Chapter 5 Sect 1 Mr. Gordon

Congress and the People Congress is the representative body through which the will of the people is made into law. Representing the People Represent the interests of their constituents, the voters in the district that elected them Attempt to balance the needs of their constituents with those of the nation as a whole Civilization ended around 400 BC Members of Congress Tend to be older than the general population Tend to be wealthier Most of them have been white men In recent years, more representative of the nation’s diversity

The Structure of Congress Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives 1929: number fixed at 435 Number of representatives each state can elect based on state’s population Apportionment: distribution of seats according to population Representatives serve two-year terms The Senate 100 members Each state represented by two senators Senators serve six-year terms

The Structure of Congress {continued} The Two-House Structure Bicameral legislature proposed at the 1787 Constitutional Convention Great Compromise combined elements of two previously proposed plans, Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan Bicameral system adopted parts of both plans: states would have equal representation in Senate, but proportional representation based on population in House of Representatives

Congress and Checks and Balances The Power of the Purse Only Congress can deny funding requests from executive branch Through appropriation, Congress can prevent president from carrying out policies The Power of Advice and Consent Senate must approve treaties negotiated by president Senate has power to reject presidential appointees The Impeachment Power Impeachment power rarely used Congress can charge officials with wrongdoing, bring them to trial Process only in cases involving treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors” Other Checks and Balances Begins process of amending Constitution Can override presidential veto of bill Congressional oversight: broad powers of executive review