1. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS - Congress

2. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
KEY QUESTIONS
What did the Constitution say?
Who is in Congress?
Who gets elected?
How is Congress organized?
How does Congress do what it does?
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

3. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have Power to . . .
Collect ________
Pay ______ of the United States
Provide for the common _________
Provide for the general _________
Taxes
Debts
Defence
Welfare
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

4. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have Power to . . .
Borrow & print ________
Regulate __________ among the States
Declare _____
Raise & support _______ and a _______
Money
Commerce
War
NOT the President!
Armies
Navy
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

5. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have Power to . . .
Make all ______ which shall be
___________ & _________ for carrying into
Execution the foregoing Powers.
Reminder: This is known as the
and is associated with
Laws
Necessary
Proper
Elastic Clause
Implied Powers
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

6. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY?
Specific Powers of the HOUSE
Initiate all Revenue Bills
Pass Articles of Impeachment
Specific Powers of the SENATE
Give “Advice & Consent” to many
Presidential nominations
Approve Treaties
Hold trials of impeached officials
Mainly Taxes
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

7. it is better not to see them being made. Politics is the art
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Famous Quotes about Legislation
Laws are like sausages,
it is better not to see them
being made.
Politics is the art
of the possible.
Otto Von Bismarck
German leader of the late 1800’s
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

8. Otto also said: The Americans have contrived
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Otto also said:
The Americans have contrived
to be surrounded on two sides
by weak neighbors,
and on two sides by fish!
There is a Providence that protects
idiots, drunkards, children, and
The United States of America!
Otto Von Bismarck
German leader of the late 1800’s
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

9. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Importance of INCUMBENCY
Incumbent = Person already in office
Q: What percentage of House incumbents win re-election?
a. about 55%
b. about 70%
c. about 80%
d. more than 90%
In the Senate, a high percentage of incumbents are re-elected, but not as high a % as House members
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

10. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election?
Visibility
- Trips around district
- Mail, , Phone calls to constituents
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

11. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election?
2. Credit Claiming
- Casework
Helping constituents as individuals
with government “red tape”
- Pork Barrel Spending
Winning federal projects, grants,
and contracts for own district
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

12. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election?
3. Position Taking
Members of Congress
take positions on
issues in a very public way
Which may help with election
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

13. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election?
Weak Opponents
- Potentially effective opponents scared off
- Opponents usually not well known
- Opponents often lack experience
- KEY: Opponents often lack financial backing
- SUPER KEY:
Incumbents HAVE Financial Backing
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

14. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Importance of APPORTIONMENT
For House seats, the number each state will
have is recalculated every ____ years
after the national ________
Re-apportionment = adjusting number of seats
a state gets based on changes in __________ 10
Census
population
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

15. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Importance of RE-APPORTIONMENT
A change in the number of House seats a state
has requires a change in District lines
(called ____________)
The drawing of these lines in order to favor one
party or politician is known as _____________
Redistricting
gerrymandering
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

16. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Who is this?
Elbridge Gerry
5th U.S. Vice-President
Who, as a politician in
Massachusetts,
drew up a Congressional
district that looked like this . . .
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

17. AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress
WHO GETS ELECTED?
Therefore . . .
“gerrymandering”
Which looked like a
salamander to some people
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress