Good Day!

DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY & YESTERDAY1) Write: Date: 11/12/09, Topic: Congress2) On the next line, write “Opener #41” and then:

1) Plot your mood, reflect in 1 sent.2) Respond to the opener by writing at least 2 sentences about:Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND

Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND

Summary of the clip OR/AND

Other things going on in the news.Announcements: NoneIntro Music: Untitled

Agenda1) Congress Introduction

What you will be able to do:1) Know how Congress works for you

Reminder1) No homework

Quiz (10 Points)1) Clear desk of everything except a

writing tool2) When done, turn quiz face down.

3) Circle just the dots.

4) Quiz # 2

Review1) Committee: Small groups

with in H + S, for efficiency + experience.

1) Committee votes: 1/2+2) Floor votes: 1/2+ (If a Senate filibuster, 60+ for S)3) Other chamber:(H or S)4) Conference Comm: Works

out differences, then both floors vote again (1/2+)

5) Pres Signs or Override Veto: 2/3 H + S

2) Committee Work: Most of H + S time is spent their committees (public, you can go watch).

a) Role of Committees: To research a bill (hearings) + to edit bills (mark up).

b) Power of Committees: If a com. doesn’t like the bill (less than 1/2 of com), bill is DEAD!

3) Committee Chairman: Usually most senior member of the com. from majority party

a) Role of Chairman: Leadership + efficiencyb) Power of Committee Chairman: Controls

com. schedule + what investigations are called Committee on Agriculture Committee on AppropriationsCommittee on Armed Services Committee on the BudgetCommittee on Education and Labor Committee on Energy and CommerceCommittee on Financial Services Committee on Foreign AffairsCommittee on Homeland Security Committee on the JudiciaryCommittee on Rules Committee on Science and

Technology

4) Most Powerful Committees:a) Rules Committee: Rules committee last

place all H bills go b4 floor vote. Rules sets the rules on floor debate (how long to talk, what changes can be made). Rules can delay or kill any bill. Only HoR has Rules C

b) Appropriations Committee: All bills that cost money will pass through this com. HoR + Senate both have App Com

5) Hearings: Committees calls experts to testify on a proposed bill OR if current law is being enforced (testimony is under oath)

Notes #41a, Title: “Congressional Powers”

1) Unique Senate Power: a) Amendments: Any

senator can suggest bill edits

b) Filibuster: Any senator can talk to delay a bill (Cloture: 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster)

c) Confirm Presidential Appointees: 1/2+

d) Ratify Treaties: 2/3+

Notes #41a, Title: “Congressional Powers”

2) Unique HoR Power:

a) Introduce taxes: Only HoR has Ways + Means Com. to introduce taxes

Reminder that the House is more extreme and has more rules.

Notes #41a, Title: “Congressional Powers” 3) Power of the Party in Control of that Chamber:a) Approve laws: By definition, over 1/2+, so they

can pass laws without other party.b) Call Investigations: Look into problemsc) Appoint Committee Chairpersons: Sets schedule

4) Most Powerful Member of Congressa)Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader:

Leaders elected by majority party. Keeps party order by picking which com. you are in and which committee’s bills are sent to.

Speaker of the House: Nancy PelosiSenate Majority Leader: Harry Reid

b) Other Powerful Members:House Rules Chairperson: Louise SlaughterHouse Ways & Means: Charles Rangel House Finance: Barney FrankHouse Appropriations: David Obey Senate Appropriations: Robert Byrd Senate Judiciary: Patrick Leahy

Diane Feinstein’s Committees(Former SF Mayor)AppropriationsJudiciary

Barbara Boxer’s Committees(Career Politician)Commerce+ScienceEnvironment*, Foreign RelationsEthics*

Mike Honda’s Committees(Sunnyvale HS Teacher)Appropriations

*Chair of that committee

Work #41a, Title “Role of Congress”1) What kind of laws should Congressman

Honda make?, Rank A-E2) Record partner’s answer a) Laws that benefit the politician (PAC money)b) Laws based on what the politician thinks is

best ONLY for his/her local community (Pork barrel), but won’t benefit the nation

c) Laws based on what the politician thinks is best for the whole nation

d) Laws based on what the voters in his community want him/her to do

e) Laws based on what the politician personally thinks is best

Building a new fighter jet:Pass law appropriating money for aircraft company

that donates to the politician.

F-22 Fighter Program Cost: $62 billion, $137 million per plane.

Parts of it are built in 200 congressional districts.

Work #41b, Title “Role of Congress”Building a new fighter jet, how should Honda vote:a) Pass law appropriating money for aircraft company

that will build part of the jet in your community, even if it makes the jet more expensive.

b) Pass law appropriating money for aircraft company that will build part of the jet in the most efficient manner, but will bring no jobs to your community.

c) Voting against the law appropriating money for aircraft company because your community voter’s are against military spending, though you are for it.

d) Voting against the law appropriating money for aircraft company because you personally are against it.

1) Write what your partner wrote (include their name).

Notes #41b, Title: “Congress Notes” 6) Kinds of Incentives for Congressmembers:a) Money: Need to run for re-election (2 or 6 yrs)(you a donor, party leadership money, +

president star power all sources)b) President: Veto your bills (2/3 vote to override)pres/exec branch can not be helpful, pres cancampaign for you/against you, not invite to partiesc) Media: Need to not look bad to votersd) Beliefs: Personal desire to do what’s righte) Voter Demands: Voter input in visits to office,

letters, phones, emails, and faxes

REMEMBER GOVT WORKS FOR YOU!

Review1) Purpose of Legislature: a) Create laws (legislate, tax bills orig in House)b) Conduct investigations (hearings)c) Help citizens with US gov (case work) 2) House of Reps (435/Honda): Local US rep,

serve 2 yr term/no limits. Tends to be more extremist (less intimate + more extreme voters)

3) Senate (100/Boxer+Feinsten): State US rep, serve 6 yr term/no limit. Tends to be more moderate (more intimate + broader voters)

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/freshman.year/

5) Hearings: Committees calls experts to testify on a proposed bill OR if current law is being enforced (testimony is under oath)

Senator Joe McCarthy

(R-Wisconsin)

Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (formerly the Committee on Government Operations)

JournalistEdward Murrow

Gained fame as a radio journalist during WWII, he made an investigative news show for CBS called “See It Now” (shows like

60 Minutes and 20/20 are the heirs of this news type)

Work #41c, Title “Video: Congress + Media”

1) Copy Source Title: Goodnight and Good Luck

2…) Discuss questions on the board with a partner. Summarize your discussion (include their name at the end). Remember participation points are deducted if off task. 5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Work SectionsTime Bookmark: 00:00

Sheet Title “Goodnight and Good Luck APA Notes” 1) Copy: Clooney, George. (2005). Goodnight and Good Luck, LA, CA: Section Eight Productions.

Notes (Clooney, 2005) Class Discussion

From show, pick out 2-X) Write down yourquotes, ideas, or facts partner’s answerthat will support your (include their name).response to the essay prompt. At the very end, write the in text citation format: (Clooney, 2005).

Essay Topic: Should TV cover more news related programs during primetime hours?

On a the Essay Paper (Fill in ID, 20 Pts) Essay Topic: Should TV cover more news related programs during primetime hours? (like stories investigating the govt)I don’t want you to think about essay format or paragraph structure, just write.

What must be included:1) What do you think of the current level of news coverage?2) What changes should be made?3) Are these changes practical?

Homework: 1) No homework, have a wonderful

Veterans Day.