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Congress

Congress. KEY QUESTIONS What did the Constitution say? Who is in Congress? Who gets elected? How is Congress organized? How does Congress do what it does? . WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? Article I, Section 8 The Congress shall have Power to . . . Collect ________

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Congress

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  1. Congress AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS - Congress

  2. KEY QUESTIONS • What did the Constitution say? • Who is in Congress? • Who gets elected? • How is Congress organized? • How does Congress do what it does? AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  3. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? • Article I, Section 8 • The Congress shall have Power to . . . • Collect ________ • Pay ______ of the United States • Provide for the common _________ • Provide for the general _________ Taxes Debts Defence Welfare AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  4. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? • Article I, Section 8 • The Congress shall have Power to . . . • Borrow & print ________ • Regulate __________ among the States • Declare _____ • Raise & support _______ and a _______ Money Commerce War NOT the President! Armies Navy AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  5. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? • Article I, Section 8 • The Congress shall have Power to . . . • Make all ______ which shall be • ___________ & _________ for carrying into • Execution the foregoing Powers. • Reminder: This is known as the • and is associated with Laws Necessary Proper Elastic Clause Implied Powers AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  6. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? • Specific Powers of the HOUSE • Initiate all Revenue Bills • Pass Articles of Impeachment • Specific Powers of the SENATE • Give “Advice & Consent” to many • Presidential nominations • Approve Treaties • Hold trials of impeached officials Mainly Taxes AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  7. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT • Famous Quotes about Legislation • Laws are like sausages, • it is better not to see them • being made. • Politics is the art • of the possible. Otto Von Bismarck German leader of the late 1800’s AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  8. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT • Otto also said: • The Americans have contrived • to be surrounded on two sides • by weak neighbors, • and on two sides . . . by fish! • There is a Providence that protects • idiots, drunkards, children, and • The United States of America! Otto Von Bismarck German leader of the late 1800’s AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  9. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Importance of INCUMBENCY • Incumbent = Person already in office • Q: What percentage of House incumbents win re-election? • a. about 55% • b. about 70% • c. about 80% • d. more than 90% In the Senate, a high percentage of incumbents are re-elected, but not as high a % as House members AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  10. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election? • Visibility • - Trips around district • - Mail, E-mail, Phone calls to constituents AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  11. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election? • 2. Credit Claiming • - Casework • Helping constituents as individuals • with government “red tape” • - Pork Barrel Spending • Winning federal projects, grants, • and contracts for own district AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  12. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election? • 3. Position Taking • Members of Congress • take positions on • issues in a very public way • Which may help with election AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  13. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Why do INCUMBENTS usually win re-election? • Weak Opponents • - Potentially effective opponents scared off • - Opponents usually not well known • - Opponents often lack experience • - KEY: Opponents often lack financial backing • - SUPER KEY: • Incumbents HAVE Financial Backing AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  14. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Importance of APPORTIONMENT • For House seats, the number each state will • have is recalculated every ____ years • after the national ________ • Re-apportionment = adjusting number of seats • a state gets based on changes in __________ 10 Census population AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  15. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Importance of RE-APPORTIONMENT • A change in the number of House seats a state • has requires a change in District lines • (called ____________) • The drawing of these lines in order to favor one • party or politician is known as _____________ Redistricting gerrymandering AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  16. WHO GETS ELECTED? • Who is this? • Elbridge Gerry • 5th U.S. Vice-President • Who, as a politician in • Massachusetts, • drew up a Congressional • district that looked like this . . . AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

  17. WHO GETS ELECTED? Therefore . . . “gerrymandering” Which looked like a salamander to some people AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Congress

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