Congress

Government

Chapter 6

How Congress is Organized

Section 1

Key Terms

• Bicameral: Legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

• Census: A population count • Constituent: A person from a legislator’s district• Gerrymander: An oddly shaped district designed

to increase the voting strength of a particular group

• Majority Party: In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong

Key Terms cont.

• Minority Party: In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong

• Standing Committee: Permanent committees that continue their work from session to session in congress

• Seniority: Years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

Terms of Congress

• 535 members of Congress• Congress is the “First

Branch of Govt.”• Terms of Congress start

on Jan. 3rd of odd numbered years– Lasts two years– “New” Congress given a

number• 1789 1st Congress• 2005 109th Congress

Terms of Congress cont.

• Terms divided into two sessions– Last from Jan. to Nov/Dec

• May meet in times of crisis– Called special sessions

• Joint Sessions: House and Senate meet together

A Bicameral Legislature

• Congress is bicameral– Great Compromise

The House of Representatives

• Larger body of Congress– 435 voting members– Each state has at least

1 seat• Depends on population

• Congress adjusts number of reps. Given to each states after census

The House of Representatives cont.

• States divided into one or more congressional districts– Rep. Elected from each

district– State legislatures draw

boundaries• Districts include roughly

same amount of constituents

• Gerrymandering happens at times (illegal)

The House of Representatives cont.

• Reps. Serve two-year terms

• Focus on concerns within district

The Senate

• 100 Members– 2 from each state

• Senators represent entire state

• 6 year terms

Congressional Leaders

• House and the Senate:– Majority Party– Minority Party

• Beginning of each term:– Members in each house

choose leaders• Speaker of the House:

– Chosen by majority party– Most powerful leader in

House of Reps.– Steers legislation through

House– In charge of floor debates

Congressional Leaders cont.

• Speaker:– Next in line after President and V.P.

• Senate does not have a leader with comparable power

Congressional Leaders cont.

• Real leaders of Senate and House of Reps:– Floor Leaders

• Majority and Minority

• Speak for their parties• Ensure laws passed by

Congress ar e in best interest of political party

• Push bills along• Try to sway votes

Types of Committees

• Each house has committees

• Standing Committees:– Senate has 16– House has 19

• Education

• Veterans Affairs

• Commerce

• Etc…

Types of Committees cont.

• Select committees:– Do special jobs for

limited periods– 1976: House formed

the Select Committee on Assassination to investigate the deaths of President Kennedy and M.L.K.

– Disbanded when work finished

Types of Committees cont.

• Joint Committees:– Members from both houses

Types of Committees cont.

• Conference Committee:– Helps the House and Senate agree on details of

a proposed law

Committee Assignments

• Senators and Reps. First go to Congress they want to be assigned to committees that affect people who elected them:– Farm areas = agriculture committee– Factories = labor committees

Committee Assignments cont.

• Leaders of Political parties make committee assignments

• Members preferences, expertise, loyalty, and seniority are factors

Committee Assignments cont.

• Longest serving committee member from majority party becomes chairperson

• Chairperson of Standing Committees most powerful members of Congress

Homework

• Chapter 6 Section 1 Worksheets

• Chapter 6 Section 1 Questions– Pg. 144– Question 1-6– Answer thoroughly