U.S. Congress Chapter 10 & 12

American Government

Congress and the Constitution 1) Article ONE establishes the Legislative

Branch (Congress)

2) Duty of Congress- To make laws for the United States.

3) Congress is a BICAMERAL (2 house legislature)

Differences between the US House of Representatives and the US Senate: HOUSE

Total # 435

Basis population

Largest California

Smallest Wyoming

Oklahoma’s 5

Terms 2 years

SENATE

100

equality

?

?

2

6 years

staggered terms

Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senators Senator Jim Inhofe

Senator Tom Coburn

Oklahoma’s Congressional District # 3 Congressman Frank

Lucas Includes Stillwater,

Enid, Woodward. North central and

Northwestern Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s largest in area

Qualifications for Members: HOUSE 25 years old (+) 7 years US Citizen Resident of state

SENATE 30 years old (+) 9 years US Citizen Resident of state

Other Important Differences… HOUSE Special Powers- IMPEACHMENT

Presiding Officer-

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

SENATE

APPROVE PRESIDENTIALAPPOINTMENTS

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE (VP)

LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESS HOUSE Speaker of House Majority Leader Majority Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip

SENATE President of Senate President Pro tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader

Congressional Democratic LeadersNancy Pelosi and Harry Reid

Congressional Republican LeadersJohn Boehner Mitch McConnel

Characteristics of Congressmen in the 112th session.

Over ½ had law degrees. 352 men in the House and 83 women. 83

men in the Senate with 17 women. Average age was 49. House 242 Rep. Dem. 193, 0 Ind. Senate 51 Dem. , 47 Rep. , and 2 Ind. Who is the majority party currently in each?

The Majority PartyHouse-R Senate-D

The Committee System: Most work in Congress is done in small

groups called committees. Each member is assigned different committees each session.

Types of Committees:1. Standing- permanent2. Select- special, investigates3. Joint- combines members of each

Standing Committees:Deal with the most important issues.

22 in the House 16 in the Senate Armed Services

Education and Labor

Homeland Security

Committees

Joint Conference Committee combines members from both houses to work on 2 versions of the same bill.

Party Politics: The majority party is the one with the most members and usually the most power.

Bipartisanship- the two parties working together for the good of the country.

Partisanship- parties fighting along party or ideological lines for political gain.(Rep. vs Dem, or Liber vs Conservative)

Congressional Sessions Begin Jan. 3 following the election year. Each session lasts 2 years. Are identified by number. The current one is the 112th and began Jan.

3 of 2011, following the 2010 elections. The next one will 113th session and begins

in 2013.

112 Congressional Freshmen

Review Questions: What is the duty or function of Congress? What is the basis for each states number of

representatives? Name the qualifications for the US Senate? Who is the presiding officer of the House? How many Congressmen are in

Oklahoma’s delegation?

The Upcoming Schedule: Wed- review, bill writing, party caucus Thurs- TEST 5 Fri- Congressional Simulation, Intro bills

and work in committees Mon- Congressional simulation full house

and senate debate/vote, homework on Executive Branch

Tues- Congressional Simulation conclusion