1. 6.1 Organization of Congress
Civics and Economics

2. A Bicameral Legislature
The Great Compromise established Congress as a two-part or bicameral body

3. A Bicameral Legislature
Senate has equal representation (2 per state)
House of Representatives= population would determine representation
POPULATION- 1 TO 53
435 TOTAL
EQUAL- 2 PER STATE
100 TOTAL

4. A Bicameral Legislature
The legislative branch is described in Article I
Congress includes 535 members

5. 114th term of Congress: January 3, 2015-January 3, 2017
Terms of Congress
Terms last 2 years
Start January 3rd in odd-numbered years
Each “new” Congress is given a number to identify its two-year term
114th term of Congress: January 3, 2015-January 3, 2017

6. SENATE
Democrats= 44
Republicans= 54
Independent= 2
HOR
Democrats= 188
Republicans= 247

7. In 2008 a joint session of Congress counted electoral votes.
Terms of Congress
Each term is divided into two sessions
Congress may meet during special sessions or in times of crisis, a joint session occurs when the House and Senate meet together
In 2008 a joint session of Congress counted electoral votes.

8. The House of Representatives
435 voting members allotted according to population
The Constitution guarantees each state at least 1 rep.

9. The House of Representatives
They serve 2 year terms and focus on the concerns of their districts
After each census Congress adjusts the number given to each state (reapportionment)

10. The House of Representatives
State legislatures draw boundaries so districts include roughly the same number of constituents, or people represented

11. The House of Representatives
Sometimes states abuse this process by gerrymandering
A gerrymander is an oddly shaped district designated to increase the voting strength of a particular group

12. The Senate 100 members, 2 from each of the 50 states
Senators represent the entire state
6 year terms

13. The Senate
Elections are staggered so no more than one-third are up for reelection at any one time; this ensures a certain amount of stability and continuity
In 2010 Richard Burr (R) won re-election; in 2014 Thom Tillis (R) was elected.

14. Leaders in Congress
In the House and Senate the political party to which more than half the members belong is known as the majority party the other party is called the minority party

15. Republican from Wisconsin
Leaders in Congress
The Speaker of the House is the leader of the HOR
The Speaker steers legislation through the House and leads floor debates
If anything happens to the President and VP the Speaker is next in line to become President
Paul Ryan
Republican from Wisconsin

16. Leaders in Congress
The VP presides in the Senate but only votes to break a tie
The President Pro Tempore is chairperson for the Senate
Joe Biden- VP
President of the Senate
Orrin Hatch- UT Republican
President Pro Tempore

17. Leaders in Congress
Majority and minority floor leaders in each house, they speak for their parties on issues
Party Whips help floor leaders, they make sure legislators are present for key votes
House Minority Whip
Steny Hoyer- MD
House Majority Whip
Steve Scalise- LA

18. Party Leaders of the US Senate
Mitch McConnell
Republican from KY
Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid
Democrat from NV
Senate Minority Leader

19. Party Leaders of the US House
Kevin McCarthy
Republican from CA
House Majority Leader
Nancy Pelosi
Democrat from CA
House Minority Leader

20. Committees
Each house must consider thousands of bills in the course of a session; to make it possible to handle so many each house developed a system of committees
Congress has three types of committees: standing committees, select committees, and joint committees

21. Committees Standing Committees= are permanent committees
Select Committees= temporary committees that deal with special issues, they meet for a limited time until they complete their assigned task
Joint Committees= include members of both houses, they meet to consider specific issues

23. Committees Party leaders make committee assignments
They are based on members’ preferences, expertise, and loyalty to the party; another key factor is seniority or years of service
The longest-serving committee member from the majority party traditionally becomes chairperson; they decide when and if a committee meets, what bills are studied, and who will serve on which subcommittee
Representative Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts
Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

24. NC Senators and Reps. US Senate US House of Representatives
Richard Burr
Thom Tillis
US House of Representatives
G.K. Butterfield (District 1)
Walter B. Jones (District 3)