CONGRESS
DO NOW
 Open-Note Quiz on sections 10.4 AND 10.2
 Take out both sections of notes and complete the quiz to the
best of your ability
 When you are finished, hand in your quiz and take a 114th
Congressional Profile
TODAY’S AGENDA
 Review the qualifications and basic information of the Senate and the
House
 Explore the day in the life at the Hill
T/E Essential Skill C-5 Demonstrate understanding of concepts
FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
House
Senate
 Age: 25 years
 Age: 30 years
 Citizenship: 7 years
 Citizenship: 9 years
 Residency: Live in State you Represent
 Residency: Living in state you represent
 Size: 435 Members
 Size: 100 members
 Term Length: 2 years
 Term Length: 6 years
WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR?
1. Christine Donohue
2. Anna Kendrick
3. Kevin M. Dougherty
4. Michael A. George
5. Torsten Overbeck
6. Anne Covey
INFORMAL QUALIFICATIONS
House and Senate:
 Party Identification
 Name familiarity
 Gender
 Ethnicity
 Political Experience
 Incumbent
 Fundraising
THE SENATE
 Small, deliberative to protect minority’s voice
 Facing election every six years instead of every
two years insulates the Senate from the
pressures of public opinion.
 Every two years, one-third of the Senate faces
election.
 Senate designed to be an older, more
experienced body
 An ongoing source of stability and continuity
LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESS
 House: Speaker (John Boehner?)
 Senate: President of Senate (Vice President Biden)
 Senate: President Pro Tempore (Orrin Hatch [R])
 Both: Majority and Minority Leaders
 House: Majority: Kevin McCarthy/ Minority: Nancy
Pelosi
 Senate: Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Majority
Leader/ Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Minority
Leader
PENNSYLVANIA
 Senators

Pat Toomey [R]

Bob Casey [D]
 Districts (18)
 Each has 710,00 people in it
 District 6—Rep. Ryan Costello [R]
 District 7—Pat Meehan [R]
FILIBUSTER
 Intent to block a measure or matter by preventing a vote
 Tools: Extended debate, amendment, and motions
 Possibility of two filibusters on one bill
 Ended only by cloture or by unanimous consent
 Only in the Senate (House has a limit of 1 hour on the floor)
 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/07/rand-
paul-filibuster-longest-senate-thurmond/1970291/
In 1957 Senator Strom Thurmond
filibustered the Civil Rights of 1957 for
24 hours and 18 minutes.
CONGRESSIONAL PAY
 Average Members

$174,000
 Leadership

Speaker: $223,500

Majority/Minority Leaders: $193,400
 Limits
 Presidential Veto
 Fear of Voter Backlash
DAY ON THE HILL
 Day on the Hill
NUMBERS GAME
100%
9
435
6
30
100
7
25
1/3
2
174
th
1 hour
114