How a Bill Becomes a Law
What is the first step in the process of making a bill into a law?
Introduce the Bill
What is one key difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives in terms of membership?
Many answers
What are enumerated powers?
Powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution
What are implied powers?
Powers not explicitly given to Congress, but suggested in the Constitution
What does representation mean (in terms of Congress)?
-Is the demographic ratios of Congressmen equal to that of the population
Where does a bill go to be researched and debated?
Committee
How long is the term for a Senator compared to a House member?
House- 2 years
List three specific enumerated powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.
Taxing Power, Spending Power, Borrow Money, Regulate Commerce, Establish Rules of Naturalization, Coin Money, Establish Standards Weights and Measures, Establish Post Offices, Enforce Copyright, Declare War, Define and Punish Piracy, Raise and Support Army, Provide and Maintain Navy
What is the name of the clause that grants Congress Implied Powers?
-Necessary and Proper Clause
-Elastic Clause
Is the amount of women in Congress representative of the population?
No
What is the significance of the conference committee in the legislative process?
Iron out differences between the Senate and House versions of the Bill
Compare the size of the Senate to the House of Representatives.
Senate- 100 members
House- 435 members
Why are enumerated powers important for the functioning of the federal government?
-They give Congress the power to make legislation
-It limits the power of the federal government
-Gives these powers to our most representative branch of government
Discuss the significance of Alexander Hamilton and the National Bank in regard to implied powers.
The creation of the National Bank saw Congress exercising Implied Powers.
Name an ethnic group that is significantly underrepresented in Congress.
Hispanic, Asian, Native American
Is our lawmaking process good? Answer yes or no and provide a reason why you think so.
TBD
What unique power does the House of Representatives have that the Senate does not?
Introduce tax legislation
There are many powers that are not given to Congress. Whose do these powers belong to?
The State
How do implied powers allow Congress to adapt to changing circumstances?
TBD
Discuss the significance of diversity in Congress.
Determines how representative laws and bills are of the needs of the people
Provide 6 steps a bill must go through to become a law (do not create little mini steps, think of the 9 steps from your handout). Your end point should be the bill making it out of Congress.
1. Bill Introduced
2. Bill sent to committee
3.Bill debated and voted on
4.Bill sent to opposite chamber for similar process
5.Conference Committee (if necessary)
6.Sent to the president to sign or veto
What are the 2 chambers' role in the lawmaking process?
-Where bills are introduced
-Sent to committee, debated, voted on, sent to other chamber
What Article and Section are enumerated powers of Congress listed under?
Article 1 Section 8
What Article, Section, and Clause is the Necessary and Proper Clause found in?
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18
What trends can be observed in the demographics of Congress over the past few decades?
118th Congress is the most representative in history, but not completely representative.