Unit 4 Mastery Project

Kelly M, Katelyn N, Kylie S, Jon B

1. Identify and explain the organization of the Legislature

The legislature is broken down into two houses: the Senate and House
of Representatives. Each state receives two seats in Senate.
Representation in the House is determined by each states population.
The houses meet for 2 year terms which are broken down into 1 year
sessions unless the President calls for an emergency session. Each
house forms its own rules and selects its own leadership.

2. Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Legislature, both formal and informal.

There are 2 types of legislative powers: expressed(formal) and

implied(informal). Expressed powers are specifically written in the
constitution. An example is the federal power to declare war or coin
money. Implied powers are reasonably suggested based on the text of
the constitution. An example is the implied power to draft men into the
military based on the expressed power to raise armies and navy.

Identify and explain how Congress shares powers with the Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.

Congress shares powers with the Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy

through a system of checks and balances. The checks and balance
system ensures that no single branch of the government has too much
power over the other branches.

Discuss the implications of Congress sharing powers with each of the following: Executive, Judiciary, and
bureaucracy.

When Congress passes a bill, POTUS can veto the bill, but Congress can
override that veto with a majority vote but also the Supreme Court
can declare a bill unconstitutional. Another example would be when
POTUS selects the cabinet members Congress and the the Supreme
Court must first approve them.

Discuss the functions that Congress performs.

The functions that Congress performs would be: making laws, establish
and collect taxes, borrow money, hold impeachment trials of federal
officers, regulate interstate commerce, establish post offices, declare
war, raise and support an army, and with the necessary and proper
clause they can establish laws that they see fit.

Identify how the power of the Congress has/may evolve gradually

Congress holds a main power of lawmaking but have expanded beyond

that by enforcing the laws they create and and the Constitution in a way
that goes further than the enumerated powers without going too far. An
example of this is the power Congress has in amending the Constitution
in the case of the Supreme Court ruling a bill unconstitutional

Identify how the power of the Congress has/may changes dramatically as a result of crisis

In the event of a crisis Congress role becomes even more important.

Because one of the implied powers of congress falls under raising a
military, in the case of a crisis Congress would be in charge. In a
Presidential crisis, Congress hold the power to impeach a President
when seen necessary and during an election can break a tie in the
electoral college

Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and political parties

Congress is made up of both the Democratic and Republican party

which can be seen as problematic when fighting for a bill to get passed
that not both parties agree on

9. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and interest groups.

Interest groups will use the tactic of lobbying to their congressman or

congresswoman to try to influence their decisions by putting their vote
in favor of the interest group. Also, their influence will spread through
PACs or financial support, such as a doctor would do, since they would
not have the time to be lobbyists. Interest groups share information
with Congress, hoping to influence them. Through Legally Blonde, Elle
Woods got enough votes by using connections to lobby her way towards
the congressmen. In the end, it worked out, thus interest groups have a
role in politics, as their beliefs then influence the decision of Congress.

10. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and media.

Congress and the media have a strong relationship as the media is like
a hotspot for Congress to see the publics stance. The media provides
Congress with publicity, so it can strengthen their chance of getting reelected, such as Mr. Caos efforts. However, it can break one down by
highly publicizing scandals that are common in the world of politics. In
all, the media lets Congress have information accessible so they can
make decisions through the influence of the media. It lets their
constituents see how their congressman is doing in terms of voting for
them.

11. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and state and local governments.

Congress and state/local governments both correlate in terms of what is

good for the people. State/local governments depend on the decisions
of Congress, as they then fall in as a guideline for their own decisions as
a state/local government. However, state/local governments can work
with their congressman to get whats good for their people done.
State/local governments arent quite as broad as Congress, and usually
make decisions that only benefit/pertain towards the residents, while
Congress will make these decisions that influence the entire country.