Politics Resource Center Political Science Factsheet The United States Congress - Page 1 Select a Feature... Politics Main Page General Resources Classic Texts Online Articles & Essays Political/Social Issues Libertarian Resources Videos & DVDs Politics Resource Center Main Page
Books about Politics and Current Events in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		The U.S. Congress is the national legislative body in the United States. It consists of two "bodies," one being the House of Representatives and the other being the Senate. This political science factsheet will give you information about the powers of Congress, qualifications for entering Congress, a summary of House-Senate differences, some interesting congressional trivia, and other resources. Also check out their respective websites for more information: United States House of Representatives and United States Senate. THE POWERS OF CONGRESS To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. To borrow money. To regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states. To establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcy. To coin money, set its value, and punish counterfeiting. To fix the standard of weights and measures. To establish a post office and post roads. To issue patents and copyrights for inventors and authors. To create courts inferior to the Supreme Court. To define and punish piracies, felonies on the high seas, and crimes against the law of nations. To declare war. To raise and support an army and navy and make rules for their governance. To provide for a militia (reserving to the states the right to appoint militia officers and to train the militia under congressional rules). To exercise exclusive legislative powers over the seat of government (the District of Columbia) and over places purchased as federal facilities. "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 in the government of the United States." Article I, section 8, of the Constitution of the United States The House and Senate meet at opposite ends of the Capitol building. When there is a joint session of Congress, the senators sit with the representatives in the House chamber. Though the most important work of Congress goes on in committee meetings, which are held in office buildings behind the Capitol, some important political negotiations occur in the offices surrounding the chambers, especially in the cloakrooms (lounges), the offices of the majority and minority leaders, of the Speaker and the vice president, and of the secretary of the Senate. Qualifications for Entering Congress Representative Must be twenty-five years of age (when seated, not when elected). Must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years. Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected. Senator Must be thirty years of age (when seated, not when elected). Must have been a citizen of the United States for nine years. Must be an inhabitant of the state from which elected. A Little Congressional Vocabulary Filibuster: a technique by which a small number of senators attempt to defeat a measure by talking it to death, that is, by speaking continuously and at such length as to induce the supporters of the measure to drop it in order to get on with the Senate's business. Whip: a party leader who makes certain that party members are present for a vote and vote the way that the party wishes. Caucus: a closed meeting of the members of a political party, either to select a candidate for office or to agree on a legislative position. Rider: a provision added to a piece of legislation that is not germane to the bill's purpose. SUMMARY OF HOUSE-SENATE DIFFERENCES House 435 members serving two-year terms. House members have only one major committee assignment, thus tend to be policy specialists. Speaker's referral of bills to committee is hard to challenge. Committees almost always consider legislation first. Scheduling and rules controlled by majority party. Rules Committee powerful, controls time of debate, admissibility of amendments. Debate usually limited to one hour. Nongermane amendments may not be introduced from the floor. Senate 100 members serving rotating six-year terms. Senators have two or more major committee assignments, tend to be policy generalists. Referral decisions easy to challenge. Committee consideration easily bypassed. Scheduling and rules generally agreed to by majority and minority leaders. Rules Committee weak, few limits on debate or amendments. Unlimited debate unless shortened by unanimous consent or by invoking cloture. Nongermane amendments may be introduced. Congressional Trivia First Woman in Congress Jeanette Rankin (Montana, 1916) First Black in Congress Joseph. H. Rainey (South Carolina, 1870) Longest Session of Congress 366 days (75th Congress, meeting from January 3, 1940 to January 3, 1941) Shortest Length of Time for States to Ratify a Constitutional Amendment 3 months, 7 days - 26th Amendment Longest Period of Time to Ratify an Amendment 3 years, 11 months - 22nd Amendment Longest Service in Congress by One Member 57 years, Carl Hayden of Arizona, 1912-1969 First Member of the House to be Elected President James Madison First Member of the Senate to be Elected President James Monroe The Only Woman to Serve in the House at the Same Time as Her Son Francis Bolton, whose son was Oliver Bolton (served together 1953-1957, 1963-1965). Longest Speech Ever Made in the Senate 24 hours, 18 minutes, made on August 28-29, 1957, by Senator Strom Thurmond (D-S.C.), seeking to block a civil-rights bill. First Woman Elected to the Senate for a Full Term Who Was Not Preceded in Office by Her Husband Nancy Landon Kassebaum, elected in 1978 from Kansas Legend for the above diagram: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1. House Minority Whip 2. Lobby 3. House Chamber 4. Cloakrooms 5. Speaker of the House 6. Ways and Means Committee 7. House Minority Leader SENATE 8. Senate Minority Leader 9. Office of the Secretary 10. Senate Chamber 11. Cloakrooms 12. Senate Majority Leader 13. Vice President Learn More... Congress for Dummies, by David Silverberg The House and Senate Explained: The People's Guide to Congress, by Ellen Greenberg Go to Page Two of this Political Science Factsheet   Enrich Your Life With A Book About Politics & Current Events Enrich Your Life With A Politics & Current Events Magazine Academy Showcase Specials
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