Introduction to Congress: Our national legislature Assignments, activities, and exit tickets for Chapters 6.1-6.3

QR Code Activity Download the free QR Scanner app from the Chrome Store for your Chrome book. For each station, Write the Question (station) number and the question on p. 51 of notebook. Scan the QR code. Read the info. on the site. Answer the question on p. 51. Return to seat when you complete all 8 stations.

Congressional Organizer: CE. CG. 2 Congressional Organizer: CE.CG. 2.5: Compare US system of gov’t within the framework of the federal & state structures as well as how they relate with systems of other nations House Senate Who is the Leader & how is that position determined? Describe the Size & How seats are determined for the states? Describe the Size & How seats are determined for the states? Who is the Leader & how is that position determined? What are the Qualifications to be a member? What are the Qualifications to be a member? What is the Term of office? What is the Term of office?

Congressional Organizer Page 50 House Senate Leader Leader Size Size Speaker of the House chosen by majority party John Boehner is current Speaker (R) The Vice President is President of the Senate. Joe Biden is current leader (D). The Pro Tempore takes over usually. # based on state population by the Census every 10 years. The 435 seats are reapportioned. Each state has 2 Senators, for a total of 100. 1/3 elected every 2 years. The 17th Amendment allows for election of Senators. All 435 elected each term by district. Some state’s districts have gerrymanders. Term Term Serve 2-yr terms-no limit on times Serve 6-yr terms-no limit on times Qualifications Qualifications Must be 30, 9-yr. Citizen & State resident. Must be 25, 7-yr. Citizen & State resident.

Notes on Congress This is the 113th Congress, 2nd session. Term is a 2-year meeting of Congress. There are 2 sessions per term. Congress meets on Capitol Hill in the Capitol Building.

Notes on the House NC has 13 Congressional districts. Currituck County is in the 3rd District. Walter B. Jones, Jr. is our Representative. He is a Republican. The Republicans are the majority party. John Boehner (R) is the Speaker of the House.

NC’s Congressional Districts

Redistricting Issues Some districts have been gerrymandered. What does this term mean? Wesbury v. Saunders (equal size, one person/one vote) and Baker v. Carr (compact and contiguous) limit gerrymandering.

Notes on the Senate NC’s Senior Senator is Richard Burr (R). Our Junior Senator is Kay Hagan (D). The Democrats are the majority party. Senate Pro Tempore is Patrick Leahy (D). Senate Majority Leader is Harry Reid. Senate Minority Leader is Mitch McConnell.

6.1 Exit Ticket Write your first and last name along with the date in the upper right-hand corner. How is Congress like a shoe? Explain 2 ways. Think critically. Explain two differences between the House & the Senate.

Leaders in Congress, Page 52 HOR Speaker of House Majority & Minority Leaders Majority & Minority Whips How do they get their jobs? What do they do? Senate Pres. Of Senate Pro Tempore Majority & Minority Leaders Majority & Minority Whips How do they get their jobs? What do they do? Have students get on sides of Democrats and Republicans. Determine the majority party. Have each side choose their leaders. Get new seats by “seniority” system. (Use their birthdays)

Congressional Committees, p. 53 What is the purpose of the committee system? What are 3 types of committees in Congress? Explain the function of each. Why is being on the right comm. important? How is the chairperson of the comm. chosen traditionally? Who chooses the comm. members? The seats on a comm. are divided proportionally between the parties’ seats in the HOR. What does that mean? Look at p. 181. Explain what House comm. would you want to be on if you represented NC’s US Dist. 3.

Powers & Limits of Congress 6.2 Expressed Legislative Powers: - Expressed Non-legislative Powers - PAGE 54 Implied Powers -Defined -Leg. Ex. -Non-Leg. Ex. Limits on Congress: -

Perks & Casework List and explain at least 5 perks of being in Congress.

Legislative Assistant (LA) Administrative Assistant (AA) Congressional Staff Draft and negotiate bills Committee Staff Personal Staff Work for a member of Congress Assigned to staff a committee Legislative Assistant (LA) Caseworkers Administrative Assistant (AA)

Congressional Support Agencies Watch video of each support agency: The Library of Congress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylFlAQZ0piU&list=FLKsbsGTeKuUrOTPVY8Zb6QQ&index=16 Congressional Budget Office http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF0mAPmH9pE General Accounting Office http://www.youtube.com/user/usgao?blend=9&ob=5

Three Functions of Congress Congress At Work Read pp. 194-196. Complete the organizer for p. 57 of notebook. Three Functions of Congress DEFINITION DEFINITION DEFINITION Example Example Example

Exit Ticket 6.3 What do you think is the most important function of Congress? Why is that function important? Is logrolling a good or bad thing? Explain. Explain what perk of Congress you feel is best & why.