U.S. Congress Chapter 10 & 12 American Government.
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Transcript of U.S. Congress Chapter 10 & 12 American Government.
U.S. Congress Chapter 10 & 12
American Government
Congress and the Constitution 1) Article ONE establishes the Legislative
Branch (Congress)
2) Duty of Congress- To make laws for the United States.
3) Congress is a BICAMERAL (2 house legislature)
Differences between the US House of Representatives and the US Senate: HOUSE
Total # 435
Basis population
Largest California
Smallest Wyoming
Oklahoma’s 5
Terms 2 years
SENATE
100
equality
?
?
2
6 years
staggered terms
Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senators Senator Jim Inhofe
Senator Tom Coburn
Oklahoma’s Congressional District # 3 Congressman Frank
Lucas Includes Stillwater,
Enid, Woodward. North central and
Northwestern Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s largest in area
Qualifications for Members: HOUSE 25 years old (+) 7 years US Citizen Resident of state
SENATE 30 years old (+) 9 years US Citizen Resident of state
Other Important Differences… HOUSE Special Powers- IMPEACHMENT
Presiding Officer-
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
SENATE
APPROVE PRESIDENTIALAPPOINTMENTS
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (VP)
LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESS HOUSE Speaker of House Majority Leader Majority Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip
SENATE President of Senate President Pro tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader
Congressional Democratic LeadersNancy Pelosi and Harry Reid
Congressional Republican LeadersJohn Boehner Mitch McConnel
Characteristics of Congressmen in the 112th session.
Over ½ had law degrees. 352 men in the House and 83 women. 83
men in the Senate with 17 women. Average age was 49. House 242 Rep. Dem. 193, 0 Ind. Senate 51 Dem. , 47 Rep. , and 2 Ind. Who is the majority party currently in each?
The Majority PartyHouse-R Senate-D
The Committee System: Most work in Congress is done in small
groups called committees. Each member is assigned different committees each session.
Types of Committees:1. Standing- permanent2. Select- special, investigates3. Joint- combines members of each
Standing Committees:Deal with the most important issues.
22 in the House 16 in the Senate Armed Services
Education and Labor
Homeland Security
Committees
Joint Conference Committee combines members from both houses to work on 2 versions of the same bill.
Party Politics: The majority party is the one with the most members and usually the most power.
Bipartisanship- the two parties working together for the good of the country.
Partisanship- parties fighting along party or ideological lines for political gain.(Rep. vs Dem, or Liber vs Conservative)
Congressional Sessions Begin Jan. 3 following the election year. Each session lasts 2 years. Are identified by number. The current one is the 112th and began Jan.
3 of 2011, following the 2010 elections. The next one will 113th session and begins
in 2013.
112 Congressional Freshmen
Review Questions: What is the duty or function of Congress? What is the basis for each states number of
representatives? Name the qualifications for the US Senate? Who is the presiding officer of the House? How many Congressmen are in
Oklahoma’s delegation?
The Upcoming Schedule: Wed- review, bill writing, party caucus Thurs- TEST 5 Fri- Congressional Simulation, Intro bills
and work in committees Mon- Congressional simulation full house
and senate debate/vote, homework on Executive Branch
Tues- Congressional Simulation conclusion