1. The House and Senate
Congress

2. How are the House of Representatives and Senate different?
Congress
House & Senate
How are the House of Representatives and Senate different?

3. Comparing House & Senate
Congress

4. House of Representatives
Congress
Comparisons
House of Representatives
The Senate
435 members
100 members
Size

5. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Each state
Number of Reps is based on state’s population
2 for each state
Each state

6. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate
Must be 25 years old.
Must be a US citizen for 7 years
Must be 30 years old.
Must be a US citizen for 9 years
Formal Requirements

7. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate
Must live in their state but not their constituency
Must live in their state, which is their constituency
Residency Requirements

8. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate
A district inside their state
(which is the same as their state for very small states)
The entire state is their constituency
Their constituency

9. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Terms
2 year terms – they are all up for election every even numbered year
6 year terms – their elections are staggered
Terms

10. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Leader
Speaker of the House – only leadership mentioned in the Constitution
Officially the Vice President – but in reality it’s the Senate Majority Leader
Leader

11. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Prestige
Less prestigious than the Senate
Very prestigious
Prestige
People don’t know individual Reps. other than their own and leadership
Individual senators are very famous political figures

12. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Diversity
More diverse – lots of women & minorities
Mostly white males
Diversity
22% are non-white
83 are women
10% non-white
21 women

13. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate Diversity
More diverse – lots of women & minorities
Mostly white males
Diversity
22% are non-white
83 are women
10% non-white
21 women

14. Congress Comparisons House of Representatives The Senate
Covers the House as a whole
Covers actions of individual Senators
Media coverage
Focuses on House leadership

15. House of Representatives
Congress
Comparisons
House of Representatives
The Senate
Republicans
Republicans
Current Control
45 Seat majority
1 Seat majority

16. House of Representatives
Congress
Comparisons
House of Representatives
The Senate
Lamar Alexander (R)
Steve Cohen (D)
Your Congressmen
Bob Corker (R)

17. Unique Powers
Congress

18. Congress Uniqie Powers House of Representatives
All revenue bills must begin in the House
Impeach the president
Choose the president if there’s not electoral college majority

19. Congress Uniqie Powers Senate Approve the president’s appointments
Approve the treaties
Vote to remove the president if he’s impeached
Choose the Vice President if you there’s no electoral college majority

20. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

21. Congress Wrap Up Formal differences Informal differences Unique Powers
Focus on these things: