Congress Government Chapter 6

How Congress is Organized Section 1

Key Terms Bicameral: Legislature consisting of two parts, or houses Census: A population count Constituent: A person from a legislator’s district Gerrymander: An oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group Majority Party: In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong

Key Terms cont. Minority Party: In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong Standing Committee: Permanent committees that continue their work from session to session in congress Seniority: Years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

Terms of Congress 535 members of Congress Congress is the “First Branch of Govt.” Terms of Congress start on Jan. 3rd of odd numbered years Lasts two years “New” Congress given a number 1789 1st Congress 2005 109th Congress

Terms of Congress cont. Terms divided into two sessions Last from Jan. to Nov/Dec May meet in times of crisis Called special sessions Joint Sessions: House and Senate meet together

A Bicameral Legislature Congress is bicameral Great Compromise

The House of Representatives Larger body of Congress 435 voting members Each state has at least 1 seat Depends on population Congress adjusts number of reps. Given to each states after census

The House of Representatives cont. States divided into one or more congressional districts Rep. Elected from each district State legislatures draw boundaries Districts include roughly same amount of constituents Gerrymandering happens at times (illegal)

The House of Representatives cont. Reps. Serve two-year terms Focus on concerns within district

The Senate 100 Members Senators represent entire state 6 year terms 2 from each state Senators represent entire state 6 year terms

Congressional Leaders House and the Senate: Majority Party Minority Party Beginning of each term: Members in each house choose leaders Speaker of the House: Chosen by majority party Most powerful leader in House of Reps. Steers legislation through House In charge of floor debates

Congressional Leaders cont. Speaker: Next in line after President and V.P. Senate does not have a leader with comparable power

Congressional Leaders cont. Real leaders of Senate and House of Reps: Floor Leaders Majority and Minority Speak for their parties Ensure laws passed by Congress ar e in best interest of political party Push bills along Try to sway votes

Types of Committees Each house has committees Standing Committees: Senate has 16 House has 19 Education Veterans Affairs Commerce Etc…

Types of Committees cont. Select committees: Do special jobs for limited periods 1976: House formed the Select Committee on Assassination to investigate the deaths of President Kennedy and M.L.K. Disbanded when work finished

Types of Committees cont. Joint Committees: Members from both houses

Types of Committees cont. Conference Committee: Helps the House and Senate agree on details of a proposed law

Committee Assignments Senators and Reps. First go to Congress they want to be assigned to committees that affect people who elected them: Farm areas = agriculture committee Factories = labor committees

Committee Assignments cont. Leaders of Political parties make committee assignments Members preferences, expertise, loyalty, and seniority are factors

Committee Assignments cont. Longest serving committee member from majority party becomes chairperson Chairperson of Standing Committees most powerful members of Congress

Homework Chapter 6 Section 1 Worksheets Chapter 6 Section 1 Questions Pg. 144 Question 1-6 Answer thoroughly