1. Congress Chapter 6 Notes

2. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE Size- Number of representatives Term- how long they are elected Powers of the leaders Types of Committees

3. How is Congress organized? Senate- Equal representation Senate- Equal representation House of Representatives- population determines representation House of Representatives- population determines representation

4. House of Representatives Elected to two year terms Elected to two year terms 435 members 435 members The Constitution says that each state must have 1 representative and the rest is determined by the population The Constitution says that each state must have 1 representative and the rest is determined by the population Every 10 years the number changes Every 10 years the number changes

5. Gerrymandering- Dividing a state into odd shaped districts for political reasons Gerrymandering- Dividing a state into odd shaped districts for political reasons Today this is illegal Today this is illegal All districts must have the same number of people in them All districts must have the same number of people in them

6. Senate Elected to 6 year terms Elected to 6 year terms Terms do not begin at the same time Terms do not begin at the same time Every 2 years 1/3 of the Senate is elected Every 2 years 1/3 of the Senate is elected 2 Senators from each State 2 Senators from each State 100 total 100 total

7. Congressional leaders Majority Party- more than half of the members belong to a party Majority Party- more than half of the members belong to a party Minority Party- what the other party is called Minority Party- what the other party is called

8. Speaker of the House Most powerful member of the House of Representatives Most powerful member of the House of Representatives Member of the Majority Party Member of the Majority Party Steers legislation through the House, in charge of floor debates, and influences House business Steers legislation through the House, in charge of floor debates, and influences House business 3 rd in line for the President 3 rd in line for the President

9. Senate Leader The official leader of the Senate is the Vice President The official leader of the Senate is the Vice President Only votes if there is a tie Only votes if there is a tie The person who does the day to day work as the leader is the president pro tempore The person who does the day to day work as the leader is the president pro tempore

10. Floor Leaders Make sure that the laws that Congress passes are in the best interest of their party Make sure that the laws that Congress passes are in the best interest of their party They try to sway votes They try to sway votes

11. CommitteesExplain Standing Select Joint Conference

12. Standing Committees Permanent committees that work from session to session Permanent committees that work from session to session Senate has 16 and the House has 19 Senate has 16 and the House has 19 Look on Page 142 to see the committees Look on Page 142 to see the committees

13. Select Committee Created to do a special job for a period of time Created to do a special job for a period of time Both in House and Senate Both in House and Senate Example was to investigate the death of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. Example was to investigate the death of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr.

14. Joint Committee Includes members of both Houses Includes members of both Houses Four committees Joint Economic Committee, Federal taxes, Library of Congress, Government Printing Office Four committees Joint Economic Committee, Federal taxes, Library of Congress, Government Printing Office

15. Conference Committee When members of each house get together to work on a bill that is up for a vote. When members of each house get together to work on a bill that is up for a vote. Political leaders make committee assignments Political leaders make committee assignments They look at They look at

16. Legislative Powers Expressed- specific powers given to Congress Expressed- specific powers given to Congress Implied- powers that are not stated in the Constitution Implied- powers that are not stated in the Constitution Elastic Clause- clause 18 of the Constitution allows Congress to stretch its powers Elastic Clause- clause 18 of the Constitution allows Congress to stretch its powers

17. Legislative Powers Taxing and spending Taxing and spending Regulate Commerce Regulate Commerce Foreign relations and treaties Foreign relations and treaties

18. Nonlegislative powers The power of approval and removal The power of approval and removal Oversight and investigation Oversight and investigation

19. Limits on Powers Writ of habeas corpus- requires police to bring a prisoner to court and explain why they are being held Writ of habeas corpus- requires police to bring a prisoner to court and explain why they are being held Bills of attainder- can’t punish people without a jury trial Bills of attainder- can’t punish people without a jury trial Ex post facto laws- can’t pass a law today and arrest someone who broke that law last week. Ex post facto laws- can’t pass a law today and arrest someone who broke that law last week.

20. House of Representatives 3 Qualifications 3 Qualifications 1. Must be 25 years old 2. Be a US citizen for 7 years 3. Must live in the state that they represent

21. Senate 3 Qualifications 3 Qualifications 1. Must be 30 years old 2. A US citizen for 9 years 3. Must live in the state that they represent

22. Congressional Staff and Help Behind the scenes Helpers

23. Congressional Staff and Help Personal Staff Personal Staff Committee Staff Committee Staff Support Services Support Services

24. Personal Staff Gather information on bills and issues that are to be discussed in Congress Gather information on bills and issues that are to be discussed in Congress Arrange meetings and write speeches Arrange meetings and write speeches Deal with media and lobbyist Deal with media and lobbyist Interns that do research, office duties, and run errands Interns that do research, office duties, and run errands

25. Committee Staff Most are experts in a specific field Most are experts in a specific field They draft bills, gather information, organize committee meetings, and negotiate with lobbyists They draft bills, gather information, organize committee meetings, and negotiate with lobbyists

26. Support Services Library of Congress- important source of information Library of Congress- important source of information Congressional Research Services-look up facts and arguments for a bill Congressional Research Services-look up facts and arguments for a bill General Accounting Office- investigates financial issues General Accounting Office- investigates financial issues Congressional Budget Office- deals with information for making the budget Congressional Budget Office- deals with information for making the budget

27. Congress at Work Congress at work

28. Congress at Work Lawmaking Lawmaking Case work Case work Helping the state or district Helping the state or district

29. Lawmaking Write and introduce bills Write and introduce bills Work in committees Work in committees Vote on bills Vote on bills

30. Casework This is when people from their home district or state sends them request This is when people from their home district or state sends them request Most request are handled by the office staff Most request are handled by the office staff

31. Helping the District or State Congressmen's jobs are to protect the interest of their constituents Congressmen's jobs are to protect the interest of their constituents They try to get as much money as they can to go to their district or state They try to get as much money as they can to go to their district or state Pork-barrel projects- these are project that benefit the congressmen’s home district or state Pork-barrel projects- these are project that benefit the congressmen’s home district or state

32. How a Bill Becomes a Law Types of Bills Types of Bills 1. Private bills- concern individual people or places 2.Public bills- apply to the entire Nation

33. How a Bill Becomes a Law 1. Introduced 2. Committee 3. Floor for a vote 4. Goes to the other House 5. Committee 6. Floor for a vote 7. Conference committee if doesn’t pass the same way 8. Vote from both houses 9. President signs