The Structure of Congress
Chapter 5.1
AM Take out your homework and
write your name on a note card.
•
Answer the following questions
using your notes. Review.
1. There are ____ members of the House
of Reps
2. Define gerrymandering
3. Senators are elected every ____ years
4. What does the president pro tempore
do?
5. What is a joint committee?
PM: Take out your homework and
write your name on a note card.
1. How many members are in the
House?
2. Define gerrymandering.
3. A Senate member serves _____
years.
4. If the vice-president can’t preside
over the Senate, who does?
5. What is a select committee?
PM8: Take out your homework
and write your name on a note
card.
1. How many members are in the
Senate and House together?
2. Define gerrymandering.
3. A House member serves _____
years.
4. If the vice-president can’t preside
over the Senate, who does?
5. What is a select committee?
Terms and Sessions
• Each congress lasts
for a term of two
years
• It’s numbered to
identify its two-year
term – now we are in
the 113th Congress
• It’s further divided
into 2 sessions each
lasting 6 months
House of Representatives 435
• 435 Members
• 2 year term – no term limits
• Divided among the 50 states based on
representation
• Government uses the U.S. Census to
determine population – every 10 yrs
• Each state is divided into congressional
districts
• They represent constituents (us!)
• There are 6 nonvoting members from
territories and Washington DC.
Gerrymandering
• When state law makers draw districts that
benefit one political party
Senate
• 100 members
• 6 year term
• Elections are staggered so no more
than 1/3 of the senate is running at
a time.
• If a senator dies, the state governor
fills the position or calls a special
election
Congressional Leadership
HOUSE
Speaker of the House –
guides bills, leads
debates, the “face” of
the House
Majority Whip – ass’t
House Minority Leader
Minority Whip – ass’t
SENATE
Vice President presiding officer, tiebreaker
President Pro Tempore
– presides over when
the vice president is
not there
Senate Majority Leader
Senate Minority Leader
Committees
• Standing – they focus on specific areas of
government work: Homeland Security,
Judiciary, Education
• Select – temporary committees to work
with special issues: disaster relief
• Joint Committee – Members from both
houses that work together on a special
issue: rewriting the tax code