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Congress

Congress. MAKES LAWS. Things to Know:. Differences between representatives and senators Who are your representatives Purpose of reapportionment Why redistricting is controversial List the leadership roles in the House and Senate Purpose of a filibuster. The National Legislature.

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Congress

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  1. Congress MAKES LAWS

  2. Things to Know: • Differences between representatives and senators • Who are your representatives • Purpose of reapportionment • Why redistricting is controversial • List the leadership roles in the House and Senate • Purpose of a filibuster

  3. The National Legislature • Bicameral: 2 houses • Senate: 2 x 50=100 • House of Representatives: 435 based on pop. • Terms: 2 years, January to December • Recess: holidays, vacations • Adjourn: vote for break

  4. Who are the members of Congress? • VOCAB CHECK: • What is a constituent? • Average member is white male in his fifties • Diversity is growing: 77 women, 39 African-Americans, 23 Latinos, 5 Asian Americans, 3 Native Americans Duties of Congress: • Pass Laws • Represent what they think is best for their constituents • Oversee the workings of the federal government • Help their constituents solve problems with the federal government

  5. Your Representatives: The Incumbents Senate House of Representatives Carl Levin • Democrat • Elected 1978 • Age 76 Debbie Stabenow • Democrat • Elected 2000 • Age 60 • Mike Rodgers • (8th District) • Brighton • Republican • Elected 2001 • Age 47 • Energy and Commerce, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 
Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce), Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

  6. Apportionment: Seats in the House Key Terms Reapportionment Census changes representation every 10 years Redistricting Drawing new districts on the map Determining who to represent Gerrymandering Creating a district in favor of one party Redistricting bias When is the next census?

  7. The House of Representatives Democrats (Majority Party) Speaker: Nancy Pelosi Leader: Steny Hoyer Whip: James Clyburn Republicans (Minority Party) Leader: John Boehner Whip: Eric Cantor next in line to president after VP; appoints committees; presiding officer Criticizes majority party programs; helps speaker; schedules bills; guides party; helps speaker; schedules bills; guides party; assistant to leader; talks to reps. before a vote an tries to convince them how to vote assistant to leader; talks to reps. before a vote an tries to convince them how to vote What is a caucus?

  8. House Committees Committee: small group of representatives who work on the details of a bill Only 10-20% of bills are “reported out of committee” House Rules Committee: “traffic cop” Decides how fast a bill will be voted on Can keep bills from being voted on Can limit how long a bill is debated on

  9. The Senate President of the Senate: Joseph Biden President Pro Tempore: Robert Byrd Majority Leader: Harry Reid Minority Leader: Mitch McConnell

  10. Filibuster Filibuster: talk until a bill is withdrawn (minority power) Cloture: limit the time length of filibuster (3/5ths majority)

  11. Get Your Congress On! C-SPAN: Cable Television airs non-stop coverage of government proceedings and public affairs programming.

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