GET TO KNOW YOUR
CONGRESS
Complete the chart in your notes
House of
Representatives
Senate
6 year term; one third elected
every 2 years
LENGTH OF TERM/WHEN ELECTED
2 year term; Entire house is
elected every 2 years.
30 YEARS OLD
REQUIRED AGE
25 YEARS OLD
U.S. CITIZEN FOR AT LEAST 9
YEARS
CITIZENSHIP
U.S. CITIZEN FOR AT LEAST 7
YEARS
RESIDENT OF THE STATE WHERE
ELECTED
LEGAL RESIDENCE
RESIDENT OF THE STATE WHERE
ELECTED
100 MEMBERS
TOTAL MEMBERS
435 MEMBERS
EACH STATE IS REPRESENTED
BY TWO SENATORS
HOW EACH IS ELECTED INTO
OFFICE
ELECTED ON THE BASIS OF
POPULATION
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES
WHO PRESIDES
OVER EACH
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
$174,000*
SALARY
$174,000*
Apportionment for the
House of Representatives
• The Constitution requires that all Americans be
counted every ten years by a census to
determine the population of each state.
• The census determines the representation in the
House of Representatives.
Apportionment in the Senate
• Each state has 2
senators that
represent them in
Congress, giving us a
total of 100 senators.
Spend
Money
Taxation
Regulate
Commerce
Powers of
Congress
Lawmaking
Create
Courts
Declare
War
Main duty of Congress
• The most important constitutional
power of Congress is the power to
make laws for the nation.
• In order to become a law, a bill must
be passed by both the House and the
Senate.
Sessions of Congress
• Begins the first week of January
• Usually lasts from January until August
or September
• Exception= if there is a need to call a
special session, then both or one of the
houses meet.
• The President calls a Special Session.
Benefits
• Benefits include:
– Free trips to their home state
– Office in Washington and their home state
– Free use of postal service
Congressional Committees
• Standing Committee: permanent committee
responsible for specific areas of business.
• Joint Committee: made up of equal number of
representatives & senators.
• Conference committee: special joint
committees that resolve differences between
both houses.
• Select committees: temporary committees
designed for a specific purpose.
• Subcommittees: each standing committee is
divided into subcommittees that handle specific
issues.
District #1
Jeff Fortenberry (R)
District #2
Lee Terry (R)
District #3
Adrian Smith (R)
Senators for Nebraska
• Mike Johanns (R)
• Deb Fischer (R)
Congressional Leadership
• Speaker of the House- • President Pro TemporeJohn Boehner
Patrick Leahy