Analyze the map of Congressional Appointment on page 197 answer the following: (you may want to review regions in chapter 2) 1.Which 2 regions of the US gained the most seats? 2.Which 2 regions of the US lost the most seats? 3.Why do you think Texas and Florida gained more seats than all of the other states?

Structure of Congress

Bicameral Senate + House of Representatives = Congress Powers: Congress makes laws & addresses issues facing U.S. (Legislative Branch) Article I in the Constitution establishes the Legislative branch.

Requirements: - US Citizen for 7 years - 25 years old - be a resident of the state in which he /she lives in. Leader: Speaker of the House – Serve 2-year terms. – Based on population, but each state has at least 1 representative. – Adjusts each state’s amount every 10 years based on census results. – Each representative is voted on by a district in their state. The people in that district are their constituents.

House of Representatives Leadership Speaker of the House is the leader of the HOR. Chosen by the majority party. Allowed to vote on legislation. Paul Ryan (R) (Current Speaker of the House)

4 th District Representative Ander Crenshaw (R) 5 th District Representative Corrine Brown (D) 6 th District Representative Ron DeSantis (R)

– Requirements: US Citizen for 9 years 30 years old Live in the state in which they are elected. Leadership: Vice President – Serve 6-year terms. – Each state has 2 senators. – Elections are staggered to have 1/3 of Senate running for re-election every 2 years. Remaining 2/3 ensure Senate is stable during elections. – Each senator is voted on by their entire state. The people in their state are their constituents.

Senate Senator Bill Nelson (D) Senator Marco Rubio (R)

Senate Presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President. Can only vote when there is a tie. When the VP cannot be there the President Pro Tempore fills in. Joe Biden (D) Orrin Hatch (R)

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Committees formed to consider individual bills proposed to Congress. 3 Types of Committees – Standing Committees – Permanent committees formed for every term of Congress – Select Committees – Temporary committees to deal with special issues. – Joint Committees – Members of both houses of Congress on committee.

Newly elected Congressmen try to get put on committees that affect their constituents. – Party leaders make committee assignments – Most senior members usually serve on most powerful committees. – Longest-serving committee member from the majority party usually becomes chairman of the committee.

Enumerated/Expressed Powers: Listed directly in the Constitution. – Power to tax and to spend – Power to borrow money – Power to regulate naturalization – Coin money – Establish post offices – Declare war – Issue patents and copyrights – Establish lower federal courts – Raise and support armies – Maintain a navy

Implied powers: Not directly listed in the constitution. Congress received these powers from the “Necessary and Proper” Clause at the end of Article I. It can be interpreted narrowly or broadly. Because it stretched the power of Congress, also known as the “Elastic Clause”

Non-legislative Powers: – Impeachment of a Federal official – Choosing a President (Through electoral college) – Ratifying Treaties – Approving Presidential Appointments – Propose Constitutional amendments. – Oversight and Investigation powers

President can veto a bill/law passed by Congress. Congress can only exercise those enumerated and implied powers granted in the Constitution. The Constitution prohibits Congress from passing laws denying specific individual rights.

Checks On Judicial Branch – Can amend the Constitution – Impeach federal judges Checks On Executive Branch: – Approves the President’s appointments. – Must approve treaties – Can impeach the president.

Each Congressional term begins in January of an odd year (2015). When they assemble, they elect the Speaker of the House (majority party) Decide on rules that will govern proceedings. Appoints members to committees.

Begins in January of an odd year (2015). Senate elects a “President pro tempore” who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent. Appoint members to committees an other positions in the Senate.