Chapter 5: the Organization of Congress

Government

Guided Readings

Chapter 5: The Organization of Congress

Section 1: Congressional Membership pp.123-130

Key Terms

A. Bicameral Legislature:______________________________________________

B. Session: ___

________________________________________________________________________

C. Census: ____________________________________________________________

D. Reapportionment: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

E. Redistrict:

________________________________________________________________________

F. Gerrymander:

________________________________________________________________________

G. At-large:

H. Censure:

________________________________________________________________________

I. Incumbent:

Main Ideas:

The United States Congress is a bicameral legislature. It is made up of two houses, the Senate and House of Representatives. Today Congress plays an important role in policy making by passing laws dealing with everything from

health care to tax changes.

1. How long does a term of Congress last (A)? How many sessions for each term (B)? Discuss if it adjourns how can it be called back into session (C)?

2. How many members serve in the House of Representatives (A)? How are the seats apportioned, or divided (B)?

3. There are four non- voting delegates in the House of Representative and one resident commissioner ,who are they (A) and what can they do (B)?

a. Non- voting members are:

b. They can:

1. ______

2. _____

3. ______

4. _____

4. List the qualifications for the House of Representative members.

a. ______

b. ______

c. ______

d. _____

5. What are the terms of office for the members of the House of Representatives (A)? When are the election held (B)? When do they begin their term (C)?

a. ______

b. ______

c. ______

6. A process of reapportionment occurs how often (A), and what is it called (B)? What happens to a states representation if the census shows it has grown dramatically or lost population (C)?

7. Congressional redistricting occurs after each new census. Each state legislature sets up these new congressional districts where the Representatives are elected to serve from that district. Discuss three ways that states have abused these redistricting powers?

8. How does the census affect the House of Representative?

9. The Senate consists of how many members (A)? What are the terms of office (B) and when are they elected and then begin to serve (C)?

10. What are the 3 qualifications for a Senator (A)? How are they elected (B)?

1. _____

2. ______

3. ______

b. ______

______

11. How are the salaries and benefits of the Senate and House determined (A)? When do they take effect (B)?

12. What are some other perks that the Congressmen enjoy?

13. When are members of Congress free from arrest (A)? Can they be sued for anything they say during a speaking session from the floor (B)? How do they expel a member (C)?

14. What group makes up nearly half the members of Congress (A)? What age and

racial group makes up most of the members of Congress (B)? Or there more men or women(C)?

Section 2: The House of Representatives pp.132-137

Key Terms

A. Constituents:

________________________________________________________________________

B. Caucus:

________________________________________________________________________

C. Majority leader:

D. Whips:

E. Bill:

F. Calendars:

G. Quorum:

Main Ideas

The rules of Congress are necessary to ensure fairness, to enable the legislature to carry on business and to protect the minority.

1.The House and Senate have many past rules that serve as the lawmaker’s guidelines. These rules are printed every years. House rules are geared toward moving quickly. The rules of the House allow its leaders to make key decisions about legislative work without consulting the other members of the House.

2. Who does most of the work in the House (A)? Representatives tend to specialize in a few issues, what are they (B)?

a. b.

3. In many ways, Congress is organized around political parties. Where do they sit in each house (A)? Which party selects the leaders of each body (B)?

4. In 1995 the House rules were changed to make members more accountable. The newer rules provide for:

a. b.

5. Leaders of the House serve the following purpose:

6. The Speakers top assistant is the majority leader: What are his jobs:

7. What role does the majority whip and deputy whips serve?

a. b.

8. The minority party also has a minority leader and minority whips. Are they similar roles to the majority’s roles? ____________

9. Use your textbook and list in order the steps a bill must follow as it moves through the House of Representative:

10. The “Rules Committee” serves many functions, list them:

11. What is a quorum and why is it important (A)? How is a ”Committee of the Whole” different (B)?

Section 3: The Senate pp. 138-140

Key Terms

A. President pro tempore:

B. Filibuster:

C. Cloture:

Main Ideas

Senators handle specific issues in their committees but also deal with many other issues on the floor.

1. The Senate usually allows debate on proposed legislation. Members may debate an issue for weeks or months before taking action. The atmosphere is less formal than the House because the Senate has fewer .

2. What role does the Vice President play in the Senate?

a. b. __

3. What are the two most important officers in the Senate (A)? What role do they play (B)?

1.Majority :

______

2.Minority:

______

4. What role do the whips serve in the Senate?

5. Senate bills can be introduced by any member of the Senate. Senate leaders control the flow of bills to committees and the floor by consulting closely with one another and with other senators. The Senate has only two calendars:

________________________________________________________________

6. The Senate brings bill to the floor by a motion by all members present to set aside formal rules and consider a bill from the calendar.

7. The is one way for senators to defeat a bill they oppose. To means to keep talking until a majority of the Senate either abandons a bill or agrees to change parts of it.

8. A filibuster can be stopped when three-fifths of the Senate (60) Senators vote for . This is a procedure that allows each senator to speak for only an hour on a bill under debate. The threat of a filibuster can often delay or defeat a bill.

Section 4: Congressional Committees pp. 141-145

Key Terms

A. Standing Committee:

B. Subcommittee:

C. Select Committee:

D. Joint Committee:

E. Conference Committee:

F. Seniority System:

Main Ideas

Much of the daily work of considering proposed legislation takes place in committees that meet in congressional offices.

1. What are the three purposes of the committee system?

2. Congress has the following kinds of committees, discuss each briefly:

a. Standing Committees:

b. Subcommittee:

__________________________________________________________________

c. Select Committees:

Select Committees issues can include:

1. ________________________

2. ________________________ 3. ____________

d. Joint Committees:

__________________________________________________________________

e. Conference Committee:

5. The right committee assignment can help a lawmaker in the following ways:

6. Why are committee chairpersons considered powerful members of Congress?

a. ____________

__________________________________________________________________

Section 5: Staff and Support Agencies pp.146-150

Key Terms

A. Personal Staff:

________________________________________________________________________

B. Committee staff:

________________________________________________________________________

C. Administrative Assistant:

D. Legislative Assistant:

E. Caseworker:

Main Ideas:

Lawmakers and committees need trained staffs to help them do their work effectively. A number of agencies also do important work for members of Congress.

1. How do staff members help with the growing workload of Congress?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

d. ____________________________________

e. ____________________________________

2. Why did the need for office staff increase in the 1900’s?

a. ____________________________________

3. Name the different personal staff members.

a. __________________________________________

b. __________________________________________

c. __________________________________________

d. __________________________________________

4. Which kind of personal staff members do you thing is most important?

5. What lawmaking responsibilities do committee staffers help with? Name 3 of the six:

a. _________________________________________

b. _________________________________________

c. _________________________________________

6. Congress has created the following important support agencies, name four:

a. ______________________________

b. ______________________________

c. ______________________________

d. ____________________________________

7. Which support agency helps lawmakers prove that they have supported certain issues? Explain

a. ______