1. The representatives of the people

2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvUrxDcB gZk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvUrxDcB gZk

3.  “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” -Mark Twain

4.  All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. - Article I, Section I

5.  Congress is the nation’s lawmaking body  Congress is charged with the most basic of governmental functions in a democratic society: Translating the public will into public policy in the form of law.

6.  The Constitution set up a bicameral legislature- that is a legislature made up of two houses.

7.  Historical- ◦ The British Parliament had consisted of two houses since the 1300’s. ◦ The American’s knew the British system quite well and modeled the U.S. system on it. ◦ Among the original colonies, only Georgia and Pennsylvania had unicameral colonial and then state legislatures.

8.  The Framers had to create a two chambered body to settle the conflict between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.  Virginia Plan- Proposal by Virginia delegates to have a bicameral legislative branch.  New Jersey Plan- Unicameral legislature using one vote per state. Adopted by the articles of confederation.

9.  Bicameralism is a reflection of federalism. Each of the States is equally represented in the Senate and each is represented in line with its population in the House

10.  The Framers favored a bicameral Congress in order that one house might act as a check on the other.

11.  In a republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for the inconveniency is to divide the legislature into different branches. - James Madison

12.  Can you tell me any problems you see with the bicameral system?

13.  Since 1789, Congress has met for two-year terms.  Each term of congress lasts for two years, and each of those two-year terms is numbered consecutively.  20 th amendment changed things- set a particular date when a congressional term would start. (noon on the 3 rd day of January, every odd numbered year)  We are now in our 113 th congress!  Session of congress- period of time during which, each year Congress assembles and conducts business (one session each year).

14.  When you hear these terms on the news or when reading a newspaper, this is what they mean: ◦ Convenes- This means when the congress begins. ◦ Adjourns- This means when the congress is suspended until the next session. ◦ Recess- Congress is temporarily out of business.

15.  Only the President may call Congress into special sessions  A special session is a meeting to deal with some emergency situation.  Only 27 of these special joint sessions of congress have ever been held.  President Harry Truman called the most recent one in 1948, to consider anti-inflation and welfare measures in the aftermath after World War II.

16.  After a bill is introduced by a Senator or Representative, it is assigned to the appropriate committee, according to subject area, for mark-up. Here it is studied and rewritten. Hearings are held to solicit both public and special-interest views.  During mark-up, the committee considers the specific language of a bill and may amend or change it. If the bill is passed by the committee, it goes to the floor for general debate and action.  Once both the House and Senate pass a bill, a conference committee made up of both Senators and Representatives works out any differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed versions.  The final conference version must be approved by both houses; then the bill goes to the President to be signed into law. The President may veto the bill; in that case, a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required to override the veto and for the bill to become law

17.  We will get into the House of Representatives and Senate’s role next time. But here is the basic method of creating a law

18.  http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/

21.  Depending on the class we will either be acting as the House of Representatives or the Senate.  Like the House of Representatives and Senate often do, we will be engaged in live debate.  I will provide the class with detailed background information on a proposed bill.  After listening to this information, students will determine what side they are on and the debate will begin.  Following the debate and after each side has given an explanation or reasoning for their support or dismissal of the bill, a vote will be taken.  The side with the most votes will determine whether the bill is passed or if it dies

22.  Under current Department of Defense policy, as of 1994 women may not be assigned to combat units. Do you support a bill that would allow women to serve in combat roles?

23.  Over the years 283,000 female service members have been deployed world wide  In 10 years of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, 130 have died  Women have earned numerous Silver Star Medals for Heroism  Currently, women are barred from infantry, armor, combat engineers, or special operations units  As of 2012, first time that women have been assigned to submarines.  Since 1918, women have been serving in the military in the United States  Women’s combat roles in other countries---- Israel  CRS  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/world/middleeast/looking-to- israel-for-clues-on-women-in-combat.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/world/middleeast/looking-to- israel-for-clues-on-women-in-combat.html?_r=0  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-mNtKoIYk0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-mNtKoIYk0  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP9qvmjwrBQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP9qvmjwrBQ

24.  Is the death penalty appropriate or should it be banned?  Is the practice of euthanasia justified?  Is cloning humans or animals ethical?  Should abortion be legal?  At what age should a student be allowed to leave school and begin working full time?  Should an amendment be added to include gay marriage?

25. Proposal to congress- Voting to uphold the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994, http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/ti tle9/crm00069.htm (that made roughly fifty crimes punishable by death, including crimes that do not always involve the death of someone. Such non-death capital offenses include treason, espionage (spying for another country), high-level drug trafficking, and sabotaging the national economy). http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/ti tle9/crm00069.htm http://www.statisticbrain.com/death-penalty-statistics/ Arguments for and Against http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/stu dent/c/about/arguments/arguments.P DF Since 1973, over 140 people on death row have been exonerated from any wrongdoing and have been found innocent Death Penalty: Important Stats