congress government chapter 6. how congress is organized section 1
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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
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