Chapter 6 Congress. How Congress is Organized Section 1.

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Chapter 6Chapter 6

CongressCongress

How Congress is How Congress is OrganizedOrganized

Section 1Section 1

Terms of CongressTerms of Congress

Each term of Congress Each term of Congress starts on January 3starts on January 3rdrd of odd of odd numbered years,numbered years, (unless a (unless a different day is appointed) different day is appointed) and lasts two yearsand lasts two years..

First Congress met in 1789.First Congress met in 1789.110th Congress met in 2007.110th Congress met in 2007.Sessions carried out in two Sessions carried out in two

regular time periods, one regular time periods, one session for each yearsession for each year. The . The session lasts from January thru session lasts from January thru November or December.November or December.

Special sessions may be Special sessions may be called by the President in called by the President in times of crisis.times of crisis.

Joint sessions may transpire Joint sessions may transpire on some occasions such as on some occasions such as the State of the Union the State of the Union address by the President.address by the President.

Congressional Congressional LeadersLeaders

Democratic and Republican Democratic and Republican Leaders.Leaders.

The Party with more than The Party with more than half the members is the half the members is the majority party.majority party.

The Party with less than half The Party with less than half the members is the minority the members is the minority party.party.

Congressional LeadersCongressional Leaders

New leaders are New leaders are chosen at the chosen at the beginning of each beginning of each new term of new term of Congress.Congress.

Floor Leaders Floor Leaders Party WhipsParty Whips

Floor Leaders make sure that Floor Leaders make sure that the laws Congress pass are in the laws Congress pass are in the best interest of their own the best interest of their own political partypolitical party..

Each house of Congress has two Each house of Congress has two floor leaders, a Democrat and a floor leaders, a Democrat and a Republican, called the majority Republican, called the majority leader and minority leader.leader and minority leader.

Floor Leaders Floor Leaders Party WhipsParty Whips

The The Party WhipParty Whip assists each assists each floor leader. His or Her floor leader. His or Her job is job is to keep track of how party to keep track of how party members vote and to members vote and to persuade all members of his persuade all members of his or her party to vote together or her party to vote together on issueson issues..

A Bicameral A Bicameral LegislatureLegislature

The Great Compromise The Great Compromise established aestablished a

Bicameral (two house) legislatureBicameral (two house) legislature

which is called: which is called:

CongressCongress

CongressCongressHouse of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Lower House (435)Lower House (435)State PopulationsState Populations

SenateSenate

Upper House (100)Upper House (100)Equality (2 each from 50 Equality (2 each from 50 states)states)

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

435 Total members435 Total members from from the 50 United States.the 50 United States.

Lower House of CongressLower House of Congress..Numbers based on each Numbers based on each

states population which is re-states population which is re-adjusted every ten years with adjusted every ten years with the census.the census.

Requirements to be a Requirements to be a member of the HOR.member of the HOR.25 Years of Age25 Years of AgeA U.S. citizen for at least 7 A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.years.

Live in the state they Live in the state they represent.represent.

Each state guaranteed at Each state guaranteed at least one member in the least one member in the HORHOR..

Each state is divided into one Each state is divided into one or more congressional or more congressional districts. Representative districts. Representative elected from each district.elected from each district.

Representatives serve two Representatives serve two year termsyear terms..

No limit to the number of No limit to the number of termsterms..

Framers designed House so Framers designed House so that representatives would that representatives would be closer to the people than be closer to the people than members of the Senate.members of the Senate.

All money bills start in the All money bills start in the HOR.HOR.

Two-Step Process:Two-Step Process:Authorization Bills:Authorization Bills:

Projects to decide how much Projects to decide how much money must be spent.money must be spent.

Appropriation Bills:Appropriation Bills:Money provided for the projects.Money provided for the projects.

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House

The leader in the HOR is The leader in the HOR is the Speaker of the Housethe Speaker of the House..

The Speaker of the House is The Speaker of the House is the most powerful leader in the most powerful leader in the HOR and a member of the HOR and a member of the majority party.the majority party.

