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The Congress American Gov’t
Unit 3
K.W.L.Write down ANY 5
facts that you
KNOW about The
CONGRESS
IntroductionCongress is the best example of the
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY that we live in…why?
James Madison: “the first branch of the National Government.” felt that the Congress would be the most powerful
Congress’ basic job description is found in ________, Section 1 of the Constitution.– “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested
in the Congress…”
LONGEST OF ALL ARTICLE
S
Article I
A Bicameral Congress
Bicameral means: – House of Representatives (Lower House)– Senate (Upper House)
Why use this way? (glad you asked)
– Historical – used in the British gov’t– Practical – compromise of NJ and Va. Plans– Theoretical – fits with the Checks and
Balances System
A two-house system keeps the legislative branch from taking over the other two branches of gov’t. How is that?
“Two Houses”
Terms & Session of CongressTerm – Lasts for 2 yearsThis started in 1789 with the “First
Congress” (always on odd numbered years)– Now, in 2011, we have the 112th Congress– Why did they decide for a term to be two
years?“Sessions” or meetings – Lasts for 1 year
– This is the actual time that they are “working” (breaks & holidays are included)
– They must get the other’s House’s permission to adjourn for more than 3 days
– President can call “special sessions” if needed…
CheckpointWhat Article discusses
the Congress?– Article 1
How long does a “session” last?– 1 year
How long does a “term” last?– 2 years
What does Bicameral mean?– Two Houses
The House of Representatives
Logistics of the House of Reps.Members: 435 total – from the 50 states – are distributed
This number is set by the Congress, NOT the Constitution.
Based on POPULATIONRe-Apportionment Act of 1929
– Kept the number at 435 – Census Bureau determines the population
and the number of reps for each state– President has C.B.’s plan approved by
Congress, official unless it gets rejected– Set the formula for determining
representatives
When was the
last census?
64 original members
Set in 1911
64
186
435 435
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
1791 1811 1911 2011
How the House has Grown
FORECAST:If nothing changes
with legislation, what will the House number be in 2112?
Population growth in the last 10 years
What is happening to
your representation “piece of the
pie?”
http://www.census.gov/
More Logistical StuffRepresentation is based on
Population (691,475 = 1 rep)
Each state is guaranteed at least one representative in the House
US Territories (US Virgin Islands, Guam, etc.) get to send a “delegate” (non-voting role)
So if the number doesn’t get bigger than 435, what happens when the population
of Georgia gets bigger???
7 of these
More seats = more national power
691,475 = 1 rep
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUCnb5_HZc0
FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwRhFZ2lQbI&feature=relmfu
If you were to add each of these numbers from all 50 states…what would be the total?
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/index.php
How many States lost 2
reps?
How many States gained
2 reps?
How many States have only 1 rep?
Trend in the Western States?
What act? What
# now?
How Often?
Total of All?
Why them
?
How many States lost 2
reps?
How many States gained
2 reps?
How many States have only 1 rep?
Trend in the Western States?
What act? What
# now?
How Often?
Total of All?
Why them
?
Representative Qualifications
FORMAL QUALIFICATIONSAt least 25 years oldCitizen of the United States for at
least 7 yearsLive in the state that you represent
(usually in your district too, though not required)
INFORMAL QUALIFICATIONSParty Identity, Name Familiarity,
Experience, etc.
How many people does this include???
Representative Elections & TermsThe Tuesday following the first
Monday in November during even numbered years
All 435 are up for re-election every two years (is it this year???)
“Off-year Election” – congressional elections, but NO Presidential elections (ex. 2010)
REPRESENTATIVE TERMS– 2 years long– No Term Limits
90% are re-elected
Death, resignation, retire…What happens?
John Dingell from MI – has been elected 29 times…more than anyone in history…(been there since 1955!)
Let’s talk about Georgia…There are 13 Congressional
Districts in our state. (at this moment)
For the 2012 Election there will be 14 Congressional Districts.
That means that there are __?__ representatives in D.C. that are representing Georgians.
Checkpoint: – Who determined that we have 13 representatives?– What did they base it on?
Why are
districts in
South Georgi
a so big?
Why are
districts
around
Atlanta so
small?
Georgia’s Congressional Districts
Drawing the LinesThe Census Bureau
determines the number of representatives
The State Legislatures draw the lines–How could this lead to
problems?
They call it “Gerrymandering”
GerrymanderingDrawing district lines that effect a
particular partyTwo Strategies
– Solidify my party– Diversify my opponent’s party
Pack & Crack the
Green Dots
Gerrymandering at its finest…
The unusual "earmuff" shape of the 4th Congressional District of Illinois connects two Hispanic neighborhoods while remaining contiguous by narrowly tracing Interstate 294.
Westbury v. Sanders, 1964
One Person = One VoteTrying to get equal representation
across the stateCan’t just cut up a state in even
chunks – it wouldn’t be equal.
CheckpointWhat district does Milton High School fall in?Can you vote for a person who is running in another district?
THE SENATEAmerican Government
FYI…–33% of Senators started out in the House, but no member of the Senate ever moved down to the House…
Senate’s Size100 members in the
Senate– 2 members from every state – 50 states = 100
Members of the Senate represent the entire state, not just a district
Senate’s Qualifications30 years oldCitizen of the US for 9
yearsLive in the state which
they represent
Senate’s Terms6 Year Terms (1/3 are up for re-election every 2
years)
Longest term in the
government, for an
elected officialNo term limits
– Robert Byrd elected 9 times (51 years in office when he died in 2010)!
Often the Senate is a stepping-stone to the White House
Thurmond turns 100 while in the Senate…
Senate’s “Leader”Could there be a tie in voting in the
Senate?How can they break it? Who is the
Tie-Breaker?The President of the Senate is…duh.Who is that? Hint: This is the ONLY
job listed by the CONSTITUTION for this person….
President of the Senate is…
The
Vice
President
Senate’s ElectionOriginally, each State had the
State Legislators appoint Senators
Then came the…–Direct Election of Senators
Only 1/3 of the Senators can be up for election every 2 years–Continuous Body - unlike the
House - What does this mean?
17th Amendment
Georgia’s Senators
Johnny IsaksonJohnny began his business career in
1967 when he opened the first Cobb County office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. Johnny later served as president of Northside for 20 years, presiding over the company’s growth into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.
Saxby ChamblissChambliss earned a Bachelor's
degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1966 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1968. Chambliss and his wife, Julianne, have been married since 1966, and reside in Moultrie, Georgia.
