1. The United States Congress A bicameral system

2. Congressional Facts Terms and Sessions Terms and Sessions Each term lasts two yearsEach term lasts two years Each term has two sessions, each lasting one yearEach term has two sessions, each lasting one year If Congress is in recess (AKA vacation), the president can call special sessions to deal with emergenciesIf Congress is in recess (AKA vacation), the president can call special sessions to deal with emergencies Only twenty-six emergency sessions have ever been called Only twenty-six emergency sessions have ever been called

3. The House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress; they tend to deal with more regional issues than the Senate The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress; they tend to deal with more regional issues than the Senate Representation is based on population Representation is based on population Each state is guaranteed one representative; the US Virgin Islands, American Samoan Islands, and Puerto Rico also each have a rep.Each state is guaranteed one representative; the US Virgin Islands, American Samoan Islands, and Puerto Rico also each have a rep. There are no term limitsThere are no term limits Each representative is elected to a two year termEach representative is elected to a two year term To serve, you must be 25 years old, a resident of the state you represent, and 7 years a citizenTo serve, you must be 25 years old, a resident of the state you represent, and 7 years a citizen The House leader is called the Speaker of the House The House leader is called the Speaker of the House

4. The United States Senate The Senate is referred to as the upper house; it deals with more national issues The Senate is referred to as the upper house; it deals with more national issues Representation is equal; each state gets two Senators Representation is equal; each state gets two Senators There are no term limitsThere are no term limits Senator Strom Thurmond of North Caroline served for FIFTY YEARS (9 terms) Senator Strom Thurmond of North Caroline served for FIFTY YEARS (9 terms) Each senator is elected to a six year termEach senator is elected to a six year term To serve, you must be thirty years old, a resident of the state you represent, and 9 years a citizenTo serve, you must be thirty years old, a resident of the state you represent, and 9 years a citizen The Senate leader is the Vice-President of the United States; he only votes if a tie-breaker is needed; this is his only Constitutional dutyThe Senate leader is the Vice-President of the United States; he only votes if a tie-breaker is needed; this is his only Constitutional duty The second in command (and the one who usually runs things) is called the President Pro TemporeThe second in command (and the one who usually runs things) is called the President Pro Tempore

5. Monetary Powers of Congress (everybody loves the bling) Power to tax Power to tax Power to borrow money on the behalf of the US Power to borrow money on the behalf of the US Regulate interstate and foreign trade Regulate interstate and foreign trade Regulate currency Regulate currency

6. Foreign relations powers Act on matters regarding the security of the nation Act on matters regarding the security of the nation Power to declare war Power to declare war Power to regulate the militia Power to regulate the militia

7. Other powers Regulate naturalization and citizenship Regulate naturalization and citizenship Oversee the postal service Oversee the postal service Oversee patents and copyrights Oversee patents and copyrights Regulate weights and measures Regulate weights and measures Approve presidential nominees for the Supreme Court Approve presidential nominees for the Supreme Court

8. How Congressional Power is Protected According to Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, Congress has the power to make any laws which shall be “necessary and proper” for executing any of their other powers. According to Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, Congress has the power to make any laws which shall be “necessary and proper” for executing any of their other powers. This is sometimes called the “elastic” clause, since it allows Congress to expand their power if needed This is sometimes called the “elastic” clause, since it allows Congress to expand their power if needed

9. How the states rights are protected from Congress The tenth Amendment to the Constitution reserves power to the states: The tenth Amendment to the Constitution reserves power to the states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”  In other words, anything that is not expressly spelled out in the Constitution as a power of Congress is up to the states to regulate