the workings of congress -...
TRANSCRIPT
The Workings of Congress
_______L Warm-up/Review1. Why did the Framers create a bicameral
Congress?
2. What compromises were made regarding
Congress at the Constitutional Convention
Constitution Scavenger Hunt_____R Using pages 95-100, complete the
constitutional scavenger hunt for Article I only
(questions 1-23).
You have 15 minutes!
Terms of Congress● Congress is broken into two-year terms.
○ The first Congress met in 1789
○ We are currently in the 114th Congress (January 3rd,
2015--January 3rd, 2017)
○ Each term is broken into two sessions
■ Sessions begin and end in January
■ Currently in session 1 which began January 6th, 2015
____ L Political Cartoon Analysis1. What do you see in
the political cartoon?
2. What could the color red covering the flag represent
3. How does the cartoonist feel about the 114h Congress?
House vs Senate_____R Make the Following chart in your notes.
House Senate
435 voting members (seats adjusted after each census)
100 voting members
Representation based on population Representation based on equality
Must be 25 years old Must be 30 years old
Must live in state you represent Must live in state you represent
Must have been a U.S Citizen for at least 7 years
Must have been a U.S Citizen for at least 9 years
Serve 2 year terms Serve 6 year terms
Gerrymandering● State Legislatures are in charge
of drawing boundaries for
Congressional districts.
● The abuse of this power is
called gerrymandering--this is
an oddly shaped district
designed to increase the voting
strength of a particular group.
□ “The Gerry-Mander”□ March 26, 1812
□ What do you see?□ What key activitydoes this illustration depict?How do you think theartist feels about Gerrymandering?
House of Representatives● Leaders:
○ Speaker of the House--Leader of the Majority Party in the House
■ John Boehner (R) resigned as Speaker of the House on Friday,
September 25th. The Republicans in the House will now work to
elect a new leader
○ Minority Leader: Top member of the minority party
■ Nancy Pelosi (D-California)
○ Majority and Minority Party Whips: Ensure members are there for
important votes--whip up support.
■ Majority Whip: Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana)
■ Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland)
The Senate● Leader: Vice President Joe Biden--cannot vote unless it is to
break a tie
○ Typically the president pro tempore (for the time being)
acts as the chairperson for the Senate. He or she is from
the majority party and is usually the most senior member.
○ Current president pro tempore Senator Orrin Hatch (R-
Utah)
○ Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-EY)
○ Majority Whip: John Comyn (R-TX)
○ Minority Leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)
○ Minority Whip: Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Privileges of Congress Members● Base Salary of members of Congress as of 2012 was $174,000
● May give themselves raises but does not go into effect until the
next election 27th amendment
● Free office space
● Franking privilege--do not pay postage on job related mail
● Each member also receives a personal staff that handles
request from votes, lobbyist, and the media.
● Each member also has casework: helping their constituents
with requests regarding the federal government.
Committees in Congress□ House and Senate have committees
■ The majority of work done in Congress occurs in committee.□ Different types of committees
■ Standing committee (always there)• Senate 16; House 20
■ Select committee (created to do a special job for a limited time)■ Joint committee (members from House and Senate)■ Conference committee (temporary committee that helps the House and
Senate agree on details of proposed laws)
--All members of
Congress serve on
Congressional
Committees
--Committee
assignments are
made by the party
leaders. In making
assignments they
consider
preferences,
expertise, loyalty to
the party, and
seniority.
Powers of CongressCongress also has implied powers. These are powers allowed by the elastic clause. Which says Congress can make any laws that are deemed necessary and proper.
Ex: Creating an Air Force
Most Powers of Congress relate to law making.
Powers of Congress-- Non legislative
● Checks on other
branches
○ Example:
Approve
Presidential
appointments
● Power to remove
officials=
Impeachment
● Cannot make laws that restrict freedom of
speech or ban freedom of religion
● Cannot favor one state over another, tax
interstate commerce or exports
● Cannot suspend the writ of habeas corpus--
explain to someone why they are being held in
jail
● Cannot pass bills of attainder--laws to punish a
person without a jury trial
● Cannot pass ex post facto laws-make an act a
crime after the act has been committed.
Limitations on Congressional Powers
Congressional Powers – Expressed or Implied?
□ Congress declared war on Japan on December 7, 1941.
□ The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 authorized construction of the nation’s interstate freeway system.
□ To honor a leader of the women’s rights movement, Congress approved the Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1978.
□ The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination in hotels, restaurants, and other public places.
A day in Congress_____L: Go to your left.
As you watch the video jot down notes:
1) What do you notice
2) What is getting done?
3) Recognize any familiar faces?
Legislative Branch WebquestIn pairs of groups of three you are going to explore a bill that is currently making its way
through congress.
You must complete the following:
:Research a bill:
1. Identify the HB or SB (Senate or House Bill) # and title of the bill
2. Identify the senators/representatives that introduced and/or support the bill
3. Outline the main provisions of the bill
4. Explain the pro arguments and con arguments for your bill
5. Explain how far the bill has progressed through congress using a flow chart
6. All information should be displayed on an infographic--hand drawn or digital