1. Legislative Branch

2. Standards
Cite the formal qualifications for representatives and senators listed in the Constitution
Describe the election process for representatives and senators and how the 17th amendment affected them
Compare the terms for office for each chamber of Congress and the founders intent
Compare and contrast the powers of each chamber of Congress (e.g. power of the purse, 16th amendment, treaties etc.)

3. Explain the steps in the legislative process
Explain the functions of various leadership positions and committees within the legislature
Analyze the positive and negative role lobbyists play in the legislative process

4. Key vocabulary Congress House of Representatives Senate
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore
Minority leader
Lobbyists
Interest Groups
Filibuster
Political Action Committee (PAC)
17th Amendment
Article II
Power of the Purse
16th Amendment

5. Background Information
Congress job is to make laws
Constitution set up Congress as bicameral
House of Representatives (satisfied the Virginia Plan)
Senate (satisfied the New Jersey Plan)
Congress meets for a 2 year term
Each term begins the 3rd day in January of each odd numbered year (i.e. January 3, 2017)
Exact date set by the 20th amendment
Each term has 2 sessions (official time when Congress assembles)

6. House of Representatives
435 members
Congress sets exact number of members
Each state membership decided by state population
Every state is guaranteed at least 1 seat
Census can change a states allocated number of representatives
Each representative serves a 2 year term
Keeps them more alert to voter opinions at home
No limits on the number of terms they serve

7. Each state is required to set up districts for representation
i.e. a Representative cannot cover the whole state, only a small part
Constitution requires: contiguous (all 1 piece), compact (relatively small area), roughly equal population for all districts

9. Problems with districts…
Gerrymandering: drawing a district to benefit the party in power in state legislature
Concentrate as many opponent voters in one area
Spread opposition out so they can concentrate power
Goal is to create “safe” districts for the controlling party

11. Senate 2 senators per state
Originally all senators were selected by their state legislature
17th amendment required all senators to be directly elected by population of the state
Serve 6 year term
No term limit
1/3 expire every 2 years

12. House of Representatives
Qualifications
Qualification
House of Representatives
Senate
Age 25 30
Citizenship
7 years
9 years
Residency
Must be resident of the state they represent (not formally required to be from their district)
Must be resident of the state they represent