Chapter 5
The Organization of
Congress
Section 1
Congressional
Membership
Terms Section 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Bicameral legislature
Session
Census
Reapportionment
Redistrict
Gerrymander
At-large
Censure
Incumbent
http://quizlet.com/17503372/chapter-5-section-1-government-flash-cards/
Congressional Sessions
•Each term of Congress
has two sessions.
•Each session lasts until
Congress votes to
adjourn.
Membership of the House
• Members
must be at
least 25 years
old, citizens
for at least 7
years and
residents of
their states.
Membership of the House
•Members serve for 2-year
terms.
•The number of
representatives from
each state is determined
by the census population
count every 10 years.
Membership of the House
•State legislatures set
up congressional
districts after the
census count – one
representative for each
district.
Membership of the Senate
• Senators
must be at
least 30 years
old, citizens
for at least 9
years, and
residents of
their state.
Membership of the Senate
•Senators serve for 6year terms.
•1/3 are elected every
two years.
•Each state elects two
senators.
Membership of the Senate
•The Senate and the
House set members’
salaries, and receive
numerous benefits such
as business trips, tax
breaks, and healthy
pensions.
Membership of the Senate
•Both House and Senate
members enjoy
immunity from arrest,
in cases not involving
felony or treason.
Quiz over pages 123-131
1. How old do you have to be to serve in the House
of Representatives?
2. Each state’s population determines the number of
representatives it will have for the next 10 years
is a process called ___.
3. The process of setting up new district lines after
reapportionment has been completed is called
____.
4. Drawing district boundaries to give one party an
electoral advantage is ___.
5. In the Senate you must be ___ years of age.
6. One term of Congress is ___ years.
•
•
•
18, 21, 25, 30, 35, 40
Gerrymandering, reapportionment, redistricting
1, 2, 4, 6, 10
Membership of the Senate
•House and Senate
members cannot be
sued for liability while
Congress is in session.
Membership of the Senate
•Both the Senate and
the House may refuse a
position to any member
or they may expel
members.
Journal
•When
is
•If youyour
wererow
a politician,
called,
grabrather
your book
would you
be a
and
open of
to the
page
123.
member
House
of the Senate?
EXPLAIN!
The Members of Congress
•Nearly half
the
members
of Congress
are
lawyers.
The Members of Congress
• White, middle-aged male members are being
joined by members reflecting the ethnic, racial,
and gender makeup of the general population.
Racial Makeup of
Congress (2013)
United States Senate 2014
United States House of R.
Question
• Sketch a quick graph using
the date on women in
Congress on page 128.
• By how much did the number
of women in the House
increase between 1957 and
2009.
• Why the difference?
Primary Source (p. 128)
• Read Judge Stanly Sporkin’s
statement
• Why do you think Judge
Sporkin ruled that the 27th
Amendment allows for salary
increases to match the cost
of living?
The Members of Congress
•Most incumbent, or
returning, members of
Congress win reelection
to office because they
are well known and can
raise money easier.
The Members of Congress
•Many incumbent
members also
represent districts
gerrymandered in favor
of their parties.
Journal #2
•Members
of Congress
•When your
row is
spend
of your
their time
called,part
grab
book
working
for
reelection.
and open to page 128.
Which house has a greater
percentage of its time
remaining for legislative
work? WHY?
Supreme Court Cases to Debate
•Page 131
•Answer the textbook
questions 1-2
Chapter 5
The Organization of
Congress
Section 2
The House of
Representatives
Terms page 132
11.Constituent
12.Caucus
13.Majority leader
14.Whip
15.Bill
16.Calendar
17.Quorum
Complete Section Quizzes 1-2
•Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0CvmK0dVcI
Rules for Lawmaking
• Each house
of Congress
has complex
rules to help
members
conduct
business.
Rules for Lawmaking
•Congress carries out
most of its work by
committees. Because of
its large size, committee
work is more important
in the House.
Rules for Lawmaking
•Party membership
guides Congress its
work, since the
majority party in each
house controls the
committees.
House Leadership
• The Speaker
of the House
is leader of
the majority
party and has
great power
and influence
over its
members.
House Leadership
•Floor leaders of both
the majority and
minority party schedule
the work of the House
and push bills through
committees.
Journal
•The
Speaker
of the
•When
your row
is House
follows
the
vice
president
called, grab your
in the line of presidential
textbook from the shelf
succession. Do you
and
open
to
page
132.
support or object to this
plan? EXPLAIN!
Lawmaking in the House
•Members
attend
House floor
sessions to
vote on
legislation.
Lawmaking in the House
•All laws
begin as
bills
introduced
in the
House, then
go to
committee.
Lawmaking in the House
•If approved, the bill is
then put on the proper
calendar, listing the
order in which it is to
be debated on the
House floor.
Lawmaking in the House
•The House Rules
Committee receives all
bills approved by the
various committees.
Lawmaking in the House
•The Rules Committee
determines which bills
will be considered by
the full House and
places them on the
House Calendar.
Lawmaking in the House
•The Rules Committee
sends bills to the floor,
for all the House
members to vote on.
