4 intro to the u.s. house of representatives

Unit III Lesson 4Intro to The U.S. House of Representatives

Essential Question:• What are the institutions and

policy-making processes of the national government?

• What are the links between the branches of the national government, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, the media, and state and local governments?

State Governments

National Government

“Federalism”

Federalists Anti-Federalists

1787

“Congress”

“The People’s

Chamber”

“Congress”

“Delegated Powers”

“Congressman”

“Congressmen” (and “Congresswomen”) serve a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives

“Congresswoman”

2012 20142010

There are 435 Representatives (Congressmen and women) in the House

435Represent?

Each Congressperson speaks for one congressional

district

CongressmanBobby Bright

(D-AL 2nd District)

Sometimes simply called

“Representative”

CongressmanDoug Collins

Population

27

650,000

If each Congressional district represents about 650,000 people what do you think

the different SIZES of the districts means?

650,000

650,000

Big Cities?

California, our most populated state, has 53 Congressmen and women!

Our least populated states Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Delaware,

Vermont, and Wyoming only have 1 Congressperson for their entire state!

“Remind me…”

435

435

The U.S. Census is taken every 10 years and determines the number of congressmen each state sends to the House of

Representatives

435650,000

The U.S. Census

435

Apportionment- The process by which seats in House are distributed among the 50 states following a census (some states gain representation and some states lose

representation but the total number of seats in the House stays at 435)

435

435“Apportionment”

The boundary lines of congressional districts must be redrawn every ten years to:

A.Reflect population shifts indicated by the national census

B.Make sure each state’s congressional delegation exactly mirrors its residents’ party affiliations

C.Increase the number of female and minority members of Congress

D.Determine which party’s leader will be named Speaker of the House