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House

Experienced member.Experienced member.In charge of floor In charge of floor debates. SOH also debates. SOH also influences most other influences most other House business.House business.

The SenateThe Senate

100 Total members100 Total members based based on equality . Two each on equality . Two each from the 50 United States.from the 50 United States.

Upper House of CongressUpper House of Congress..Each senator represents his Each senator represents his or her entire state, no or her entire state, no districts.districts.

The SenateThe SenateRequirements to be a Requirements to be a

member of the Senate.member of the Senate.30 years of age.30 years of age.A U.S. citizen for at least 9 A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.years.

Live in the state they Live in the state they representrepresent..

The SenateThe SenateSenators serve six year termsSenators serve six year terms..There is no limit on the There is no limit on the

number of termsnumber of terms..1/3 must run every 2 years, 1/3 must run every 2 years,

thus two-thirds of the Senate thus two-thirds of the Senate consist of experienced consist of experienced members at all times.members at all times.

The SenateThe SenateAll money bills start in the All money bills start in the

HOR.HOR.The Senate must approve all The Senate must approve all

money billsmoney bills..The Senate approves most The Senate approves most

presidential appointees and presidential appointees and treaties with other countriestreaties with other countries. .

The President of the Senate The President of the Senate is the Vice Presidentis the Vice President..

The VP does not take part in The VP does not take part in any of the legislative any of the legislative process.process.

The vice president only votes The vice president only votes if there is a tie in the Senate.if there is a tie in the Senate.

The President Pro Tempore The President Pro Tempore is the one in charge and who is the one in charge and who handles the day-to-day handles the day-to-day leadership of the Senate.leadership of the Senate.

The position goes to the The position goes to the senior member of the senior member of the majority party.majority party.

Committees: Little Committees: Little LegislaturesLegislatures

Each house of Congress Each house of Congress considers thousands of bills, considers thousands of bills, or proposed laws, in the or proposed laws, in the course of a session.course of a session.

To handle so many bills each To handle so many bills each house has developed a house has developed a system of committees.system of committees.

Committees: Little Committees: Little LegislaturesLegislatures

Every new bill goes to Every new bill goes to committeecommittee..

Committee decides whether Committee decides whether the full House or Senate the full House or Senate should vote on the bill.should vote on the bill.

Types of CommitteesTypes of Committees

1) Standing Committee1) Standing Committee2) Select Committee2) Select Committee3) Joint Committee3) Joint Committee

Standing Committee is a Standing Committee is a permanent committeepermanent committee that that specializes in a particular specializes in a particular topic.topic.The House has 19 and the Senate 16 The House has 19 and the Senate 16

standing committees to deal with standing committees to deal with agriculture, commerce, and agriculture, commerce, and veterans’ affairs.veterans’ affairs.

Standing Committees are Standing Committees are divided into Subcommittees, divided into Subcommittees, which are smaller groups that which are smaller groups that handle specialized problems.handle specialized problems.Banking, Housing, and Urban Banking, Housing, and Urban

Affairs have subcommittees.Affairs have subcommittees.

Select Committees are Select Committees are temporary committeestemporary committees formed to deal with issues formed to deal with issues that need special attention.that need special attention.They meet for a few months or They meet for a few months or

perhaps a few years, until the task perhaps a few years, until the task is complete.is complete.

Joint Committees include Joint Committees include members of both housesmembers of both houses and and also meet for limited periods of also meet for limited periods of time to consider specific issues.time to consider specific issues.

A special types of joint committee is A special types of joint committee is called a conference committeecalled a conference committee, which , which helps the House and Senate agree on helps the House and Senate agree on the details of a proposed law.the details of a proposed law.

Committee Committee AssignmentsAssignments

Committee assignments are Committee assignments are usually assigned by Party usually assigned by Party leaders according to seniority leaders according to seniority system.system.

Most desirable assignments Most desirable assignments are given to those who have are given to those who have served in Congress the served in Congress the longest.longest.

Chapter 6 Congress. How Congress is Organized Section 1.

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