1. Congress

2. Congress and the Constitution Bicameral – Great Compromise – Pluralism Differences between House and Senate – Qualifications and Terms – Filibuster – Rules Committee – Apportionment, the census, redistricting, and Gerrymandering Changes – Civil War Amendments – 17 th Amendment – 19 th Amendment – 27 th Amendment – 1965 Voting Rights Act

3. Differences and Changes

4. How many women and minorities serve in Congress?

5. What is a typical day like for a member of Congress?

6. Reelection

7. What are the advantages of incumbency?

9. Redistricting and Gerrymandering

10. Virginia’s Third and Seventh Districts

11. Virginia’s Congressional Districts

12. Helping Constituents Casework Pork Barrel Legislation – Logrolling Stages of a congressperson’s career – Reelection – Increase power in institution – Policy maker

13. Congressional Powers

14. Powers of Congress

15. Lawmaking Power Committee referral – Markups Floor debate – Holds – Filibusters Cloture Final approval – Vetoes – Pocket vetoes

16. How a Bill Becomes a Law

17. Budgetary Power Congressional Budget Act of 1974 – Reconciliation – Timeline on budget process Pork and earmarks

18. Oversight Power War Powers Act (1973) Congressional review Confirmation of presidential appointments – Senatorial courtesy Impeachment

19. Organization of Congress

20. How Congress is Organized

21. Kinds of Committees Standing – Ways and Means – Appropriations – Rules Subcommittees Select – Select Intelligence Joint Conference

22. Choosing Committee Members Party Seniority – Changes Role of the Chair – Make key decisions about the work of the committee – Decide when hearings will be held and which witnesses will be called – Hire staff and control the budget – Manage floor debates on bills coming from their committee

23. Committees in Congress

24. Purposes of Committees – Allows members to divide their work and become specialists – Sort through numerous bills – Educate the public through hearings and investigations Purposes of Committees – Allows members to divide their work and become specialists – Sort through numerous bills – Educate the public through hearings and investigations

25. Influences on Lawmakers Whether or Not Issue Affects Constituents Delegate or Trustee Voters – Incumbent Candidates Must Defend Record – “All politics is local” Staff and Support Agencies Political Parties Interest Groups and Political Action Committees – Iron Triangles and Issue Networks The President

26. What are the congressional support agencies? Back

27. Congress and the Other Branches Congress and the executive – Balance of power has shifted to executive Congress and the judiciary – Judicial review