1. Random Fact of the Day
Did you know members of Congress are the highest paid legislatures in the world? The average member of Congress makes 200+ thousand dollars per year.

2. Chapter 6, Section 1 How Congress Is Organized

3. Main Idea
In Congress, members of each party select their own leaders and work mainly in committees to carry out their duties.

4. I. A Bicameral Legislature
***The framers of our Constitution intended on the legislative branch to be the most powerful.***
A. Each term starts January 3rd of odd-numbered years. Each term lasts two sessions.
B. Congress holds special sessions at times of crisis.

5. C. A joint session occurs when both houses meet together.
***Each new term of Congress is given a number to identify its two-year term. For example, the first Congress met in 1789, and the 107th Congress began meeting in 2001.***

6. ***The Great Compromise established Congress as a bicameral legislature.***
D. Bicameral- two part legislative body
E. The House of Representatives has 435 members, given to the states by their population based on a census.
F. *Census- A population count.
***Congress adjusts the number of representatives for each state after each new census is taken.***

8. ***States are divided into districts, with one representative elected from each district. States draw districts to include roughly the same number of constituents.***
G. Constituent- people represented.
H. Some abuse the districts by drawing a gerrymander.
I. Gerrymander- oddly shaped voting districts designed to increase voting strength to a particular group.

9. J. * House members focus on the concerns of their districts.
K. The Senate has 100 members- two from each state. They serve six-year terms.
Richard Burr (R) Kay Hagan (D)

10. L. Majority Party- the party with more than half the members belonging to one party.
M. Minority Party- the party with less than half of the members belonging to a political party.
House Majority Leader- Steny Hoyer (MD)
House Minority Leader- John Boehner (OH)

11. N. The Speaker of the House is the most powerful leader in the House of Representatives. The Speaker always belongs to the majority party.
***Speaker is in control of floor debates and influences most House business. The Speaker is third in line to become President.***
Nancy Pelosi- First female Speaker of the House (CA)

12. The leader of the Senate is technically the Vice President
***The leader of the Senate is technically the Vice President. VP rarely attends and votes only in case of a tie.***
O. President Pro Tempore- The person who actually acts as the leader of the Senate. This role is filled by the majority party.
Robert Byrd- WV

13. ***Powerful floor leaders try to make sure laws Congress passes are in the best interest of their own party.
***Party “whips” help by keeping track of where their party members stand on issues and rounding them up for key votes.***

14. II. Committee Work
A. The detailed work of lawmaking is done in committees.
B. Standing Committee- permanent committees (in both houses).
***Divided into subcommittees that deal with specialized tasks!***

15. C. Both houses also have select committees that are created to do a special job for a limited period of time.
***They disband after task is finished!***

16. D. Joint Committees- includes members of both houses.
E. Conference Committees- temporary, help the House and Senate iron out detail of proposed laws.
F. Seniority- party leaders make committee assignments based on years of service

17. Mini Quiz!!! Hoobastank- The Reason
1. “ A two-house legislature”?
2. How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
3. How many in the Senate?
4. Who is in charge of the House of Reps?
5. Who is technically in charge of the Senate but can rarely attend? Who fills that role 99% of the time?
6. Permanent committees that work in both houses from session to session.