Name: Chp. 10: Congress. Notes Chp. 10: Congress 1

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1 Name: Date: Period: Chp 10: Congress Notes Chp 10: Congress 1

2 Objectives Students will be able to: 1 Explain why the Constitution provides for a bicameral Congress 2 Describe the size and the elective terms of the members of the House 3 Analyze the formal and informal qualifications for the election to the House 4 Analyze the formal and informal qualifications for the election to the Senate 5 Identify the personal and political backgrounds of the current members of Congress Essential Understandings of Congress 1 Congress is bicameral 2 In the House of Representatives, States are represented according to population 3 The Senate includes 100 members, two from each State, who are elected to six-year terms 4 Members of Congress are likely to be older and wealthier than the average American, and most members are men Essential Questions about Congress will know how this knowledge influences me today Notes Chp 10: Congress 2

3 Section 1: The National Legislature Reasoning for a Bicameral Congress 1 Historical a British Parliament b most of the colonial governments 2 Practical a to settle the conflict between the New Jersey and Virginia Plans during the Constitutional Convention b New Jersey Plan representation is equal (Senate) c Virginia Plan representation is proportional to the population of the state (House) 3 Theoretical a the legislative branch was designed to be the most powerful branch of the government b Framers were saw bicameralism as a way to diffuse the power of Congress Terms and Sessions 1 Terms a a term lasts two years b starts on Jan 3 rd of odd numbered years i Jan 3, 2011 start of the 112 th Congress 2 Session a a session is one year (two per term) b adjourns suspend until next session c no house may adjourn without the consent of the other d the president may prorogue a session if the two cannot agree on a date for adjournment 3 Special Sessions a a meeting to deal with some emergency situations b only 26 ever called most recent was held in 1948 by Harry Truman to consider anti-inflation and welfare measures after WWII c Congress meets year-round now which reduces the likelihood of special sessions Notes Chp 10: Congress 3

4 DIRTY? Definitions Directions: Fill in the definition for the term listed Then write a 1-4 word summary above the definition Lastly, draw a picture in the box on the far right for at least three of the words listed below Term Reapportionment Reminding Words (1-4 word summary) Illustration Definition Term Off-Year Election Reminding Words (1-4 word summary) Illustration Definition Term At-Large Reminding Words (1-4 word summary) Illustration Definition Term Gerrymander Reminding Words (1-4 word summary) Definition Illustration Term Constituency Reminding Words (1-4 word summary) Illustration Definition Definition Illustration Reminding Words Term Y? to learn it Notes Chp 10: Congress 4

5 Section 2: The House of Representatives Size and Terms members a apportioned on the basis of their respective populations b each state guaranteed at least one representative c two year terms no limit to number of terms 2 Reapportionment (redistribute) a every ten years after the census 3 Reapportionment Act of 1929 a set the permanent size of the House at 435 (each person represents about 720,000) b after each census, the Census Bureau determines the number of seats each state should have 4 Congressional Elections a held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November on each even-numbered year all states follow this guideline (Alaska can hold elections in October, but chooses not to) b Off-Year Elections are congressional elections not held on the same year as the presidential election c usually the party in power loses seats 5 Districts a each of the 435 members of the House represents a district in the US b single-member district only one person can win in that district 6 Gerrymandering - district lines have been drawn so that the party in power in a state can maintain power a try to concentrate the opposition s voters in one or more districts b try to spread the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts Qualifications 1 Formal a must be at least 25 years old b must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years c must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected custom requires that the representative live in the district he/she represents d the House can refuse a seat to a member-elect by a majority vote e 5 the House can expel a member by a 2/3 vote 2 Informal a usually have to do with a member s vote-getting abilities b factors such as party identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics and political experience 3 Frank Wolf (R)(1992-present from VA s 10 th district) House Appropriations Committee, Transportation Appropriations subcommittee Notes Chp 10: Congress 5

6 Compare/Contrast the House of Representatives and the Senate Characteristic House Senate Size Term Length Age Qualifications Length of Citizenship Residence 1 Which chamber is more prestigious? Why so you think that? 2 Why are members of Congress reluctant to pass laws that give them new benefits or higher pay? Notes Chp 10: Congress 6

7 Section 3: The Senate Size, Election and Terms 1 Size a 100 members b 2 from each state c represent their entire state 2 Election a originally elected by state legislatures b 17 th Amendment allowed them to be elected by popular vote c at-large elected from the State as a whole 3 Term a six year terms no limit to number of terms b a third go up for reelection every two years helps keep the Senate a continuous body all the seats are not up for reelection at one time c greater job security d less subject to the pressures of public opinion and special interest groups Qualifications 1 30 years old 2 must have been a citizen of the US for at least nine years 3 must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected 4 the Senate can refuse a seat to a member-elect by a majority vote 5 the Senate can expel a member by a 2/3 vote 6 Mark Warner (D)(2009-Present) Committee Assignments Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Rules and Administration; Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation 7 Jim Webb (D)(2007-present) Committee Assignments Foreign Relations; Veterans Affairs, Armed Services; Joint Economic Committee Notes Chp 10: Congress 7

8 112 th Congress House Senate Avg Length of Service 98 years 114 years Republicans Democrats Independents 0 2 White Black 44 0 Hispanic 26 2 Asian 9 2 Foreign Born 8 1 Women Average Age Do members of Congress represent a cross section of the American people? Why or why not? 2 When deciding how to vote, what does a trustee consider? 3 When deciding how to vote, what does a politico consider? 4 How are members of Congress compensated for their work? List at least 5 examples a b c d e Notes Chp 10: Congress 8

9 Section 4: The Members of Congress Personal and Political Backgrounds Five Major Roles 1 the members of Congress are not a representative cross section of the American people 2 57% are Protestant, 29% are Roman Catholic, 7% are Jewish (other religious affiliations represented include Greek Orthodox, Quaker, Unitarian Universalist, Mormon, Buddhists, and Muslims 3 more than a third of the House and over half the senators were lawyers 4 92% of House Members and 99% of Senators have a college degree 1 Legislators a help make laws (main function of Congress) 2 Representatives of their Constituents a represent the people that vote for them b trustees decide each issue based on its merits and not on the opinion of their constituents c delegates decide each issue based on the opinion of their constituents d partisans side with political party on issues e politicos attempt to balance being trustees, delegates and partisans 3 Committee Members a specialize in one area of the law b earn prestige and power 4 Servants of their Constituents a try to help based on issues important to their constituents 5 Politicians Compensation 1 Salary a for all Senators and Members is $174,000 b for the Speaker of the House is $223,500 c for the Majority and Minority Leaders is $193,400 d control their own salaries 2 Nonsalary Compensation a special tax deductions for maintaining two residencies b travel expenses c a generous retirement plan to which the contribute d office staff expenses e franking privilege allows them to mail letters postage free 3 Membership Privileges a free from arrest except in cases of treason, felony and breach of the peace b protected from libel or slander while conducting official business Notes Chp 10: Congress 9

10 Summary DIRECTIONS: Choose only one of the following: a) write a summary (25-75 words) of what you believe was the most important aspect of the notes/lecture b) write what you believe to be the most interesting or memorable part of the notes/lecture (25-75 words) c) draw something that symbolizes the notes/lecture to you (has to be different than your title page) Notes Chp 10: Congress 10

Ch. 11: Lawmakers and Legislators

Ch. 11: Lawmakers and Legislators Name: Date: Period: Ch 11: Lawmakers and Legislators Notes Ch 11: Lawmakers and Legislators 1 In the course of reading this lesson and participating in the classroom activity, students will a analyze the