1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES/ GOALS/ SWBAT
STANDARD(S) ADDRESSED: 12.4 Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the 3 branches of government.
10-4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES/ GOALS/ SWBAT
The personal and political backgrounds of the current members of Congress
The duties of the job of serving in Congress
How are members of Congress compensated, and what privileges do they have

2. A BULLDOG ALWAYS
Commitment
Attitude
CARES
Respect
Encouragement
Safety

3. Key Terms
Trustee:
Delegate:
Partisan:
Politico: 4 3

4. Additional Key Terms
Oversight function: congressional duty to see that the agencies in the executive branch are working effectively and according to legal policies. 4 4

5. Profile of the 107th Congress4

7. 4

8. Representatives of the People
Senators and representatives are elected to represent people.
As legislators,
They make laws.
They have four voting options: 4

9. Guided Reading ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS LEGISLATOR: makes law,
Serve on committees
Represent their constituents 4

11. Committee Membership and Public Servants
As committee members, senators and representatives screen proposed laws before they are voted on. 4

12. Committee Membership and Public Servants
Another vital part of their committee work involves the oversight function.
Oversight is the the process by which Congress, through its committees, checks to see that the agencies of the executive branch are working effectively.
Louise Lerner – IRS scandal 4

13. perform oversight function
Guided Reading
ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS
2. COMMETTEE MEMBER:
evaluate bills,
perform oversight function 4

14. Committee Membership and Public Servants
Members of the House and the Senate also act as servants of their constituents.
Requests from voters vary widely, and members of Congress take heed to many of them Ignoring their constituencies would not bode well in the next election. 4

15. Voting for what is best for everyone, the nation
Guided Reading
ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS
3. TRUSTEE: decides issues on merit alone, regardless of the views of constituents or other groups
Voting for what is best for everyone, the nation
Diane Feinstein - 82 4

16. Will vote the way her constituents want her to vote.
Guided Reading
ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS
4. DELEGATE: acts as the constituents' agents, regardless of personal beliefs
Will vote the way her constituents want her to vote.
Maxine Waters - 77 4

17. Will vote the way your party leaders want you to vote.
Guided Reading
ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS
5. PARTISAN: votes in line with wishes of party platform and leaders
Will vote the way your party leaders want you to vote.
Barbara Boxer - 74 4

18. Will vote for what is best for the politician. (Me, myself, and I)
Guided Reading
ROLES PLAYED BY CONGRESS
6. POLITICO: combines roles of trustee, delegate, and partisan and acts as a "practical" politician
Will vote for what is best for the politician (Me, myself, and I)
Nancy Peloci - 75 4

19. Compensation
Today, senators and representatives are paid a salary of $141,300 a year.
Certain members, such as the Speaker of the House and the Senate’s president pro tem, are paid more.
John Boehner - 65 4

20. Guided Reading COMPENSATION AND PRIVILAGES
SALARY: $174,000 or $141,300 if they don’t wan the raise.
Harry Reid - 75
Mitch McConnell - 73 4

21. Compensation members of Congress receive: Travel allowances,
Low cost health insurance
Pension plan
Money for offices and staff
Franking privileges 4

22. Compensation
The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage. 4

23. Compensation
The Constitution says that Congress fixes its own “compensation.” Therefore, the only real limits to congressional pay are the President’s veto and fear of voter backlash against a pay increase. 4

24. Analyzing Political Cartoons Question:

25. tax deductions, travel allowances, low-cost health insurance,
Guided Reading
COMPENSATION AND PRIVILAGES
NON-SALARY COMPENSATION:
tax deductions, travel allowances,
low-cost health insurance,
pension plan,
money for offices and staffs,
franking privilege 4

26. Membership Privileges
More importantly, the Speech and Debate Clause (Article I, Section 6, Clause 1) protects representatives and senators from suits for libel or slander arising from their official conduct. 4

27. Membership Privileges
Members of Congress are immune from arrest for noncriminal offenses while engaged in congressional business. 4

28. Guided Reading
COMPENSATION AND PRIVILAGES
9. PRIVILAGES:
Members of Congress are immune from arrest for misdemeanors during congressional sessions and may not be sued for libel. 4

29. KEY TERMS Guided Reading
10. CONSTITUANCY: the people of a legislator's State or district
11. OVERSIGHT FUNCTION: congressional duty to see that the agencies in the executive branch are working effectively and according to legal policies 4

30. Section 4 Review
1. Which of the following is a major role of members of Congress?
(a) law enforcement
(b) servant of their constituents
(c) serving in the military
(d) researching court cases
2. The franking privilege allows members of Congress to
(a) purchase as many hot dogs as necessary while in office.
(b) mail letters and other materials postage-free.
(c) vote on legislation.
(d) receive a pension upon retirement from Congress. 4