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Chapter 10The Legislative System
Main Idea
Section 1: Congress, made up of the senate/H.O.R. is the nat’l govts
legislative branch
Bell Work
Get book Get Notes packet and worksheets in back Clean out folders in back
These will need to be put to greater use!!
Read/answer Section 1 Essentials Have stuff ready to begin lecture on Chapter 10 Chapter homework grades will come from
Completed Essentials as well as various review completions
Why Bicameral?
What is a Bicameral? Means that congress is made up of two houses! Senate and H.O.R.
Why? Historical Practical Theoretical
Why Bicameral?
Historical Reason Framers of the constitution were familiar w/ British
two house system 11/13 early colonies used bicameral colonial then
state legislatures
Why Bicameral? Practical Reason
Needed to settle conflict b.t. N.J. and Philadelphia plans Seats based on proportion vs. equality
Bicameral reflects federalism Each state gets equal representation and proportionate
representation
Theoretical Idea that one house would act as a check to the other Idea that a divided congress would prevent it from
overwhelming the other two branches Look @ concept on page 263
Congressional Terms
Term is the length of time an official serves after election
Each term now begins on January 3 of every odd numbered year.
Each term lasts for two years 111th Congress just convened and will meet
until when? Jan. 3 2011
How have sessions changed? Session= meeting period when congress conducts
business Two sessions to each term of congress.
1 each year
Sessions used to be 4-5 months of each year before adjourning (ending)
Now congress meets year round w/ short breaks President may call “special sessions” to deal w/
emergency matters “Bail-out plan”
Section 1 Lesson Closing
L-J #1 Answer section 1 assessment (keep in
folders) Keep these to turn in at end of Chapter 1-5; omit #4 In complete sentences
This is on an “Exit Card” to leave class
Bell Work
Get Books Get Worksheets out Answer these two review ?s
How long is a term in the H.O.R.? 2 years
When congress adjourns it? Ends a session
Read Section 2 Essentials Answer 2 ?’s at bottom
What are the size/terms of the House?
Constitution directs the # of the house be apportioned (distributed) based on pop.
Size Currently the house sits at 435 members Each state is awarded at least one representative D.C., Guam, V. Islands elect delegates but they
are not full-members
What are the size/terms of the House?
Terms Art. I of the const. says that reps should be
chosen every second year H.O.R. members serve two year terms Ensures that they always have election and
district in mind when conducting business No Constitutional limit on terms
How are seats reapportioned?
Reapportion Redistribute
Art. I of const. directs reapportion to occur every decennial (10 year) census.
Problems of #s led to the Reapportionment Act of 1929 Congress set limit at 435 Basically population is divided by 435 now and that
represents the population per rep. Approx. 650,000 per representative
Congressional Elections/Districts
Times, places, and manner for holding election is determined by states legislature
Can be changed by congress if needed Election
Date: All held on same day in every state Tuesday after the 1st Monday in Nov. of every even year
Off-year elections: Elections that occur b.t. presidential elections Usually party in power loses seats in congress here Look at pg. 269 and answer caption
Congressional Elections/Districts
Districts All rep.s are chosen in separate congressional
districts Two methods
General Ticket: seats filled at large by whole state Done away w/ bc unfair……Why?
Single-member district: Voters in each district elect one rep. from those running Gerrymandering became a problem here…..Why?
Qualifications
Formal are set out in the constitution Formal (All refereed by the House )
At least 25 U.S. citizen for 7 years Inhabitant of state elected from Custom of living in district as well
Informal Vary from state-state and district-district Party identification, name familiarity, ethnicity, political
experience. Think Tom Osborne from years ago
Lesson Closing
Class work “Exit Card” Answer 1-4 of assessment (pg.273) as well as
answer caption on page 272
What is the size of senate
Constitution states that the senate “shall be composed of two senators from each state.”
A. Today the number is 100 b/c there are 50 states Framers intentions were to keep the senate small
so it would be a more enlightened body than the house
One reason why it is often referred to as the “upper house”
Their elections past/present
Past Constitution orig. stated that they would be chosen by the
state legislatures Often choose popular and qualified Problems arose when leaders started to buy leg.’s votes to
win a senate seat. “Millionaire’s Club”
Present Those problems resulted in the 17th Amendment Elected from the state in the “at-large” method All eligible voters for the “most numerous branch” are
eligible to vote here too
How/Why are their terms different? How?
Terms are for 6 years at a time No term limits for re-election Terms are “staggered” so that only 1/3 expire every 2 years
Why? 6 years gives them more job security and takes them away
from day-day politics Allows them to avoid pressures of public opinions and special
interest groups Staggered Elections: Designed so that the upper house is a
continuous body so a majority (66%) of members have experience.
Lesson Closing
For Grade tomorrow Using colored pencils/markers and colored paper
Create a concept map or web tree giving information about both the “upper” and “lower” houses Can be informative giving election, qualification, numbers
details for each -Or- Can be in a compare/contrast form w/ sim.s/diff.’s
Congress Video
Bell Work
Get Books Turn in “Concept Maps” for completion Grade Read Section 4 Essentials
Answer 2 ?’s as well
Duties performed by Congress
5 overall duties as explained in the constitution Legislators, representatives of their constituents,
committee members, servants of their constituents, and politicians
A. Representatives of their people 4 voting roles (options)
Trustees: decide votes based on merit, own judgments Delegates: Vote according to “folks back home” Partisans: Vote in-line with their party Politicos: Attempt to have balance of other three.
Duties performed by Congress
B. Committee members Proposed laws are referred to committees Committees made of both houses They decide which will make it to floor which not
C. Servants Act as servants to their constituents Why?
Have to perform all sorts of “duties” to get re-elected. Read passage on pg. 282 (notice all the things
they may feel obligated to do!!)
Compensation/Privileges of Members
Constitution provides that congress “shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law.” Means they decide/vote on their compensation
Compensation Salary around 158,000; some more
Speaker of house, Pro Tem, Majority/minority leaders all get a little more
“Fringe” Benefits like cheap insurance, travel allowances, tax deductions for 2 residences
Franking Privilege: Benefit that allows them to mail letters/materials postage free.
Compensation/Privileges of Members
Privileges Early: Art. I Section 6: Can’t be arrested while attending
sessions Why?
To prevent King from harassing legislators when U.S. was still under colonial rule
Present Can’t be ?ed outside of either house about their
speeches/debates Designed to give protection to members while in debate over
laws/bills Protects their freedom of opinion during legislative process
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