Structure of Congress

1
Structure of Congress

• Introduction to Chapter 13
• AP US Government

2
Congressional Review

• Introduce Institutions units SOTU in 67 Secs.
• Discuss E-Congress components and requirements.
• Go over review information.
• Highlight areas you may need to study.

3
Congress versus Parliament

• The Party chooses who runs for seats
• Members are loyal to party
• Voting is based on support of PM agenda, choose
  PM
• Daily work is in debates
• Have few perks, low pay
• Members have few to no staff

• Run as individuals in party primary
• Members are loyal to constituents
• Congressional voting is independent of the
  President
• Daily work takes place in committees
• Members have many benefits perks, good pay
• Members have large staffs

• Both are legislatures
• Both are bicameral
• Lower houses elected by districts
• Lower houses are the larger bodies

4
Congressional Organizer
House
Senate
Leader
Leader
Size
Size
Speaker of the House chosen by majority party
John Boehner is current Speaker (R)
The Vice President is President of the Senate.
Joe Biden is current leader (D). The Pro Tempore
takes over usually.
based on state population by the Census every
10 years. The 435 seats are reapportioned.
Each state has 2 Senators, for a total of 100.
1/3 elected every 2 years. The 17th Amendment
allows for election of Senators.
All 435 elected each term by district. Some
states districts have gerrymanders.
Term
Term
Serve 2-yr terms-no limit on times
Serve 6-yr terms-no limit on times
Unique Powers Must approve Presidential
appointments. 2/3 must approve Presidential
treaties. Holds impeachment trials.
Unique Powers All Appropriation bill start in
HOR. Have impeachment power.
Qualifications
Qualifications
Must be 25, 7-yr. Citizen State resident.
Must be 30, 9-yr. Citizen State resident.
5
Notes on Congress

• Congress is established as the first branch of
  govt by Art. I of Const.
• This is the 114th Congress, 1st session.
• Term is a 2-year meeting of Congress.
• There are 2 sessions per term.
• Congress meets on Capitol Hill in the Capitol
  Building.

6
Notes on the House

• NC has 13 Congressional districts.
• Currituck County is in the 3rd District.
• Walter B. Jones, Jr. is our Representative. He
  is a Republican.
• The Republicans are the majority party.
• John Boehner (R) is the Speaker of the House.

7
Notes on the Senate

• NCs Senior Senator is Richard Burr (R). Our
  Junior Senator is Thom Tillis (R).
• The Republicans are the majority party.
• Senate Pro Tempore is Orin Hatch. Senate
  Majority Leader is Mitch McConnell. Senate
  Minority Leader is Harry Reid.

8
Assignment

• Read pp. 241-243 under Getting Elected to
  Congress. Take notes, especially on vocabulary
  and cases.
• Read CT handout, complete questions and take
  notes.
• Read all 4 cases and take notes.
• Phase II due 02/05/15. Link is on my webpage and
  on the Symbaloo board.
• Due Tuesday!