9/23/2014 Bellwork: What are the names of your two Colorado Senators? CHAPTER 13 CONGRESS 9/23/2014 Bellwork: What are the names of your two Colorado Senators?
Answer Michael Bennet and Mark Udall
Bicameral System Bicameral (two house) system put in place to balance power between small and large states! During creation of Constitution, Founders remembered the failings of the AOC.
Functions of Congress Lawmaking: Constituent Service: Representing: Oversight: Public Education: Conflict Resolution:
Quiz What does Bicameral mean?
It means two-house or two-tiered.
Seats in the House Seats in the House are given to each state based on population. Every TEN years, seats are reapportioned after the census. Since 1929, the number has been capped at 435 because…..that is how many chairs there are in the House. Yes, actual chairs. This has been in debate in recent years as significant growth in our population has lead some to think we need more representatives.
Seats in the House Seats in the House for each state are divided into districts with approximately 700,000 people. Higher density population areas = smaller districts Lower density population areas = larger districts
Quiz Which District is Colorado’s largest in land area?
Answer DISTRICT 3!!
House and Senate Differences House: More members means more rules Rules Committee: Proposes time limitations for debate Senate: Permits extended debate Filibustering, but… Rule 22 ends debate with a Cloture vote More Prestige due to lower number of senators However, items move faster in the House than in the Senate because of the organizational structure and function
Senate Power Structure President Pro Tempore – Selected by Majority Party Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Chairman of the Conference – Presides over meetings (there is one for Republicans and Democrats
House Power Structure Speaker of the House – Selected by Majority Party Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip Chairman of the Caucus (Democrats) – Presides over meetings of all house democrats Chairman of the Conference (Republicans) – Presides over meetings of all house republicans
Quiz What are 3 differences between Representatives and Senators?
Partner up and share your answers. 1’s share with 2’s and then 2’s share with 1’s *Write Down any of your partners that you did not have down*
Elections House Senate Every 2 Years (2 Year limits) 1/3 every 2 years (6 Year limits) We call these elections “Midterm Elections” because they always occur two years after the presidential elections, halfway through the President’s 4 year term.
WHY the differences with Elections? The Founding Fathers wanted to have one house that would quickly respond to the desires of the public (House of Reps) And one house that would be moderate, and stop any crazy nonsense the House would try (Senate)