1. Warm-up Title page 18" Congressional Membership"
Set up for Cornell notes and copy this essential question "What are the requirements and benefits of serving in congress?"
Answer these questions under a header "Warm-up"
What are some reasons why congress might face a gridlock (inability to agree)?
As a future voter, would you rather your representative fight to the end to protect your beliefs or compromise so that Congress can get more done?

2. Congressional Membership
What are the requirements and benefits of serving in congress?

3. Organization of Congress
The Founders gave more power to Congress than to any other branch, but it also spilt lawmaking powers into a bicameral legislature.
Both can write bills, but the other house must agree on the wording before it can be sent to the president for final approval. 
A congressional term is made up of two sessions, each one year long, and no business can be conducted without an approved budget. 

4. Membership of the House
There are 535 voting members of Congress and 435 serve in the house representatives.
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and legal residents of the state electing them.
Representatives serve two-year terms and represent a specific district within a state.

5. Gerrymandering 
Representation is based on population and is reapportioned every 10 years.
It is based on a national census, which counts how many people live in each part of the county.
Gerrymandering is the process of redistricting in odd shapes to create an advantage. 

6. Membership of the Senate
Each state is represented by two senators.
Senators must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and legal residents of the state they represent.
Senators are elected to six-year terms.
Membership in Congress tends to change slowly because incumbents are generally reelected.

7. Increasing diversity
Congressional membership reflects increasing diversity although it is still not aligned with national demographics

8. Benefits for Congressmen
Both the Senate and the House set their own salaries, currently around $174,000 per year. 
They are also given a large allowance for stationary and postage for official business, telephones, newsletters, staffing, and trips home. 
Congress receives it's own health care program, free medical clinic, and private gym.