Chapter 10 section 1: The
National Legislature
Big Idea: Congress, made up of the
Senate and House of Representatives, is
the National Government’s legislative
branch.
Vocabulary
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Term
Session
Adjourn
Prorogue
Special session
Notes
• Why does the Constitution provide for a
“bicameral” Congress?
1.
2.
3.
• Describe a ‘term’ of Congress
• How have sessions of Congress changed over
time?
Chapter 10 section 2: The House
of Representatives
Big Idea: Members of the House, who
serve an unlimited number of two year
terms, represent districts of roughly
equal populations
vocabulary
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Apportions
Reapportioned
Gerrymandering
Single-member district
At-large
Off-year election
Notes
• Describe the size and elective terms of the
members of the House:
• How are House seats reapportioned for each
State after each census?
• When are Congressional elections held?
• Why are off-year elections significant?
• What are the formal qualifications for House
members?
• What are informal qualifications for House
members?
Chapter 10 section 3: The
Senate
Each State has two seats in the
Senate, the smaller of the two
houses of Congress
Vocabulary
• Continuous Body
• Constituencies
• Colleagues
Notes
• How does the size of the Senate compare to
the Size of the House of Representatives?
• How have States selected senators in the past
and in the present?
• How does a Senator’s term differ from a
Representative?
• What are the qualifications for serving in the
Senate?
Chapter 10 section 4: The
Members of Congress
Members of Congress, who receive
generous pay and good benefits, fulfill
various roles.
Vocabulary
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Trustees
Partisans
Politicos
Oversight function
Franking privilege
Notes
• What are the personal and political backgrounds
of the current members of Congress?
• What are the duties of members of Congress, list
and describe each:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Notes
• What is the compensation and privilege of
being a Congress member?