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Published byKimberly Joleen McKinney Modified over 9 years ago
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Purpose of a Census: Count Population for Representative Purposes Data is used to plan for future gov’t programs
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The U. S. is Constitutionally required to have a Census See Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 – page 760
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Reapportionment & Redistricting Reapportionment – After the Census, Congress determines which state lose representatives & which state gain representatives (but the Constitution guarantees every state will have at least 1 rep.) Redistricting – State Legislatures redraw the Congressional district boundaries after they are informed by Congress
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Reapportionment Act 1929 See page 268 Set the permanent size of the House of Reps to 435 U. S. Representatives
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Your U. S. Representatives & U. S. Senators are: U. S. Rep 9 th Congressional District – Tom Graves Note: You live in the 9 th Congressional District of GA The 2 U. S. Senators for GA – –Saxby Chambliss –Johnny Isakson
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In the Senate - VP is constitutionally president of the Senate; the VP’s main purpose is to break a tie vote The majority party chooses a president pro tempore (for the time being)
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Jobs of Members of Congress Legislator & Representative of Constituents - Trustee & Delegate; Partisan; Politico Committee Member – Screen bill proposals and decide which will go to floor consideration; perform oversight function & investigation Servant of the Constituents – Help people who have problems with the federal bureaucracy; respond to constituents.
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Congress has the power of oversight – to investigate current issues by holding public hearings
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Filibuster Can only by use in the Senate. A method of defeating a bill in which a senator talks until a majority either abandons the bill or agrees to modify it.
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Cloture Cloture – closes a filibuster when 3/5’s of Senate (60 members) vote for cloture
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17 th Amendment - Allows for the direct election of Senators, at large, by popular vote; senators use to be chosen by the state legislatures Article I, Sect. 7 – All bills for raising revenue begin in the House of Reps.
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How do political parties affect Congress? Combine efforts to influence politics Get Laws passed Work to get their candidates elected **But political parties are not an official part of government
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Influences on Congress Media Nature of the Issues Voters & Constituents Special Interest Groups – PACS(Political Action Committees – provide substantial campaign funds to candidates); Lobbyists (represent interest groups) Political parties President Staff Members Other Lawmakers
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Impeachment -House of Representatives acts as the grand jury and brings the indictment -The Senate acts as the court and jury and conducts the trial and renders a verdict -The Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court acts as the judge
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