Bicameral legislature Gerrymandering Bill Cloture Filibuster Lobbying Pocket Veto Resolution

Terms to Know

On a sheet of paper, make a list of everything

you know about Congress. Include anything you know about Congress’ role in history, the characteristics of Congress and how Congress functions today.

Activity

Representation

House of Representatives: represents electoral districts 435 members

Senate: represents state as a whole 100 members

Separation of Powers Congress is one of three coequal branches of

government The Senate and the House are equally powerful and

often check on each other

What are some characteristics of Congress?

Length of Terms

Representatives stand for election every 2 years Senators stand for election every 6 years

Senate elections are staggered

Federalism Congress is not the only legislature in the U.S. State legislatures also wield considerable power

Members of Congress can serve unlimited

numbers of terms if they are reelected. Is this consistent with the principles of representative democracy and limited government? Why or why not?

Critical Thinking

Enumerated Powers

Article I, Section 8: Regulate Commerce with foreign nations

Article II: Must advise and consent when the president makes treaties or appoints ambassadors or other public officials

Article IV: Can admit new states Article V: Can propose constitutional

amendments

What are Congress’s Constitutional Powers?

Implied Powers

Create administrative agencies (IRS, Social Security Administration)

Inherent Powers Power to Investigate

The Constitution prohibits Congress from the

following: Cannot tax exports from a state Cannot grant titles of nobility Cannot make laws that infringe on free speech

or religion Cannot impose cruel and unusual punishments

What are the limitations on Congress?

In some states the state legislatures draw up

district lines after each ten-year census In other states, independent commissions

draw the lines Groups dissatisfied with the way districts are

drawn can challenge them in court

How does the House Represent the People?

Gerrymandering:

drawing district lines to achieve favorable political results for one political party

Remains a fact of American political life

http://www.hulu.com/watch/255611/gerrymandering

Why is districting controversial?

Communication

Letters, newsletters, media appearances, websites, town-hall meeting etc.

Casework Helping constituents solve issues with the

federal government Helping constituents with personal favors

Serving constituents’ interests and concerns Introducing/supporting legislation that will

positively affect their constituents

How do members of Congress serve their

Constituents?

Of the following 3 strategies, which do you

think would be most likely to persuade you to re-elect your Congressman? Explain why. 1. Frequent positive media appearances and an

up-to-date website 2. The granting of a personal favor 3. A track record of supporting legislation that

you also support.

Critical Thinking

Chamber: House of Congress (House or Senate) Standing Committee: Permanent committees within the House

or Senate that consider bills within a subject area Subcommittee: Divisions of larger committees that deal with a

particular subject area Filibuster: Unlimited debate to halt action in the Senate Cloture: A limiting of debate by legislature in order to get an

immediate vote on the question being discussed Conference Committee: A special joint committee appointed

to reconcile differences when a bill passes the two house of Congress in different forms

Veto: A refusal by the President to sign a bill into law

Passing a Bill: Terminology

Senate

Armed Services Veteran’s Affairs Foreign Relations Finance

House Agriculture Budget Education Science National Security

Committee Examples

1. Someone comes up with an idea 2. A bill is introduced in the House or Senate 3. The bill is sent to the appropriate standing and subcommittees to be

debated and amended 4. If the bill survives the committees, it is brought back to the full

chamber for debate In the House, debate time is limited by the House Rules committee. In the Senate, filibusters are possible, but they can be ended by cloture

5. A vote is taken. If the bill passes, it is sent to the other chamber 6. The same process occurs in the 2nd chamber 7. If the 2nd chamber makes amendments, members of both houses

meet in a conference committee to finalize the bill 8. The bill is sent to the President to sign or veto 9. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law

How a Bill becomes a Law

Sign the bill into law Veto the bill and send it back to Congress

Can be overridden by a 2/3rds vote or amended and sent back to the President

Refuse to act for 10 days while Congress is in session Becomes law

Pocket veto the bill Refusal to act on a bill when Congress is NOT in session

after 10 days Line-Item veto the bill (no longer allowed)

President can veto one or more provisions in the bill before signing it

What options does the President have when presented with a bill?

Why do you think the line-item veto has been

ruled unconstitutional? What valid reason might the President have for using such a power?

Critical Thinking

The Executive Branch

President offers recommendations in “State of the Union” address

Constituents Phone calls, faxes, emails, letters etc.

Interest Groups Interest Group: an organized group of individuals sharing

common ideas who actively attempt to influence policy through lobbying

Lobbying: all efforts by individuals or organizations to affect the passage, defeat or contents of legislation

Where do members of Congress get ideas for legislation and information in deciding

which bills to support?

Speaker of the House

One of the most powerful political figures in the country

Typically chair the Rule Committee (referred to as the “traffic cop”)

Sometimes the speaker represents his or her party more than the House as a whole Appoint committee chairs based

on their party affiliation

Who leads the House?

The Vice President

acts as the “President of the Senate” Only real power is to

cast tie-breaking votes

Elected minority and majority leaders are informally elected

Who leads the Senate?

Impeachment: charging a public official with a

crime while in office and bringing him or her to trial. Convicted officials are removed from office

House Initiates impeachment by introducing a resolution to

investigate. Votes on whether or not official should be sent to trial

Senate: Holds trial for impeached officials Conviction requires a 2/3 vote

What role does Congress have in impeachment?

Learning Targets:

Explain the influence of political parties in campaigns leading to elections

Explain how parties can experience advantages/disadvantages in elections

Evaluate candidates in a Congressional Election and judge their likelihood of winning.

Case Study Activity

Group 1: You are writing a speech about why Dodge should win.

Make sure to focus on Dodge’s positive attributes and/or Green’s negative attributes. Also, explain why Dodge is good for this particular district.

Group 2: You are writing a speech about why Green should win. Make sure to focus on Green’s positive attributes and/or Dodge’s negative attributes. Also, explain why Dodge is good for this particular district.

Group 3: You are writing a speech about why you are going to vote for Dodge. Make sure to explain who you are (what characteristics do you possess as a member of this district) and why Dodge is the right candidate for you.

Group 4: You are writing a speech about why you are going to vote for Green. Make sure to explain who you are (what characteristics do you possess as a member of this district) and why Green is the right candidate for you.

Activity Directions