Chapter 5 Sect 1 Mr. Plude

Congress and the People Congress is the representative body through which the will of the people is made into law.

Congress and the People 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

Congress and the People 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 Structure of Congress The House of Representatives 1929: number fixed at 435 Number of representatives based on state’s population Apportionment: distribution of seats according to population Representatives serve two-year terms

The Structure of Congress The Senate 100 members Each state represented by two senators Senators serve six-year terms Virginia’s two senators are Mark Warner and Tim Kaine

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: Senate - States would have equal representation in proportional House of Representatives - proportional representation based on population

Congress and Checks and Balances The Power of the Purse Congress can deny funding requests from executive branch Through appropriation (authorization of spending), Congress can prevent president from carrying out policies

Congress and Checks and Balances The Power of Advice and Consent Senate may approve treaties negotiated by president Senate has power to reject presidential appointees (Used to be 60/100 votes needed, now has to be simple majority) (Senate sets rules on voting #’s)

Congress and Checks and Balances The Impeachment Power Impeachment power rarely used House of Representatives impeach (charge officials with wrongdoing) Senate holds trial Process only in cases involving treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors”

Congress and Checks and Balances Other Checks and Balances -Begins process of amending Constitution -Can override presidential veto of bill -Congressional oversight: broad powers of executive review

My mother, Eve, always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thing. A setback is never a bad experience, just another one of life’s lessons.