NAME____________________________#___________
UNIT 5 The Legislative Branch Structure Objectives
Chapter 24 State Legislatures
Section 2
State Legislatures
pp. 689-693
1. Understand the structure and size of State legislatures.
2. Describe the election process, terms, and compensation of Slate legislators.
3. Explain the powers and organization of the State leglslatures.
4. Summarize the legislative process at the State level.
Chapter 10 Congress
Section 1
The National Legislature
pp. 262-265
1. Explain why the Constitution provides for a bicameral Congress.
2. Describe a term of Congress.
3. Identify how sessions of Congress have changed over time.
Section 2
The House of Representatives
pp. 267-273
1. Describe the size and terms of the House of Representatives.
2. Explain how House seats are reapportioned among the states after each census,
3. Describe a typical congressional election and congressional district.
4. Analyze the formal and Informal qualifications for serving In the House.
Section 3
The Senate
pp. 275-278
1. Compare the size of the Senate to the size of the House of Representatives.
2. Describe how States have elected Senators in the past and present.
3. Explain how and why a senator's term differs from a representative's term.
4. Identify the qualifications for serving in the senate.
Section 4
The Members of Congress
pp. 279-284
1. Identify the personal and political backgrounds of the current members of Congress.
2. Describe the duties performed by those who serve in Congress.
3. Describe the compensation and privileges of members of Congress.
NAME____________________________#___________
TITLE: STATE LEGISLATURES
CH.24 S.2 PP.689-693
Write the answers to the questions on the lines provided.
What formal qualifications do most States set out for membership in the legislatures? (3)
1a.
b.
c.
What is the usual term for legislators?
2.
What are 8 of the most important legislative powers of State legislatures?
3.
7.
4.
8.
5.
9.
6.
10.
Name/explain 3 non-legislative functions of State legislatures.
11.
12.
13.
How does the committee system work in State legislatures?
14.
From where do a large number of bills originate?
15.
Define the following:
c. constituent
power
17. police
power
18. initiative
19. referendum
20. 3 types of
referendum
a.
b.
c.
25
NAME____________________________#___________
TITLE: THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE
CH.10 S.1 _PP.262-265
As you read the section, fill in the answers to the questions.
1. What is the historical reason for
Americans choosing a bicameral
system?
2. What is the practical reason for
Americans choosing a bicameral
system?
3. What is the theoretical reason
for Americans choosing a
bicameral system?
4. What is a term of Congress?
(not years)
5. What is a session of Congress?
6. How many sessions are there in a term of Congress?
Define the following:
7. adjourn
8. prorogue
9. special session
10
NAME____________________________#___________
TITLE: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Complete the chart below
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE HOUSE
1. SIZE
2. TERMS
3. DATE OF ELECTION
CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS
MEMBERS
4. AGE
5. LENGTH OF CITIZENSHIP
6. RESIDENCE
CH. 10 S. 2 PP. 267-275
DESCRIPTION
QUALIFICATIONS
Define the following:
7. apportion
8. reapportion
9. off-year election
10. single-member
district
11. at-large
12. gerrymandering
13. How can the
House exclude or
punish a member?
14. How can the
House expel a
member?
15
TITLE: THE SENATE
Complete the chart below
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE SENATE
1. SIZE
NAME____________________________#___________
CH.10 S.3 PP. 275-278
DESCRIPTION
2. TERMS
3. DATE OF ELECTION
CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS
MEMBERS
4. AGE
QUALIFICATIONS
5. LENGTH OF CITIZENSHIP
6. RESIDENCE
HOW CHOSEN ?
7. ORIGINALLY
8. TODAY
Define the following:
9. continuous body
10. constituencies
11. How can the
Senate exclude or
punish a member?
12. How can the
Senate expel a
member?
15
NAME____________________________#___________
TITLE: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
CH.10 S.4 PP.279-284
Answer the questions below on the roles, compensation, and privileges of members of Congress
1. What does a legislator do?
2.What do members do as part
of a congressional committee?
(2 jobs)
3. How does a member of
Congress act as trustee?
4. How does a member of
Congress act as a delegate?
5. How does a member of
Congress act as a partisan?
6. How does a member of
Congress act as a politico?
7. What is the salary of a
member of Congress?
8. What are some fringe
benefits for members of
Congress? (6)
9. What does the phrase
“cloak of legislative
immunity” mean?
Define the following
10. franking
privilege
11. constituency
12. oversight
function
15