Chapter 5
“Role and Powers of Congress”
Section 1: Role of Congress
Question:
1. What influences members of Congress to
vote the way they do?
2. Imagine you’ve been elected to represent
Ohio.
•What are the most important issues that
you think need addressed?
5.1 Objectives
1. List influences that cause members of
Congress to vote the way they do.
2. Identify reasons for congressional
investigations.
3. Identify ways members of Congress help
their constituents.
I. Making Laws
Influences:
• Personal beliefs
• Constituents’ wishes
• Interest Groups
• Political Party Loyalty
– House 201 Democrats, 234 Republicans
– Senate: 53 D, 45 R, 2 Independents
II. Oversight
• Investigation of government programs
• Usually focuses on abuses and scandals
III. Helping Constituents
• 200 million contacts per year
• 17% of population has asked for help
• Why would someone contact their
congressman?
Assignment:
 Read text pages 93-97
 Complete section 1 review #2 and #3 on the
back of DQ 5.1
5.2 Objectives
• Identify qualifications and term lengths for
members of the House of Representatives and
Senate
• Understand how congressional districts are
drawn and explain gerrymandering
Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress
2nd Session of the 113th Congress
I.
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House of Representatives
435 members
2 year term
Seats apportioned based on population, every
state guaranteed at least 1
• CA has 53, TX 36, NY 27, FL 27, IL & PA 18, OH
16
Formal Qualifications
• 25 years old
• Citizen for 7 years
• Must live in state elected
Informal Qualifications
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• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/c
ost-u-s-senate-seat-10-5-million-article1.1285491
• http://theweek.com/article/index/241194/wh
at-it-costs-to-win-a-congressional-election
Reapportionment
• House grew every 10 years until 1920 (65 in
1789, 435 in 1920)
Reapportionment Act of 1929
• Permanent size of 435
• Census determines # per state
• Today about 1 rep per every 700,000 people
2003-2012
2013-2022
Congressional Districts
• Drawn up by state legislators
• Each district must have similar populations
• Gerrymandering legal to an extent
Gerrymandering…in action
In California…
In Illinois…
•Gerrymandering is only illegal if it
favors one race or ethnic group over
another.
•Political parties can hurt each other by
drawing boundary lines that
discriminate against the other party.
Ohio’s New Congressional Districts
6th Congressional District
Bill Johnson (R)
Our 6th Congressional District
Our old 18th Congressional District
Bob Gibbs (R)
Gerrymandering Activity
•Objective:To get your gender to have has much
control over the congressional districts in our state
of Scottslyvania.
•Based on the 2000 Census, we qualify for 4
congressional seats.
•Currently, the Fem Party controls the state legislature
and gets to determine how district boundary lines
are drawn.
•Although there are more members of the Man Party
state-wide, most guys don’t vote and the Fem Party
wins most of the seats in the state legislature
Gerrymandering Scottslyvania
Voting Population > 8 Fem + 18 Man = 6.5 per district
• Fem Party only has 31% of voting population, but
controls 51% of state legislature.
• All districts MUST be of equal population, but may
not have the same numbers of party members.
• How many districts can the Fem Party control?
II. Senate
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_____ members
_____ from each state
_____ year term (election every 2 years)
17th Amendment (1913)
Qualifications
• 30 years old
• U.S. citizen for 9 years
• Live in the state elected
House vs. Senate
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Senate much more prestigious
Senate is a continuous body, House is not
Senate = upper house, House = lower house
Neither have term limits
Both can expel members for misconduct with
a 2/3 vote
• Why would senators be less subject to public
opinion and special interests?
Salary and Benefits
• $174,000
• $60,000 pension when 50 with 20 years of
service
• Office space and staff
• Travel paid to home states
• Franking privilege
• Health insurance
• Can only be arrested for serious crimes
Assignment:
• Read text pages 98-104
• Daily Quiz 5.2
5.3 Objectives
1. Identify examples of expressed and special
powers held by Congress.
2. Explain and identify examples of implied
powers held by Congress.
3. Identify constitutional limits that exist on
congressional powers.
Section 3: Power of Congress
1. Expressed Powers (specifically listed)
• Tax, pay debt, defense & general welfare of
U.S.
• Borrow money, coin money
• Declare war, maintain an army
• Govern Washington, D.C.
• Make all laws necessary and proper for
enforcing all powers
• Page 105
2. Special Powers
A. Impeachment
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House/Senate/Vice-President/Chief Justice
Andrew Johnson – not guilty by 1 vote
Bill Clinton – not guilty, 55-45, 50-50
12 judges, 1 cabinet member, 1 senator
B. Approving Treaties
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Senate
2/3 vote, not automatic - Treaty of Versailles
C. Approving Appointments
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Senate – majority vote / senatorial courtesy
Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, cabinet
D. Deciding Elections
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House chooses president – 1 vote per state
Senate chooses VP – 1 vote per senator
3. Implied Powers (Elastic/Necessary & Proper Clause)
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Military academies (raise & maintain military)
War Powers Resolution (declare war)
Federal courts under Supreme Court
4. Limits on Power
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No:
– Ex post facto laws
– Bill of Attainder
– Suspending Writ of Habeas Corpus
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Cannot tax exports
Cannot grant titles of nobility
Cannot spend money that has not been
approved by congress
Chart on page 108
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Assignment
• Read text pages 105-108
• Complete Daily Quiz 5.3
Friday – Study Guide
Monday – Chapter 5 Test