1. Chapter 5 Sect 1
Mr. Gordon

2. Congress and the People
Congress is the representative body through which the will of the people is made into law.
Representing the People
Represent the interests of their constituents, the voters in the district that elected them
Attempt to balance the needs of their constituents with those of the nation as a whole
Civilization ended around 400 BC
Members of Congress
Tend to be older than the general population
Tend to be wealthier
Most of them have been white men
In recent years, more representative of the nation’s diversity

3. The Structure of Congress
Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives
1929: number fixed at 435
Number of representatives each state can elect based on state’s population
Apportionment: distribution of seats according to population
Representatives serve two-year terms
The Senate
100 members
Each state represented by two senators
Senators serve six-year terms

5. The Structure of Congress {continued}
The Two-House Structure
Bicameral legislature proposed at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
Great Compromise combined elements of two previously proposed plans, Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
Bicameral system adopted parts of both plans: states would have equal representation in Senate, but proportional representation based on population in House of Representatives

6. Congress and Checks and Balances
The Power of the Purse
Only Congress can deny funding requests from executive branch
Through appropriation, Congress can prevent president from carrying out policies
The Power of Advice and Consent
Senate must approve treaties negotiated by president
Senate has power to reject presidential appointees
The Impeachment Power
Impeachment power rarely used
Congress can charge officials with wrongdoing, bring them to trial
Process only in cases involving treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors”
Other Checks and Balances
Begins process of amending Constitution
Can override presidential veto of bill
Congressional oversight: broad powers of executive review