2. Three Reasons for this:
Like a room with a partition, Congress is one congress made up of two houses.
Three Reasons for this:
Historical
British Parliament did it (Houses of Commons & Lords)
Practical
Helped resolve dispute between large & small states
Theoretical
Checks and balances

3. 3 Types of Powers Expressed Powers Implied Powers Inherent Powers
(most Art. 1, Sec 8)
Powers that are STATED in the Constitution
Implied Powers
Those not stated but drawn from expressed powers
Regulate Commerce- set minimum wage
Inherent Powers
Powers that belong to all sovereign nations- control borders

4. 100 members (2 per state) Elected to 6 year terms Qualifications:
30 years old
Been a citizen for the last 9 years
Live in the state you wish to run in at the time of the race

5. Tries impeachment cases brought by the House
Votes on all bills and legislation sent up from the House
More often than not, “amends” such bills before passage, requiring a return to the House, which either votes for the amended bill or continues to revise it

6. The Vice President is officially “president” of the Senate
Largely ceremonial position as this is a non- voting position except
In the event of tie (50-50), the VP casts deciding vote
Paradoxically, the least and most important position

7. Majority/Minority Leader
The true power in the Senate
Elected by Senate members of his/her party
The most visible member of the Senate
Often meets with, and acts in concert with, the Speaker of the House & President

8. Majority/Minority “Whips”
As the name implies, responsible for party discipline, keeping members “in line” and generally enforcing “proper” party behavior

9. President Pro Tempore Almost entirely a ceremonial title
Usually granted to the senior member of the majority party
Presides when the VP is unavailable
Otherwise has the same power as any other Senator

10. 435 members (based on each state’s population) Elected to 2 year terms
Qualifications:
25 years old
been a citizen for the last 7 years
Live in the state you wish to run in at the time of the race

11. Introduce legislation and, if passed, move on to Senate approval
Originates revenue raising measures
Sole power of impeachment, with trial, if required by Senate
Approves by 2/3 vote any Constitutional amendments prior to state ratification
A good question to ask is if students think a Representative has to live in the District they represent (they don’t have to but they usually do). Should that be a requirement?

12. Speaker of the House Elected by majority party Presides over House
Principle leader of party
3rd in line of succession
Assigns bills to committees
Assigns membership within committees
I ask students if they know who the current Speaker of the House is and show a picture to hopefully show that they recognize him.

13. Majority Leader
Floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in Congress
Carries out decisions of their party caucuses
Steers floor action to their party’s benefit
Chief spokesman for his/her party in the chamber
More powerful in the House because he/she has more votes

14. Minority Leader
The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house
Carries out decisions of their parties’ caucuses
Steers floor action to their parties’ benefit
Chief spokesman for his/her party in the chamber

15. Majority/Minority Whip
Function pretty much like Senate counterparts

16. Both Houses have equal amount of money allocated for funding
Senators usually have larger staff
¼ back home in district offices to deal with constituents
Draft bills, do research, negotiate with interest groups

18. “It is indispensable that besides the House (which runs on all fours with popular sentiment), we should have a body like the Senate which may refuse to run with it at all when it seems to be wrong.”
-Woodrow Wilson
I use this quote from WW to ask students to interpret what he means. Why are Senate terms longer? What does he mean by “popular sentiment”?