1. Chapter 5 Sect 1
Mr. Plude

2. Congress and the People
Congress is the representative body through which the will of the people is made into law.

3. Congress and the People
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

4. Congress and the People
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

5. The Structure of Congress
Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

6. The Structure of Congress
The House of Representatives
1929: number fixed at 435
Number of representatives based on state’s population
Apportionment: distribution of seats according to population
Representatives serve two-year terms

8. The Structure of Congress
The Senate
100 members
Each state represented by two senators
Senators serve six-year terms
Virginia’s two senators are Mark Warner and Tim Kaine

9. 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:
Senate - States would have equal representation in proportional
House of Representatives - proportional representation based on population

10. Congress and Checks and Balances
The Power of the Purse
Congress can deny funding requests from executive branch
Through appropriation (authorization of spending), Congress can prevent president from carrying out policies

11. Congress and Checks and Balances
The Power of Advice and Consent
Senate may approve treaties negotiated by president
Senate has power to reject presidential appointees (Used to be 60/100 votes needed, now has to be simple majority) (Senate sets rules on voting #’s)

12. Congress and Checks and Balances
The Impeachment Power
Impeachment power rarely used
House of Representatives impeach (charge officials with wrongdoing)
Senate holds trial
Process only in cases involving treason, bribery, “high crimes and misdemeanors”

14. Congress and Checks and Balances
Other Checks and Balances
-Begins process of amending Constitution
-Can override presidential veto of bill
-Congressional oversight: broad powers of executive review

15. My mother, Eve, always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thing. A setback is never a bad experience, just another one of life’s lessons.