Today’s Agenda (4/23/15):

Voting/Elections Review Go over “Negative Campaign Ads”

analysis (last night’s HW) Today’s Central Questions; What Do

You Know About Congress?; The US Congress Congressional Term Limits??

Tonight’s HW:

Study Your Outlines for Tomorrow’s Section Assessment!! (20-25 Questions) bring a pencil

Supreme Court Case Selection (Checkpoint 1 for Final Project) due Tuesday 4/28

Review:

What are the three “requirements” to vote in a US election?

What’s the difference between a “primary” and a “general” election?

What does it mean to have a “referendum” or “runoff” election?

Central Questions

What specific “qualities” SHOULD a lawmaker possess?

In your opinion, why does the American public have such a low opinion on the job performance of Congress (currently at a 17.7% approval rating)?

THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Common Features of Congress

Members represent their constituents (the people who live in their district or state)

With the exception of tax bills, both chambers can propose a law

House of Representatives

Made up of 435 members representing districts (sections) of their particular states

Members are elected every two years

Example: Missouri’s 3rd DistrictThe Fightin’ 3rd!!

House of Reps (cont’d) Business in the

House is directed by the Speaker of the House (selected by members of the majority party)

Current Speaker of the House and tanning bed-enthusiast John Boehner (R. Ohio)

House of Reps (cont’d) During a debate or

business in the House:

1. members must receive permission to speak from the Speaker

2. members have a limited amount of time to make their point

Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan (R.) discussing the proposed balanced budget during a floor debate in the House in Feb. 2013.

The Senate Made up of 100

members; there are two from each state in the US

Members are elected every 6 years

Senate (cont’d) Business is directed

by the Vice President of the US; if absent, business is directed by the most senior member of the Senate (known as the President Pro-Tempore)

VP Joe Biden

PPT Senator Orrin Hatch (R. Utah)

Senate (cont’d) During a debate in the

Senate 1. members must ask

permission to speak 2. members may speak

for an unlimited amount of time

3. in some cases, members may be asked to approve or reject certain actions of the President of the US

Sen. Rand Paul (R. KY) speaking on the floor of the Senate during his infamous “filibuster” over the nomination of CIA Director John Brennan. Paul spoke for over 13 hours straight on all types of issues related and non-related to the nomination.

Party Leaders Chosen by members of

each party (majority and minority)

Act as official spokespeople for their respective parties

Lead the creation of ideas for new laws within their parties

By rule, majority leaders are given priority to present first on a House/Senate issue

Top L-R: Maj.Leader Kevin McCarthy (R. CA) Min. Leader Nancy Pelosi (D. CA)Bottom L-R: Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell (R. KY) Min. Leader Harry Reid (D. NV)

Privileges of Being in Congress

Salary of $174,000 each year A pension of up to 80% of their final

salary A paid staff and office personnel Free transportation to and from home

state No limit to amount of terms one can

serve