Name: Date: Period:

115th Congress Web Quest

  1. The House of Representatives Leadership [

House of Representatives Leadership
Speaker of the House:
Majority / Minority
Leader: / Leader:
Whip: / Whip:

a)Who was the first Speaker of the House? [

b)Who was the longest serving Speaker of the House?

  1. Membership in the House: [

a)How many Democrats are there in the 114thCongress?

b)How many Republicans are there in the 114th Congress?

c)How many are Independents?

d)How many are vacant?

  1. The State of Georgia as represented in the House. Be sure to indicate who represents our Congressional district. [

District / Name / Party
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  1. The House Ways and Means Committee [

a)Who is the chair of the Ways and Means Committee for the 113th Congress?

b)What is the “jurisdiction” of the Ways and Means Committee? (What is it responsible for doing?)

c)Fill in the blanks: The roster of committee members who have gone on to serve in higher office is impressive. _____ Presidents and _____ Vice Presidents have served on Ways and Means, as have _____ Speakers of the House of Representatives, and _____ Justices of the Supreme Court.

d)When was the Committee on Ways and Means first established?

  1. The House Rules Committee [ or [

a)Who is the chair of the Rules Committee for the 113th Congress?

b)What is the purpose of the Rules Committee?

c)What were “The Reed Rules”?

d)What was the “Cannon Revolt”?

  1. The Clerk of the House [

a)Who is the Clerk of the House of the 114th Congress?

b)Who was the very first Clerk of the House?

c)How is the Clerk of the House selected?

d)List the 13 functions of the Clerk of the House.

  1. Interesting History [ or

a)Describe what occurred on today’s date in the House. [Be sure to include the date in your answer.]

b)Describe one interesting historical event that occurred in the House during the preceding week. [Be sure to include the date in your answer.]

c)Whose statues did Virginia place in Statuary Hall? [

d)Which president of the United States issued the most vetoes?

e)Who are House Office Buildings named after?

f)

  1. Researching Legislation: [

a)What is “THOMAS” and who maintains it?

b)What was the content of HR 125 (112th Congress)?Who sponsored it?

c)List one other bill, its number and sponsor and briefly describe the content of the bill.

  1. House Proceedings:

[

[

a)When is the House in session?

b)How can you tell what is currently happening on the House floor?

c)What are the customary proceedings when the House of Representatives meets?

d)What is the difference between a term of Congress and a session of Congress?

e)What is the difference between a joint session and a joint meeting?

f)How do Representatives obtain permission to speak?

g)How do Representatives introduce bills?

h)Are there time limitations on debate on the House floor? Explain.

  1. Senate Leadership [

Senate Leadership – 115th Congress
Provide name, state, and political party
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Majority Leader
Assistant Majority Leader (Whip)
Minority Leader
Assistant Minority Leader (Whip)
  1. Membership in the Senate

a)How many Senators in the 115th Congress are Democrats?

b)How many Senators in the 115th Congress are Republicans?

c)How many Senators in the 115th Congress are Independents?

  1. The State of Georgia as represented in the Senate

Name / Political Party / Class of Senator
  1. Classes of Senators [

a)What does Article 1, section 3 of the Constitution require of the Senate?

b)What is a “Class I” senator?

c)What is a “Class II” senator?

d)What is a “Class III” senator?

e)What is a “freshman” senator? How many freshman senators were there as a result of the 2010 election? How many were Republicans/Democrats?

  1. Serving as Senator

[

a)Who served the longest as Senator? How long?

b)How many ______have served in the Senate? To answer this part, fill in the chart below.

Women
African-Americans
Asian-Americans
Hispanic-Americans
Native Americans

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