congress
A handy guide to all Congress happenings on both sides of the aisle. Thank goodness for this political body that keeps Presidential power in check.
The House of Representatives
The House makes up half of Congress as the government’s legislative branch. The House has 325 voting members, their positions are based on the population of the 50 states. A representative is referred to as a congressman or congresswoman. The number of voters for the House was set at 435 on August 8, 1911, in effect since 1913. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to the population. Article one, Section two of the Constitution has provided for the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives, as there are five delegates representing the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The Way Congress Works
Congress is the legislative body of the United States government. Our lawmakers make decisions that affect us on a federal level, and federal generally refers to the entire country. Individual state law is different from multi-national law that affects the entire country. Each state in the Union is represented by two law makers from the state. There are two chambers that make up Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Congress has 535 voting members, and 100 Senators. There are six non-voting members representing Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, The Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
United States Congress
There are three branches of government, judicial, legislative, and executive. The President leads the executive branch, while the judicial branch's highest office is the Supreme Court of the United States. Congress has the power to make laws, as the legislative branch of the United States system of governance. Congress is the only branch of the government elected by the people. The people have given Congress the power to make the laws, to declare war, and to raise public money, as well as to impeach and try federal officers. Congress approves or impeaches the President, and has the power to approve treaties negotiated by the executive branch, as well as help out with oversight and major investigations.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is made up of the California State Assembly and 80 members. The California State Senate has 40 members, with both houses of the legislature convening at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. I want to serve the California State Legislature as a member someday because it is one of ten full-time state legislatures in the United States. The State assembly consists of 61 Democrats, and 18 Republicans with one vacancy, while the Senate is composed of 29 Democrats, and 11 Republicans. There was a brief period between 1995 and 1996 where Republicans ran the show, the Democrats have run the California Assembly since the 1970 election.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The 27th Amendment
Gregory Watson was an undergrad at the University of Texas, Austin, who rediscovered a forgotten amendment, the 27th Amendment to be accurate. This Amendment had come about on September 25, 1789, including eleven other proposed amendments. The first Congress had wanted to address the issue of salaries for Congress. In 1982, Watson had dredged up this amendment by writing a paper about it. This amendment had not been fully ratified in the 18th century, as it had become constitutional on May 5, 1992, because this was a ratification period of 202 years, 7 months and 10 days when this amendment was finally ratified.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Bryan Watch: Commerce/Justice
On June 20 and 21, the House debated more amendments to the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill (HR 3055). There were 31 votes, 23 party line and 8 non-party line. Steil sided with the Republicans 21 out of 23 times on HR 3055 amendment votes, for a support score of 91 percent.
By John Heckenlively7 years ago in The Swamp
Bryan Watch June 1
We have a first this week on Bryan Watch. Representative Steil’s first extreme vote, Roll Call #232 (June 3). Steil was one of 58 Republicans to vote against HR 2157, the supplemental appropriations bill for FY 2019. The bill would provide $17 billion in relief for victims of hurricanes in the Carolinas and Georgia, typhoons in the Pacific, and flooding in the Midwest.
By John Heckenlively7 years ago in The Swamp
Bryan Watch: May Week 3
There were two major issues this week in the House: Equality for LGBTQ citizens, and expanding access to health care. The week closed with the House passing HR 5, The Equality Act, just in time for Gay Pride month in June. Steil joined with most Republicans in voting against it (RC 217, May 17).
By John Heckenlively7 years ago in The Swamp