Journal
•When
row isof the
•Why isyour
so much
called,
your done
work ofgrab
Congress
textbook
from the shelf
in committees?
and open to page 135.
Chapter 5
The Organization of
Congress
Section 3
The Senate
Terms Page 138
•President pro tempore
•Filibuster
•Cloture
The Senate at Work
•The Senate has fewer
rules then the House.
Senators have more
freedom to express their
views and are less
subject to party
discipline.
The Senate at Work
•The
atmosphere
in the
Senate is
more
informal
then in the
House.
The Senate at Work
•The vice
president
presides
over the
Senate but
has little
power.
The Senate at Work
•The
President
Pro
Tempore
often
presides.
The Senate at Work
• The Senate
majority floor
leader is that
party’s leader
responsible
for guiding
bills through
the Senate.
The Senate at Work
•The minority
leader
develops
criticisms of
the majority
party.
The Senate at Work
•Majority
and
minority
whips
assist floor
leaders.
Lawmaking in the Senate
•Senate leaders control
the flow of bills to
committees and to the
floor for debate.
Lawmaking in the Senate
•The Senate has only
two calendars:
Calendar of General
Order and the
Executive Calendar.
Lawmaking in the Senate
•A filibuster – unlimited
debate on a bill to
defeat it – can be
ended only by a 3/5
vote.
Lawmaking in the Senate
•In recent years a twotrack procedural
system has weakened
the filibuster as a
legislative weapon.
Lawmaking in the Senate
•The majority party
controls the flow of
legislative work in the
Senate.
Journal
•Why are
•When
your
procedures
row is
called,informal
more
grab your
in the
textbook
Senate
than
from
in the
the shelf
and open
House
of to page 138.
Representatives?
Chapter 5
The Organization of
Congress
Section 4
Congressional
Committees
Terms Page 141
•Standing committee
•Subcommittee
•Select committee
•Joint committee
•Conference committee
•Seniority system
Purpose of Committees
• Committees
ease
Congressional
workload by
dividing work
among small
groups.
Purpose of Committees
•Committees allow
members to discuss
and select the most
important bills
Congress will consider.
Kinds of Committees
•Standing committees
deal with certain issues
continuing from one
Congress to the next.
•Judiciary Committee
Kinds of Committees
•Subcommittees handle
special subcategories of
standing committees’
work, and also continue
from one Congress to
the next.
•Social Security
Kinds of Committees
•Select committees are
special committees
created in both houses of
Congress for one term to
study a specific topic.
•9/11 Commission
Kinds of Committees
• Joint Committees – members
from both Houses.
•Taxation
• Conference Committees –
temporary committees set up
to resolve differences in the
House and Senate version of
a bill.
Choosing Members
•Assigning members to
various committees is a
key decision in the
organization of
Congress.
Choosing Members
• Membership on certain committees…
1. Helps members build reputations
and increase their chances for
reelection.
2. Gives members a chance to
influence important national
legislation.
3. Enables members to influence other
members since those committees
deal with issues that are important
Choosing Members
• In both houses, parties
assign members to the
standing committees
• Party leaders and
chairpersons of the standing
committees are the most
important members of
Congress.
Choosing Members
•Standing committee
chairpersons make key
decisions about the
work of their
committees, though
their power has
decreased.
Journal
•When
your
row is who
• Members
of Congress
have served
theyour
longest often
called,
grab
head key committees and
textbook from the shelf
have an important voice in
and
open
to
page
141.
passing legislation. Do you
think this seniority system
helps Congress to operate
more effectively? EXPLAIN!
Chapter 5
The Organization of
Congress
Section 5
Staff & Support
Agencies
Terms Page 146
•Personal staff
•Committee staff
•Administrative assistant
•Legislative assistant
•Caseworker
Congressional Staff Role
•Lawmakers rely on their
staffs to help with many
congressional duties.
•As congressional workloads
have increased, staff duties
have become increasingly
important as well.
Congressional Staff Growth
•Prior to 1946, Congress
had NO staff aids.
Recently, increased
complexity has resulted
in much larger staffs.
Congressional Staff Growth
•Congressional staffs
provide expert help on
key issues and help
members better serve
their constituents’
demands.
Personal Staff
•Members’ staffs are
divided between
Washington, D.C., and
the home office.
Personal Staff
•Administrative
assistants run offices,
create schedules and
give advice on political
matters.
Personal Staff
•Legislative assistants
keep lawmakers
informed of bills,
committee work and
write speeches.
Support Agencies
•The Library
of Congress
provides
information
and
requests by
Congress.
Support Agencies
•The Congressional
Budget Office (CBO)
coordinates budgetmaking, studies
presidential budget
proposals, and tracks
spending.
Support Agencies
• The General Accounting
Office (GAO) monitors
spending by Congress.
• The Government Printing
Office handles all documents
printed by and for the federal
government.
Journal
•When
your row
is are not
• Congressional
staffers
elected, grab
yet they
sometimes
called,
your
book
exert great power and
and open to page 123.
influence in the lawmaking
process. What are some
advantages and
disadvantages of this
system?