1. The US Congress
Chapters 10: Sections 1 & 2

2. The primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then passed on to the president for approval.
US Congress- What is the purpose of Congress? Why did the Constitution establish a Bicameral legislation?
The primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills.
The north wing (left) houses the Senate, while the south wing (right) houses the House of Representatives.

3. Historic & practical reasons for bicameral Congress.
British Parliament; idea from Britain.
Constitution Convention- Compromise

4. Separation of Power- Two Houses Check each other!!
Didn’t want the Congress to become too powerful!!! Both the Senate and the House must pass a bill, only then can the president sign it.
Separation of Power- Two Houses Check each other!!
House is based on population of the state
Senate- equal representation- each state has two senators

5. Vocabulary Terms for Congress
Term- An assigned period of time for an elected official to serve
House of Representatives- 2 years
Senate- 6 years
Sessions- A period of time each year when the Congress meets to talk about laws
Two sessions in a term!
Adjourn, end of a meeting-usually starts in January and ends in late fall.

6. Congress & Sessions Other Vocab Terms
Convenes – when they begin work in a session
Recess – short breaks during a session
Special Session – called by President to solve an issue- emergency
27 in history – Truman’s in 1948 last one
Section one

7. There are NO term limits on Congress
Congressmen can be elected over and over again…..

8. House of Representatives & Population
7 states have only one district- at-large, people choose their representatives from the whole state.
House of Representatives & Population
Each state is divided in districts
Each district elects its own representative

9. How many districts are in PA? What district is Media?
When we vote in Media, we are only voting for one House member, one representative out of the total number for PA in U.S. Congres

10. What happens if a state decreases or increases in population?
Several ways congressional districts change
Re-appropriation after a census &
Gerrymandering!

11. Census every 10 years in the U.S.
Why do we have a census? How does it relate to the House of Representatives?
Written in the Constitution

12. US Census & Re-Apportionment of House Members- 2010 Census
Apportionment means distribution or allotment in proper shares.
Apportionment –House representatives will be apportioned or distributed among the state based on population

13. Bases on the Census, district lines are redrawn…Reapportionment
Gerrymandering –an unfair drawing of district lines, giving a party or a group an advantage.
“kidnapping” – redraw lines to move an incumbent into a district less likely to be reelected
Widespread today..
Result today: most districts are considered “safe”

14. Gerrymandering…. Packing Cracking
Packing, state legislators “pack” as many opposing voters into a single district as possible.
Ex. Republicans may “pack” democrats into only 1 district, and republicans into many…
Cracking-the party in power splits up (spread out) voters who support the opposing party.
Ex. Republicans may spread out the democrats so they can never win in a district.

15. Analysis the Cartoons?

16. Reapportionment Act of 1929 – set 435 as permanent number of Reps!

17. How often do we have elections?
House of Representative term = two year
Senators every term = 6 years
President’s and Governors term = four years
Every two years we have elections in the U.S.

18. Every 2 years all 435 House Members are up for election!
There are many districts in the U.S., states with high populations have more districts.

19. Elections Every 2 years- Even years
All 435 House members; election every 2 years
Elections fall on even years!

20. Every 2 years; 1/3 of Senate seats up for election

21. Governors/ Executives of State- Elections vary…
AS, America Samoa
Governors/ Executives of State- Elections vary…
Party control of Governors' offices after January 11,   
Democratic Governor- Blue
  Republican Governor- Red
  Independent Governor- Independent

22. 112 Congress- Pres. Obama 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans, 2 Independents
House Party standings (at the beginning of this Congress)   193 Democrats
  242 Republicans
Senate Party standings (at the beginning of this Congress)   51 Democrats
  2 Independents, both caucusing with Democrats
  47 Republicans

23. 113 Congress; President’ Obama
Which party controls the House & Senate?

24. Midterm Elections- November 2014

25. Which party will take control of Congress? Governors race too!

26. Speaker of the House= leader
Elected by the majority party members in the House
Runs the business of the House
If President & V. President cannot serve, he becomes the President.
Speaker leads sessions, decides who may speak, calls for votes and makes sure rules are followed. Places members in committee.