1. Organization of Congress

2. History of Congress (Confederation)
2nd Continental Congress
Unicameral System
Very Limited Authority
Mainly State Oriented

3. History of Congress (Constitutional)
Bicameral System
British Parliament/Colonial
Legislatures
Virginia/New Jersey Plans
Checks and Balances
Disputes Between Parties

4. Political Parties in Congress
Splits Congress
Select Candidates/Distribute Power
Most Seats = Power

5. Terms/Sessions Term of Congress – length of time between elections.
Session of Congress – two formal meetings in each term in which members perform legislative work.
Special Session – Mtg called by President to deal with a pressing issue.

6. Senate
100 Seats
6 year term
Qualifications include 30 yrs old, citizen for 9 years, live in state represented.
Senate known as continuous body because all its seats are never up for election at the same time.
Senate known as upper house because it is smaller, more prestigious, and has a longer term of office.

7. House
435 seats
2 year term
Qualifications include 25 yrs old, citizen for 7 years, lives in district represented

8. Congressional Districts
“One person, One vote” Principle
Reapportionments
Gerrymandering

9. Historical Changes 17th Amendment (Direct Election)
20th Amendment (Lame Duck)
Reapportionment Act of 1929

10. Demographics Senate House 101 Women (18.7%)
54 to 45 (Republicans)
House
247 to 188 (Republicans)
101 Women (18.7%)
44 African Americans (8.1%)
53 Others

11. Religious Demographics
299 Protestant (56%)
163 Catholic (31%)
33 Jewish (6.2%)
15 Mormons (2.8%)

12. Committees Leads to a form of Specialization Forms: Examples: Standing
Joint
Select
Conference
Examples:
Resources
Budget
Agriculture

13. Leadership in Senate President of Senate: Joe Biden
President Pro Tempore: Orrin Hatch (R)
Republican Majority
Minority Party Majority Party
Democrat Republican
Leader: Harry Reid Leader: Mitch McConnell
Whip: Richard Durbin Whip: John Cornyn

14. Leadership in House Speaker of the House: Paul Ryan (R)
Republican Majority
Majority Party Minority Party
Republican Democrat
Leader: Kevin McCarthy Leader: Nancy Pelosi
Whip: Steve Scalise Whip: Steny Hoyer

15. Debate in the House Restricted Debate Rules Committee
Open or Closed Rule

16. Debate in the Senate
Usually limitless
Open Rule
Filibusters
Cloture

17. Congressional Staff/Agencies
Created for relief of Congress
Advise Politicians
Coordinate Budget
Handles Documents

18. Works Cited Notes from Lectures www.senate.gov www.house.gov
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Textbook: Pages