Congress

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Congress

• Chapter 6 Sections 1 and 3

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Congress Video
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Legislative Branch

• Article I of the Constitution
• Makes laws
• Bicameral (2 houses)
• House of Representatives
• Membership based on a states population
• 435 total members
• Senate
• 2 members from each state
• 100 total members

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Qualifications

• House of Representatives
• At least 25 years old
• Live in the state you represent
• Some states say you must live in that district
  too
• Most states you must live there a year before the
  election
• Been a US citizen for at least 7 years
• Senate
• At least 30 years old
• Live in the state you represent
• Most states you must live there a year before the
  election (Former Sen. Elizabeth Dole)
• Been a US citizen for at least 9 years

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Privileges for HoR and Senate

• Salary- 165,200 a year
• Free office space/parking
• Free trips to home state
• Franking Privilege- can send job related mail
  without paying for stamps
• Low cost health insurance
• Use of special facilities gyms, restaurants,
  medical clinics, etc.
• Immunity (legal protection) in certain situations

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Congressional Leadership

• Majority Party- more than ½ members of
  HofR/Senate belong to the political party
• Minority Party- less than ½ the members of
  HofR/Senate belong to the political party
• Floor Leaders
• Majority Floor Leader- chosen as leader by the
  majority political party
• Minority Floor Leader- chosen as leader by the
  minority political party
• Whips
• Majority Whip- helps pass legislation for
  Majority Floor Leader
• Minority Whip- helps pass legislation for
  Minority Floor Leader

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House of Representatives Leadership

• Speaker of the House- leader of the HoR, chosen
  by members of the majority party
• Has a GREAT amount of power!
• Steers legislation through the HoR
• Leads floor debates
• Next in line if Pres and VP die
• Nancy Pelosi
• Democrat
• California

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Senate Leadership

• Vice President of the US is President of the
  Senate
• Technical leader, but doesnt do much
• Only votes in case of a tie
• President Pro Tempore- leader of the Senate,
  chosen by members of the majority party
• Day to day leader of the Senate
• Not as powerful as Speaker of
• the House
• Daniel Inouye
• Democrat
• Hawaii

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Committees

• Congress must consider thousands of bills during
  a yearlong session
• To make it possible for so many bills to pass,
  Congress has committees
• Standing Committees- permanent committees always
  in Congress
• Ex Agriculture, Budget, Transportation
• Special Committees- formed for a limited amount
  of time to deal with special issues
• Ex Security, Terrorism, Gulf Oil Spill
• Joint Committees- formed with members from both
  HoR and Senate
• Ex Taxation

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Differences Video
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Congress At Work

• Representing Constituents
• Acting on their interest and concerns in
  Washington
• Bring federal government projects and money to
  their district
• Pork Barrel Projects- government projects/grants
  that primarily benefit their home district
• Lawmaking
• Passing legislation/laws
• Casework
• If necessary, help constituents solve problems
  with the federal government

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House of Representatives Video
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Membership

• 435 members
• Membership based on a states population
• Each state is guaranteed at least 1 member
• Serve 2 year terms before up for reelection
• Membership adjusted for states every 10 years
• Census- official population count every 10 years

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Districts

• Members represent people from their district in
  their home state
• Constituents- people represented
• NC has 13 districts
• NC had 12 districts but gained a new district
  with the 2000 census
• Had to make a new district so they made the 13th
  district with Greensboro, Northern NC, and
  Raleigh (since these areas had the highest gains
  in population which added the new seat)

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Gerrymander

• Gerrymander- nickname given to an oddly shaped
  district
• Gerrymander is not suppose to happen, and there
  are laws to prevent it
• Why would people want to create odd shaped
  districts?

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5th District

• Virginia Foxx (Republican)
• Northwestern NC, and areas around Winston-Salem
  such as Kernersville and Clemmons
• Was Richard Burrs seat before a Senator

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6th District

• Howard Coble (Republican)
• Most of Davidson County (not Lexington/Thomasville
  ), most of Randolph County, most of Guilford
  County (not High Point or Greensboro), and most
  of Alamance County (not Burlington)

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12th District

• Mel Watt (Democrat)
• Half of Greensboro, most of High Point,
  Winston-Salem, Thomasville, Lexington, Salisbury,
  and Charlotte
• Appears to go down I-85
• Gerrymander?

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13th District

• Brad Miller (Democrat)
• Half of Greensboro, most of Burlington, Northern
  NC, and Raleigh
• Newer district
• Gerrymander?

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NC Districts

• Show map of NC House of Representatives District
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina's_cong
  ressional_districts

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Senate Video
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Membership

• 100 members
• 2 from each state
• Serve for 6 year terms before up for reelection
• Senator elections are staggered
• 1/3 of all Senators are up for reelection every 2
  years
• Governor appoints a fill in if a Senator
  dies/resigns

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NC Senators
Both are all NC residents Senators- equally
Richard Burr (Republican) Elected in 2004 From
Winston Salem Formerly a member of the House of
Representatives
Kay Hagan (Democrat) Elected in 2008 From
Greensboro Formerly a state legislator