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Published byHarold Randall Modified over 8 years ago
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7 th Grade Civics Miss Smith *pgs. 140-142 Civics in Practice
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Terms of Congress Begin: noon January 3 rd of odd- numbered years (stated in the 20 th Amendment) Ends: 2 years later Congress meets at least once per year
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Terms are divided into 2 sessions (1 session per year of term) Sessions also begin on January 3 rd Sessions adjourn (or end) when legislative work is done The Senate and the House meet separately They meet together occasionally (a joint session) ex: During the president’s State of the Union address
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Constitution lists 3 rules: House of Reps must select a presiding officer The vice president of US is president of Senate Must select a senator to preside in VP’s absence
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At the beginning of each term, Republican and Democratic Party members meet in separate private meetings (or party caucuses) Here they choose their own leaders within Congress The political party that has the most members in each house is called the majority party The party with the fewest is the minority party
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The president pro tempore presides over the daily meetings in the vice president’s absence The “floor leaders” are: The majority leader The minority leader Each leader has a “party whip”: They try to get votes for their party’s legislation
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There are about 20 committees that: Consider legislation Hold hearings There are subcommittees that consider legislation before it gets to the full committee Each (sub)committee has a: Chairperson- this person is a member of the majority party Ranking minority member- this is the highest ranking/longest serving member of the min. party
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The Speaker of the House presides over the House when it is in session The Speaker is: always a member of the majority party the most powerful officer of the House the biggest influence on the order of business 2 nd in the US presidential line of succession
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Committee structure is very similar to committee structure in the Senate
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