconciled in a conference commission. This is an advertising hoc commission that includes both senators and representatives and uses a reconciliation process to limit budget bills. Both Houses use a upkeep enforcement mechanism informally known as "pay-equally-yous-go" or "pay-become" which discourages members from considering acts which increase budget deficits. If both houses hold to the version reported by the conference committee, the nib passes, otherwise information technology fails.

The Constitution, however, requires a recorded vote if demanded by i-fifth of the members present. If the voice vote is unclear or if the affair is controversial, a recorded vote unremarkably happens.

Afterward passage by both houses, a bill is enrolled and sent to the president for approval. The president may sign it making it law. If the nib is vetoed, the president returns it to Congress with his objections. A vetoed nib can still become law if each house of Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. However, if Congress is adjourned during this menstruation, the president may veto legislation passed at the finish of a congressional session just by ignoring information technology. This maneuver is known as a pocket veto. Information technology 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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