F3: Congress

A problem that I want to change in the United States is the minimum wage payment. Although it is done on a state by state basis, the federal government could suggest a law to make minimum wage enough for a family of three to live off of. It's unfair that a person who has to support a giant family must make sacrifices for their needs just so their family can be fed or use their utilities.
Recently a group a senators tried to live off of food stamps, and realized they could not survive. Does it really need to take that much for America to change a law that has been in place for years.

F8: Congress Questions

A. HOUSE & SENATE DIFFERENCES

1. There are 435 seats in the House, and 100 seats in the Senate.
2. There are only 2 seats held in Senate and 11 seats in the House of Representatives
3. Representatives get two years in office, while Senators get six..
4. The Senate can conduct filibusterers and approve treaties made by the executive branch.
5. The House can Impeach a President and also vote for a president in the electoral college.
6. The House can ask to Impeach a President, but only the Senate is allowed to carry out the trial. .

B. IMPORTANT COMMITTEES: Look up standing committees and conference committees.

1. United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
2. The Committee on Government Operations
3. The conference committee, which works out any difference between the House and Senate bills
4. The United States House Committee on Rules

C. MORE FROM THE CONSTITUTION

1. If Congress adjourns within the 10 day period of the pocket veto
2. The President can be impeached if he has committed treason, bribery, or other high crimes.
3. Congress can declare war as well as override President's veto.
4. Congress can Impeach and remove judges and can create lower federal courts.
5. The 17th amendment allowed a direct vote to pick US Senators.

D. OTHER VOCABULARY

1. This is when Congress reviews and monitors government agencies and the like.
2. They are there to vote for the "greater common good" even if it interferes with their own short term goal.
3. The president as full control over how World War II would be handled.
4. The congressional budget office provides economic data to congress.

E. IMPORTANT JOBS

1. A whip ensures that there is party discipline in the Legislative branch.
2. The job goes to the senior member of the majority party in the senate.
3. The President of the Senate is also the Vice President of the United States.

EXTRA CREDIT: WHO HOLDS THE JOBS? (This can earn you extra points on the quiz).

1. Speaker of the House of Representatives: John Boenher
2. House Majority Leader & House Majority Whip: Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy.
3. House Minority Leader & House Minority Whip: Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer
4. Senate Majority Leader & Senate Majority Whip: Harry Reid, Richard Durbin
5. Senate Minority Leader & Senate Minority Whip: Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn
6. Senate President Pro Tempore: Patrick Leahy
7. President of the Senate: Joe Biden

F5: Your own bill

________________________________________________________________
110th CONGRESS

1st Session

HR.1333

To establish benefits and ban discrimination against same sex couples

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2014

Miss CABELL (for herself) introduced the following bill to the House of Education and Workforce, the Committee of Financial Services, and the Judiciary Committee

________________________________________________________________

I. Short Title

This Act may be cited as "The Orientation Enabling Act of 2014"

II. Findings and Purpose 

(a) Findings- Congress finds that-- 

1. Defense of Marriage act allows states from discriminating against same sex couples
2. Eighteen states do not protect same sex couples from workplace discrimination, and only fourteen states prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

(b) Purposes- The purposes of this act are to--

1.  Protect and recognize same sex marriage in all states and territories, not just those that allow same sex marriage. 
2. Social security benefits, health benefits and other policies that are given to heterosexual couples should also be given to homosexual couples in all states and territories.
3. Workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity will also be banned under this bill.

III. Definitions

Homosexual- (of a person) sexually attracted to people of one's own sex

Heterosexual- (of a person) sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex

Marriage- the formal union of two people, typically recognized by law.

Benefit- an advantage or profit gained from something

Social Security- any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no source of income

Defense of Marriage act- United States federal law that allows states to refuse to recognize same sex marriage, granted under the laws of other states

IV. Marriage 

(a) From this point forward, all states shall recognize all marriages, no matter  heterosexual or homosexual.

(b) The "Defense of Marriage" act shall now be obsolete. 

