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Published byArnold Morton Modified over 9 years ago
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The Legislative Branch How Congress is Organized
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Bicameral Legislature Conflict at Constitutional Convention Smaller states = equal representation Larger states = population based
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Bicameral Legislature The Great Compromise Upper House = Senate Lower House = House of Representatives Constitution, Article I: Congress is “the First Branch of this Government”
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Terms of Congress Government calendar set by law Each Congress lasts for a meeting period, or a term, of 2 years Starts January 3 of odd-numbered years Each “new” Congress given a number to identify its 2 year term ie: first Congress met in 1789, 113 th Congress began Jan. 3, 2013
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Congressional Sessions Each term divided into two sessions Typical session lasts January – November, typically between 130-190 days.
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House of Representatives 435 voting members Each state allotted at least 1 representative Allotted according to population Adjusted after each 10-year census Term length of Representatives = 2 years
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Congressional Districts Each state is divided into one or more congressional district Constituents Gerrymandering Abuse in power of districting Increases voting power of particular group
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The Senate 100 members 2 per state Represents entire state instead of districts 6 year terms
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Leaders in Congress Majority Party Minority Party Speaker of the House – guidance of house/leads debates No speaker in Senate, but VP presides and serve as tie-breaker President Pro Tempore – “for the time being”
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Congressional Committees Standing committees Permanent Committees Both Senate & House Agriculture, Commerce, Veteran’s Affairs Select committees Limited time, until task is completed Intelligence Homeland Joint committees Members of both houses Economics Taxation
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Committee Assignments Seniority System Preferred committee spots
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