1. The Legislative Branch Congress

2. The Legislative Branch  The primary responsibility is to make the laws.  Make decisions based upon: constituents, personal beliefs, interest group influence, and party influence.

3. Overseeing Agencies  Congressional Oversight- committees check the effectiveness of government agencies. (Checks and Balances)

4. Helping Constituents  Voters within their district.  Handling requests people have with government agencies.  Public appearances.

5. Bicameral Congress  Senate: The New Jersey Plan.  Two per State  17 th Amendment: Senate is elected directly by the people.  Approval Powers: Presidential appointments, treaties, and impeachment.  Senators serve 6 year terms.

6. House of Representatives  Virginia Plan: Based upon a states population.  In 1910, the final number was set at 435 voting members  Census: Taken every 10 years to determine number of reps. per state: Reapportionment  Reps serve 2 year terms.

7. Reapportionment  Redistribution of seats per state in the House.  Districts are redrawn by the individual state legislatures.  Gerrymandering: Unfairly drawing up the districts to favor one party over the other.

8. Gerrymandering  Isolating the opposition into the fewest districts possible.  Dividing the minority party into surrounding districts  Racial Gerrymandering.

9. Legislation against gerrymandering  Voting Rights Act of 1965-Illegal to racially gerrymander.  Thornburg v. Gingles-Illegal to divide minority populations.  Davis v. Bandemer- Outlawed extreme cases of gerrymandering.  Bipartisan Commissions- Equal number of party members: Montana, Hawaii, Colorado