2.  Extra Credit on Gerrymandering Extended to Monday, October 24  Starting next Monday you will be turning in a synopsis of a US/World event that relates to class (more directions to follow later this week)  Quiz tomorrow—will be discussed later today in class

3.  Term of Congress begins at noon on January 3 rd of every odd numbered year  112 th Congress will go from 2011-2013  Constitution requires Congress to meet at least once each year

4.  Congress divided into two sessions, one for each year of the term  Begins on January 3 rd unless Congress proposes another date  When legislative work is done, both houses adjourn and the session is ended ◦ The president may call them back into a special session after they have adjourned (this would occur for a serious problem only)

5.  Normally, the Senate and House work as two separate entities ◦ However, there are times both of them meet together in a joint session  Example: President gives State of the Union address ◦ All members of Congress meet in the House chamber to hear the Presidential speech

6.  Under the Constitution ◦ House of Reps must select a presiding officer  Speaker of the House ◦ Vice President of the United States is the president of the Senate ◦ Senate must have someone selected to serve in the absence of the Vice President  President Pro Tempore

7.  Caucuses: Private meetings in which each party selects leaders ◦ Occurs on the first day of each term of Congress ◦ Democratic party chooses their own leaders ◦ Republican party chooses their own leaders  Majority party: political party with the most members in each house  Minority party: political party that has fewer members  Question: What is the minority and majority parties of our houses today?

8.  Vice president does not usually preside over daily meetings, thus majority party selects the president pro tempore ◦ Literally means for the time being ◦ Presides over day-to-day meetings  Each party has a leader who is assisted by a party whip ◦ Whip counts votes, encourages party loyalty, and ensures that the party’s members are present for important votes

9.  Speaker of the House presides over the House when it is in session ◦ Always a member of majority party ◦ Most powerful officer of the House  No member may speak until recognized by Speaker  Speaker influences the order of business in the House  House also has majority/minority leaders and whips

10.  Committees meet to consider legislation and hold hearings  Each committee has a chairperson and ranking member ◦ Chairperson: majority party ◦ Ranking Member: minority party ◦ Usually the longest serving member of the minority party represented is named Ranking Member  Subcommittees: smaller groups that consider legislation before it is looked at by full committee

12.  Vice President:  President Pro Tempore:  Senate Majority Leader:  Senate Minority Leader:  Speaker of the House:  House Majority Leader:  House Minority Leader:

13.  Vice President: Joe Biden  President Pro Tempore: Daniel Inouye  Senate Majority Leader: Harry Reid  Senate Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell  Senate Whips: Richard Durbin (D) and John Kyl (R)  Speaker of the House: John Boehner  House Majority Leader: Eric Cantor  House Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi  House Whips: Steny Hoyer (D) and Kenny McCarthy (R)

14.  15 Points on the first two sections of Ch. 5  Things to know: ◦ Apportionment ◦ Gerrymandering ◦ Qualifications for House/Senate ◦ Terms and Sessions ◦ Organization of Congress ◦ Role of caucuses, whips, and committees