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Bell ringer

Dive into the portrayal of the political machine and media in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Explore Congress organization, committees, and roles of party leaders. Assess the media's role in politics today.

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Bell ringer

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  1. Bell ringer • Summarize how the “political machine” and the media were depicted in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. • In regards to how the media was portrayed, do you think the media is more, less, or just as involved in politics today?

  2. Organization of Congress

  3. Today we will …. Objectives Agenda • Examine the organization of congress. • Identify the types of committees and their purposes. • Vocabulary • Guided notes • Committee folders • Ticket out the Door

  4. Vocabulary • Standing Committee: permanent committee in the House and Senate • Select Committee: special committee set up for a specific purpose for a limited time (House and Senate) • Joint Committee: composed of members from the House and Senate • Seniority Rule: an unwritten rule in the Congress that allows important positions of leadership to be held by those with the longest records of service in Congress.

  5. Two Houses of Congress House of Representatives Senate

  6. Bicameralism • Why is Congress divided into two houses? • Because our founding fathers saw bicameralism as a way to diffuse (spread) the power of Congress, which prevented it from overwhelming the other two branches of government. • NJ Plan & VA Plan!

  7. Congressional Terms • Each term of Congress lasts 2 years. • The beginning of each 2 year term is “noon of the 3rd day in January” of every odd numbered year. • So the Congressmen we elected in November 2014 didn’t start until January 3rd, 2015. • While each term is 2 years, there are no term limits in Congress. • This means the same Senator or Representative can stay in Congress for life as long as he/she keeps getting reelected. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORVqG3rN5Y&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

  8. Salary and Benefits • Senators and Representatives make $174,000 per year. • Speaker of the House makes $223,500 per year • Minority/Majority floor leaders in both houses make $193,400 per year • They also receive special tax deductions • They receive travel allowances to go back and forth to Washington • Franking Privilege: Allows them to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their signature instead of the postage.

  9. The Politics of Pay • Two limits on congressional pay • President veto power • Voter backlash

  10. Check for understanding • How long is the term for the Senate? the House? • How do you think the lack of term limits and the franking privilege contribute to the incumbency advantage?

  11. Speaker of the House • Chosen by the majority party • Directs business on the floor during meetings • Calls on and recognizes members wishing to speak • Appoints members to Select and Special committees • Can vote but usually doesn’t, must vote to break a tie • John Boehner (Ohio) • (“bay-ner”)

  12. The Senate • The Founding Fathers hoped that the smaller Senate would be a more enlightened and responsible body than the House. • They thought the House would be too often swayed by the immediate impact of events and by the passions of the moment. • “The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”

  13. The Senate • The Senate is a “continuous body” • This means that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time. • 6 year terms give Senators some job security • Since they represent an entire State, they have a huge constituency, which means the people and interests the Senators represent.

  14. President of the Senate • Vice President • Only constitutional duty • Joe Biden

  15. President Pro Tempore • Selected by members of the Senate • Leading member of the majority party • Serves when the VP is absent • Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

  16. Check for understanding • What is the leader of the House called? • Who leads the Senate? • Who takes over when he is not present?

  17. Party Leadership in Congress

  18. Floor Leaders • Both houses of Congress are organized along party lines • After the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore, the majority & minority floor leaders in both houses are the most important officers in Congress • Chosen from their members to represent and coordinate the party • Try to steer what happens on the floor to the benefit of their parties

  19. Party Whips • Go-betweens between party leaders and party members • Round up members when important votes are to be taken

  20. Major Roles Congressmen Play • Legislators (law makers) • Representatives • Committee members • Politicians

  21. Representatives of the People • Senators and representatives are elected to represent the people (that means YOU) • Delegate or Turstee? • Cast hundreds of votes each session. Some big, some small.

  22. Check for understanding • Who elects the Floor Leaders? • What does the Whip do?

  23. Committees

  24. Congress Senate House Joint Committees Senate Committees House Committees

  25. Types of Committees 1.) Standing committees 2.) Select or Special Committees 3.) Joint Committees

  26. Standing Committees • Permanent • Most are subject-related (Judiciary, Foreign Policy, Armed Services) • Majority party holds majority membership • Review, research and revise bills • May hold a hearing where they are informed by experts, question witnesses, view exhibits or photographs, examine material evidence, or observe demonstrations in order to gather information about a bill

  27. Select/Special Committees • Temporary • Usually set up for a specific purpose & a limited time • Oversight function – to keep things from going wrong in govt. • Investigations Remember this story?

  28. Joint Committees • Made up of members from both houses • Permanent • Debate & report on matters concerning Congress, as a whole • Example: Joint Economic Committee • +

  29. Committee Chairpersons • Chosen by majority party • Chairpersons are selected by seniority rule • Rule states that the majority party member who has the most consecutive years in congress has seniority • Duties • Decides when committee will meet • What bills to consider • Whether there will be a public hearing or witnesses • Manages bill when it is reported to whole body

  30. Check for understanding • President Woodrow Wilson once noted that Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work. Explain the meaning of this statement in your own words.

  31. Comparing the Chambers of Congress

  32. Closure Ticket out the door – Senators & Represenatives #70

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