1. Warm-Up (37L) – What do we already know/ remember?
Answer the following Qs (you do NOT need to write the question). Make an educated guess even if you’re not certain.
What is the purpose of the legislative branch?
What political party has the majority in the House? In the Senate?
Who are the 2 Senators from NC? Which party do each of them represent?
Who is Speaker of the House?
How many people are there in the House? In the Senate?
How is # of people in the House determined for each state?

2. The US Legislative Branch

3. Congress Is bicameral What does this mean?
Why do we have a bicameral legislature?

4. Special session: meet in times of emergency
Congressional terms
Each term lasts 2 years
Starts Jan 3rd of odd-numbered years
Divided into 2 sessions (1 session/ 1 yr, so 1 full term is technically 2 sessions)
Special session: meet in times of emergency

5. Members of Congress Senate 100 members 435 members Based upon?
HoR
100 members
Based upon?
Term length: 6 yrs/ staggered elections
Qualifications
30 y.o.
Live in state you rep.
US citizen 9 yr
435 members
Based upon?
Term length: 2 yrs
Qualifications
25 y.o.
Live in state you rep.
US citizen 7 yr

6. Congressional Leaders
Majority party: political party w/ more than ½ the members (other party is minority party)
Each chamber (Senate/HoR) chooses their leaders
Senate:
President Pro Tempore (Pro Tem)- acts as chairperson of Senate (ceremonial)
Vice President: president of Senate; only votes in case of a tie
HoR:
Speaker of the House most powerful
Steers legislation, in charge of debate, influences business

7. Intended Purpose? Senate HoR
Provide stability; continuity; in-depth deliberation
Represent constituents
Reflect will of average citizen
Represent constituents

8. Other perks….
Membership: college degree; involved w/ community; ½ are lawyers
Salary: $174,000 (but Speaker of House, 220k+; Leaders + Pres Pro Tem, 193k)
Other privileges: free parking; free office space; trips to home states; send job- related mail w/o paying postage [franking privilege]; immunity in certain situations

9. Responsibilities of each chamber
Senate
HoR
Confirms presidential nominations
Requires 2/3 vote to ratify treaties
Holds impeachment trial
Must begin all revenue bills (AKA appropriation bills)
Brings charges of impeachment

10. Congressional Committees (where most work gets done!)
Standing committee (permanent – always there)
Select committee: created to a special job for limited time
Joint committee: members from both HoR & Senate
Conference committee: temporary committee that helps Senate/ House agree on details of proposed law

11. Committee Assignments (who decides who does what?)
Assignments made by party leaders
Leaders consider peoples’ preferences & mostly their seniority
Membership on committees is proportional to that party’s rep. in that chamber (more Repbs in House = more Repbs on House committee)
Longest-serving majority member usually becomes chairperson of a committee
Chairpeople of standing committees are most powerful people in Congress

12. Congressional districts (how do we decide who represents what in HoR?)
State legislatures have power to draw congressional districts for HoR
Each district must be equal in population
Each state gets at LEAST 1 Representative
Redistricting occurs after census (every 10 yr) to accommodate population shifts
Gerrymandering: drawing district lines to favor a particular party
What is gerrymandering? TEDx