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Published byAdam Wood Modified over 9 years ago
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Question Write down 5 facts (or more!) you know about the legislative branch at the Federal level.
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Legislative Branch
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I can… I can analyze the process of how seats in the House of Representatives are reallocated. I can report requirements necessary for election to Congress.
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Terms and Sessions Congress meets for a 2 year term Term starts - Jan 3 rd @ noon of odd-numbered years Session – two per term Current: 114 th Congress, 1 st session
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House Membership 435 members At least 1 per state Territories have non-voting reps 2 year term length - no limit Elections even numbered years
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Qualifications for House Formal: 25 years old Resident of state elected from US citizen 7 years prior Informal: Live in district representing
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House Districts 435 single-member districts - one person to represent one district At-Large district - states with 1 rep
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Dividing the House Seats 1. census - population count 2. reapportionment - pop. determines how many reps each state gets o one district approx. 700,000 people Reapportionment Act of 1929 caps it at 435
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Dividing the House Seats 3. Redistricting - state legislatures draw district lines o must be one piece (contiguous) o equal pop.
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114th112th
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4. Gerrymandering The political party controlling state leg. draws district boundaries to favor their party - “packing” and “cracking” methods
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Gerrymandering Illinois
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Senate Membership 6 year term, no term limit Continuous body - ⅓ elected every 2 years 100 members, 2 from every state
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Senate Qualifications Senators must be: 30 years old Resident of state Citizen for 9 years Election - even years Term starts Jan 3rd at noon the following year
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Question What is the main difference between the constituents for a member of the House and a Senator?
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Membership in Congress Salary $174k/yr Leadership makes more $150k/yr pension Approve Congressional pay raises, not effective until next term Benefits o tax reduction - 2 residencies o gym, medical clinic Privileges o Franking privilege - free postage
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Conduct Bribery, treason - can be expelled Censure - formal disapproval from other members
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Review Question 1.Explain how these terms are related: census, reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering. 2.When does a new term of Congress start? 3.Who is responsible for redistricting? 4.What are the requirements to be in the House and Senate?
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Congressional Leadership - House Majority Leader (Kevin McCarthy) Majority Whip (Steve Scalise)
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House Leadership Speaker of the House – presiding officer, decides points of order, refers bills to appropriate committees, schedules legislation, assigns members to committees
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House Leadership Majority/Minority Leaders – shape and direct legislation (work w/committee chairpersons) Majority and Minority Whips – help implement party’s legislative program, influence votes, get members present to vote
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Senate Leadership Orrin Hatch Mitch McConnell Harry Reid John CornynDick Durbin
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Senate Leadership Vice President – Presides over Senate – may not participate in debates or vote (only in case of ties) President Pro Tempore – presides when VP is not present; senior member of Senate
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Senate Leadership Temporary Presiding Officer – presides when VP or President Pro Tempore is not present Majority/minority leaders Majority/minority whips
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Review 1.What are the responsibilities of the whips? 2.Why does the Vice President not participate in debate in Congress? Why does he only vote if there is a tie?
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Review Questions 1. When does a new term of Congress start? 2. Who is responsible for redistricting? 3. What are the requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives? A Senator? 4. List your Representative, Senators, and their party affiliations.
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I can… I can explain the purpose and different types of committees in Congress.
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Committees Purposes – Divides work – Select bills for further consideration (sub- committees) – Allows reps to specialize in issues important to constituents
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Types of Committees Standing – permanent committees Subcommittees – specialize in an area of the standing committee Select – study specific issue and report to House or Senate Joint – made up of members of both houses Conference – temporary committee to iron out differences b/w two versions of the same bill
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Committee Committee Chairmen – heads of committees ◦ Chosen by seniority rule – most important positions go to longest tenured ◦ Decide which bills are considered when and for how long
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Pg. 143 in book Make three lists: 1. House-only committees 2. Senate-only committees 3. House and Senate committees
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Question 1. Why do you think there are more standing committees in the House than in the Senate?
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Legislative Powers Taxing and Spending Power –Revenue bills (House only) – raising money - Ways and Means committee - www.waysandmeans.house.govwww.waysandmeans.house.gov –Appropriations bills – spending money
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