Welcome to Congress! Did someone say pizza?

AGENDA November 14/15, 2013 Today’s topics  Congressional Committees: How Congress orders a pizza Administrative  Unit 3 Test: Nov. 19/20  Portfolios due: Nov. 26/27 Homework  Unit 3 Guide due: Nov. 18  Monday: Bring Quick Write “Welcome to the Sausage Factory”

Learning Goals Unit 3 Guide Understand the lawmaking process in Congress How does Congress make laws (the process)? Can the process be improved? If so, how? What is the role of Congressional committees in the legislative process? What is the role of compromise in Congress’s legislative process? How important is compromise to the legislative process? Which provisions in the U.S. Constitution make compromise necessary?

“Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made.” John Godfrey Saxe, American poet (1816 – 1887)

Rules of Congress Committees may only have hearings and votes on their area of jurisdiction. (No poaching!) Number of votes: House = Determined by population Senate = 2; ties broken by ????? The Parliamentarian will rule on any other issues as they arise. Hints: How many votes do you need to pass your bill (in committees & on the floor)? Who has that many votes? our

The State of the Union Article II, Section 3: “He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union…”

Homework Before you leave  Pick up your belongings  Straighten up your area Homework  Unit 3 Guide due: Nov. 18  Monday: Bring Quick Write “Welcome to the Sausage Factory”