Structure of Congress 1 Why is Congress made

Structure of Congress • 1. Why is Congress made up of a House of Representatives and Senate? • 2. Constitution provided for a bicameral legislature • 3. House of Reps- population; Senate- equal representation • 535 Members Total ▫ 435 -House ▫ 100 -Senate

Structure of Congress • 5. Gov’t calendar set by law and lasts every 2 years • 6. New Congress starts on Jan. 3 rd of odd years and is numbered to identify the term(113 th currently in session) • 7. Each Congress is divided into 2 sessions lasting from Jan. to Nov/Dec. • 8. Joint Session- House and Senate meet together for business or speech

House of Representatives • 9. Representation is determined by census or population count (p. 159) • 10. Adjustments can be made to reps if necessaryapportionment • 11. Each state has congressional districtsone rep per district • 12. Constituents- people represented • 13. Gerrymandering- an oddly shaped district that favor a particular group

Senate and Leadership • 14. 100 members, 2 from each state, serve 6 year terms; elections staggered (every 2 yrs) • 15. Replacing deceased senators varies by states (appointment or special election) • 16. Majority Party- more than 50% from same group • 17. Minority Party- less than 50% from same group • 18. Each party has a leader that speaks for the party • 19. Whips- assistant leaders that try to sway votes

Top Leadership House of Representatives Senate • 20. House Speakerpresiding officer- from majority party- represents House at caucus- closed meeting • 21. Powers of Speaker: ▫ Presides ▫ Guides legislation ▫ Next person in line for presidency after VP • 22. Vice Presidentpresiding officer of Senateruns sessions, keeps order • 23. Speaker of the House can vote on legislation, VP can only vote in the case of a tie • 24. President Pro Tempore - temporary officer who steps in for VP- most senior member - next in line for presidency after Speaker

Committee System • 25. Committees set up to better handle all the proposed laws • 26. Committee Types: ▫ Standing Committeespermanent/ used each term ▫ Select Committeestemporary to deal with special issues ▫ Joint Committeesmembers from both houses serve on it • 27. Members want to get on committees that effect their constituents • 28. Party leaders choose committees and use seniority as a key factor • 29. Longest serving member becomes chair of committee • 30. Seniority Systems have positive and negative aspects