1. Created by: Bhavika Bhagat, Lauren Pasaraba & Christabelle Angeles
Congress
Created by: Bhavika Bhagat, Lauren Pasaraba & Christabelle Angeles

2. Okay...so what is Congress?
It is a bicameral legislature separated into the House of Representatives and the Senate.

3. Why did the Framers create a bicameral legislature?
The Founders were familiar with the British system of government, that consisted of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
It carried out the Connecticut Compromise.
It also instigated federalism - the idea that power be divided.

4. House of Reps. 435 members 2 year terms
Rep. must be at least 25 years old, US citizen for 7 years, and a resident of the state they represent
Directly elected by the people

5. Reapportionment
Fixed at 435 seats in the House of Rep. through the Reapportionment Act of 1929
Each seat represents an average of 700,000 people
It’s important as it increases or decreases the number of seats a state has in the House of Reps. AND electoral votes a state has in the electoral college
A state’s potential influence depends on the number of seats it holds

6. Districts, gerrymandering, congressional redistricting, oh my!
The Constitution doesn’t talk about districts
In 1842, Congress stated that all seats in the House would be filled by single-member districts
Each state legislature would be responsible for drawing the boundary lines
Gerrymandering is a legislative process in which the majority party redraws district lines in order to ensure the maximum number of seats

7. Continued...
Gerrymandering protects incumbents, discourages challengers, strengthens the majority party, and increases/decreases minority representation
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) made the principle of “one person, one vote,” which gave greater representation to suburbs and cities

8. Continued…
The Supreme Court has limited redistricting in the following ways:
Districts must be equally populated
Districts must be compact
Cannot dilute minority voting strength nor be drawn solely on race

9. Senate 100 members 6 year terms
Must be at least 30 years old, US citizen for 9 years, and a resident of the state they are elected from
Elected by voters in each state through the 17th Amendment

10. Special Powers House of Reps. Senate Initiate revenue bills
Brings charges of impeachment
Chooses the president when there is no majority in the electoral college
Senate
Ratifies treaties
Confirms judicial appointments
Confirms executive appointments

11. House of Representatives Organization
Speaker of the House
Second for presidential succession after the VP
Presides over the House
Oversees House business
Majority leader is elected leader of the party that controls the House of Reps.
Each parties have whips who keep close contact with their members to ensure party unity

12. Senate Organization
The Constitution states the VP is the president of the Senate and can only vote to break a tie
The president pro tempore rules the Senate when the VP is absent and is held by the member of the majority party with the longest service in the Senate.
The true leader of the Senate is the majority leader.

13. Congressional Elections
Incumbents usually win with their incumbency advantage that includes:
Campaign contributions
Free advertising
Constituent service
Franking privilege
Gerrymandering

14. Committees
Standing committees: permanent bodies that continue from one Congress to the next; focus on legislation in a particular area
Select committees: special panels for a specific purpose for a limited time.
Joint committees: like select committees and focus public attention on a major issue
Conference committees: temporary; irons out differences between the different bills from the House and Senate.

15. House Ways and Means Committee
Has jurisdiction on all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures
Members CANNOT serve on other House committees.

16. House Rules Committee Sets guidelines for floor debate
Gives each bill a rule that places it on the legislative calendar, limits time for debate, & determines the type of amendments allowed
Controlled by the Speaker

17. Committee Chairs & Seniority
Committee chairs call meetings, schedule hearings, hire staff, recommend majority members to sit on conference committees, & select all subcommittee chairs
Historically led by the member with committee seniority from the majority party
Now the committee chairs are elected, but seniority is still the norm

18. Oversight Also known as congressional review
The senate confirms cabinet heads and presidential appointments to federal courts
Some methods include:
Setting guidelines for new agencies
Holding hearings
Using budget control
Reorganizing an agency
Evaluating an agency’s programs

19. Foreign Policy Congress has the power to declare war
Senate has power to ratify treaties
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops
The act was in response to presidential actions during the Vietnam War

20. Crash Course