Name: Date: Block # Government Guided Notes Unit Three Day #1 The Legislative Branch Structure, Organization and Leadership Directions Activity listen and view today s PowerPoint lesson. As you view each slide, write in any missing words or phrases. Today s Learning Standard SSCG9 The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house. SSCG10 The student will describe the legislative process including the roles played by committees and leadership. a. Explain the steps in the legislative process. b. Explain the function of various leadership positions within the legislature. Congressional Structure The Constitution & the Legislative Branch Article 1 Describes Structure of Congress Legislature Divided into houses Each state sends regardless of state size Number of each state sends to the House on their state Requirements for Membership Constitution also sets out for membership in the Senate and the House House of Representatives Min. years of age, reside in U.S. at least years, serve year terms Senate Min. years of age, reside in U.S. at least years, serves year terms Congressional members must be of their state
Terms and Sessions Congressional - 2 years i.e. 2 years between election years Two per year Jan 3 rd Dec. Jan - July 31 st = temporary break = Outside of regular hours Session= Both House and Senate State of the Union Called by Determining Representatives =Every 10 years to determine population proportional process of congressional to each state following the 10 year census - of congressional districts to reflect or in seats allotted to the states, as well as population within a state 1929 House sized fixed at members = drawing district lines based on some characteristic other than just population a) gerrymandering b) Misrepresentation How Congress is Organized New Congress is every two years. Elect new leaders on a rotating basis Each house has a leadership structure. The House Speaker Presides over House Official for the House in line of presidential succession House with president Great political within the chamber Henry Clay, first powerful speaker (1810) Joe Cannon (1903-1910), was so powerful, that a revolt emerged to reduce powers of the speakership. Newt Gingrich (1995) Paul Ryan (R, Wisconsin) current speaker
Other House Leaders Leader leader of the party controlling the most seats in the House or the Senate (majority party) in authority to the Speaker in the, is the most member Leader Elected leader of the party with the second highest number of elected representatives in the House of Representatives or the Senate (minority party) ensures party discipline in a legislature Party or conference A formal gathering of all party members The Senate The Constitution specifies the as the presiding officer of the Senate. He votes only in case of a. Official chairperson of the Senate is the president pro tempore ( ) Generally goes to the most senator of the majority party Actual presiding duties rotate among junior members of the chamber True leader is the leader, but not as powerful as is in the rules give tremendous power to senators. Offering any kind of - debate over a proposed piece of legislation is, allowing one or more members to or entirely a vote on the proposal Because Senate is in size, and have not played the same role as in the House. Current Congressional Leadership - 114 th Congressional Term Leadership in the House of Representatives SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE _ Selected by the majority party Job: Presiding Officer of the House Power: Decides which committee a bill goes to Majority Leader Leads the majority party Job: Shepherds legislation Minority Leader Leads the minority party Job: Leads Opposition Majority Whip Job:Assists the leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of deputy and assistant whips
Minority Whip Job: Assists the leader, rounds up votes, heads large group of deputy and assistant whips. Other House Positions does administrative duties. keeps rule on debate. prays before debate. keep order. writes every single word in meeting. sees that everything is distributed. Georgia s Representation Georgia currently has 14 congressional districts. Wheeler s current congressional district is the 6 th represented by: Leadership in the United States Senate PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Vice President of the United States Job: Presiding Officer of the Senate Power: Breaks tie in legislation. Otherwise does not vote. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Selected by majority party. Usually most senior member of the Senate majority party Job: Presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent. Leadership in the United States Senate Majority Leader Leads the majority party Job: Shepherds legislation Also plans the senate work schedule, assigns bills and senators to committees Minority Leader Leads the minority party Job: Leads Opposition
Majority Whip Assist the Majority Leader Job: Makes sure legislators are present for key votes Minority Whip Assist the Minority Leader Job: Makes sure legislators are present for key votes Georgia s Representation Two Senators