Purpose of a Census: Count Population for Representative Purposes Data is used to plan for future gov’t programs

The U. S. is Constitutionally required to have a Census See Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 – page 760

Reapportionment & Redistricting Reapportionment – After the Census, Congress determines which state lose representatives & which state gain representatives (but the Constitution guarantees every state will have at least 1 rep.) Redistricting – State Legislatures redraw the Congressional district boundaries after they are informed by Congress

Reapportionment Act 1929 See page 268 Set the permanent size of the House of Reps to 435 U. S. Representatives

Your U. S. Representatives & U. S. Senators are: U. S. Rep 9 th Congressional District – Tom Graves Note: You live in the 9 th Congressional District of GA The 2 U. S. Senators for GA – –Saxby Chambliss –Johnny Isakson

In the Senate - VP is constitutionally president of the Senate; the VP’s main purpose is to break a tie vote The majority party chooses a president pro tempore (for the time being)

Jobs of Members of Congress Legislator & Representative of Constituents - Trustee & Delegate; Partisan; Politico Committee Member – Screen bill proposals and decide which will go to floor consideration; perform oversight function & investigation Servant of the Constituents – Help people who have problems with the federal bureaucracy; respond to constituents.

Congress has the power of oversight – to investigate current issues by holding public hearings

Filibuster Can only by use in the Senate. A method of defeating a bill in which a senator talks until a majority either abandons the bill or agrees to modify it.

Cloture Cloture – closes a filibuster when 3/5’s of Senate (60 members) vote for cloture

17 th Amendment - Allows for the direct election of Senators, at large, by popular vote; senators use to be chosen by the state legislatures Article I, Sect. 7 – All bills for raising revenue begin in the House of Reps.

How do political parties affect Congress? Combine efforts to influence politics Get Laws passed Work to get their candidates elected **But political parties are not an official part of government

Influences on Congress Media Nature of the Issues Voters & Constituents Special Interest Groups – PACS(Political Action Committees – provide substantial campaign funds to candidates); Lobbyists (represent interest groups) Political parties President Staff Members Other Lawmakers

Impeachment -House of Representatives acts as the grand jury and brings the indictment -The Senate acts as the court and jury and conducts the trial and renders a verdict -The Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court acts as the judge