V. Shared Benefits

(a) From this point forward all same sex couples shall be able to inherit a share of their spouse's estate and file a joint income tax.
(b) Same sex couples shall receive Social Security, Medicare, and Disability, military and various benefits  for spouses
(c) Same sex couples shall be allowed to visit their partner in the hospital and make medical decisions if they are unable to. They shall also be the one who consents to after death examinations and burial arrangements.
(d) All other benefits given to heterosexual couples shall now be given to homosexual couples, no matter what state or territory they reside in.

VI. Discrimination

(a) All people no matter sexual orientation or gender identity shall not be discriminated against in the workplace.

(b) Sexual orientation and/or gender identity shall not determine if you receive a job or not.

(c) Housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity shall be illegal and require 2 years jail time if proven.

F7:Amendments and Questions

Rep. Courtney

• Question: Will the government be funding these clinics that provide mental health tests? Will the tests be covered by health insurance?

Rep. Jackie

• Question: Will this be a mandatory class for all colleges? Can it be forced upon private institutions?

Rep. Bhagi

• Question: Does this mean getting rid of the Defense of Marriage act entirely?

Rep. Alyssa

• Amendment: All fifty states and territories shall calculate their average cost of living no more than once per every five years.
• Reason: The cost of living raises every year. For example gas prices or fare for public transportation gets more expensive every year, and ten years seems too long to wait. 
• Question: Can you think of the factors that would cause the cost of living to rise? 

Rep. Sarah

• Amendment: I don't believe we should allow all drugs in America, just marijuana. Especially due to all of the recent violence caused by synthetic drugs. 
• "From this point forward, Marijuana and all natural drugs shall be legal in the United States of America."
• Reason: Synthetic drugs (like bath salts, etc.) cause trouble not only to the user, but also the people around them.  

Rep. Maggie

• Question: Is their a source on the amount of corruption compared to representatives that are there for a long time compared to those who are there a short time?

Rep. Isaiah

• Amendment: (2) Low Income- Lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money
• Reason: The official of Low Income sets a limit for who qualifies.

Rep. Jacori

• Amendment: Please elaborate the "benefits" that officers deserve. 
• Reason: It's not really clear to me. 

Rep. Demetrius

• Amendment: (3) Set lower income for housing under $100 a month
• Due to the minimum wage, a higher price would be almost impossible for a family of two or more to pay for food, utilities, and housing.

Rep. Jonathan

• Amendment: Tax breaks shall be given to small businesses that use environmentally friendly items in their business.
• Reason: They are benefiting the environment (which is hard to do when first starting out), so they should at least get some kind of break.  

 Rep. Jalen

• Question: Does this bill include financial education for the parents so they know what to avoid when sending their child to college? 

F4:Bill Breifing

I. The Problem

Same sex marriages are not recognized in all fifty states due to the Defense of marriage act. This means that same sex couples cannot receive social security benefits from their spouse, even if they are legally married in another state. In Virginia, this law not only prevents partners from receiving benefits, but also does not protect same sex couples from work discrimination. This is a major issue that needs to be addressed.

II. Existing Laws

As I previously mentioned, the current law that prevents same sex marriage from being recognized in all fifty states is the Defense of Marriage act that was put into action in September 1996. This act states that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and that any state, territory, or Indian tribe does not have to recognize a same sex marriage. Currently in the United States, there is not a federal law based on gay marriage.
In other countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, same sex marriages were recognized nationwide as early as 2000. The United States could use these countries as examples.

III. Proposal

The bill that I would like to propose will essentially be the complete opposite of the Defense of Marriage act. It will be used to protect and recognize same sex marriage in all states and territories, not just the ones that allow same sex marriage.  This means that social security benefits, health benefits and other policies that are given to heterosexual couples should also be given to homosexual couples in all states. Workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should also be banned under this bill.

IV. Committee

The committees that the bill will be introduced in are the House of Education and Workforce under the Workforce protections, the committee of Financial Services, and the Judiciary committee under Civil Justice.

V. Sources

 - X  -  X -  X -  X - X