netw rks OR There s More Online! GRAPHIC ORGANIZER NH N H WA A 0 + ID NV CA + + AZ 9 + The United States Congress MAP WY UT V VT T ND MT CO NM HII H MN WI SD - NY MII - PA - OH 6 IL IN WV VA 9 - W MO - KY 6 - NC TN 9 C SC AR GA + MS AL + LA 6 FL - IA - NE KS OK TX 6 + + Congressional Apportionment POLITICAL CARTOON Gerrymandering CHART Congressional Committees Lesson Structure of Congress ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why do people create, structure, and change governments? It Matters Because NGSSS covered in The Two Houses of Congress SS..C.. Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution. SS..C.. Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. SS..G.. Use maps and other geographic tools to examine the importance of demographics within political divisions of the United States. LA...6. The student will use new vocabulary that is introduced and taught directly. LA...6. The student will listen to, read, and discuss familiar and conceptually challenging text. Reading HELP DESK Taking Notes: Comparing Create a graphic organizer to compare information about the House of Representatives and the Senate. SS..C.. 96 The Legislative Branch The Two Houses of Congress GUIDING QUESTION Why is Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate? Congress creates our nation s laws. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have their own special rules and procedures. Why is Congress divided into two houses, each with its own special character? When writing the Constitution in, the Framers wanted to create a Congress with the power to pass laws. They had a problem, however. They could not agree about how the states should be represented in this Congress. Delegates from the smaller states wanted each state to have equal representation. Those from the larger states wanted votes in Congress to be based on population. This would give them more power. In the end, the Framers reached a compromise. They made Congress a two-part, or bicameral, body. In the Senate, each state would have an equal number of representatives two. In the House of Representatives, the number of members for each state would be based on its population. The Framers wanted the legislative branch of government to have more power than the other two branches. They described The United States Congress House Senate Size Term Leadership Content Vocabulary Senate census majority party House of constituent minority party Representatives gerrymander seniority PHOTO: (tcl) North Wind/North Wind Picture Archives; (tcr) McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc./Jill Braaten, photographer; (tr) Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images Congress makes the federal laws that affect all Americans.
Congress in the first part of the Constitution, Article I. As James Madison said, Congress is the First Branch of this Government. Every year, of our fellow citizens gather inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. There, they make new laws and address the many issues facing our country. These are our elected representatives, the members of Congress. Terms and Sessions The government calendar is set by law. Each Congress lasts for a term, or a period of time, of two years. Each Congress usually starts on January of odd-numbered years and lasts for two years. Each new Congress is numbered to identify its two-year term. For example, the first Congress met in 9, and the th Congress is in session from January 0 to January 0. Each Congress is divided into two sessions, or meetings. A typical session of Congress today lasts from January until November or December. Congress may also meet during special sessions or in times of crisis. A joint session occurs, or happens, when the House and Senate meet together. The two chambers have joint sessions to do business as a unit or to hear a presidential speech. GEOGRAPHY CONNECTION Every 0 years, after the population of each state is counted, Congress must see if the number of House seats each state has must change because the relative populations of the states have changed. PLACE Which states lost the most seats in this apportionment? How many did they lose? Making Inferences Why do you think these states lost seats? SS..G.. CONGRESSIONAL APPORTIONMENT WA A 0 + AK OR ID NV CA + No change Number of representatives Number of seats lost or gained SOURCE: http://uselectionatlas.org UT + + Lost seats after 00 census + WY AZ 9 Gained seats after 00 census HII H Senate the upper house of Congress, consisting of two representatives from each state ND MT CO NM MN WI SD NE KS OK TX 6 + IA - MO - AR LA 6 NH N H ME VT V T MA 9 - NY MII - PA - IL IN OH 6 9 - W WV VA - KY 6 NC TN 9 SC C GA + AL MS + - House of Representatives the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population FL + - RII R CT NJJ N - DE E MD DC D C 00 Academic Vocabulary occur to happen or take place Lesson 9
Gerrymandering after a census often leads to oddly shaped districts such as this one, shown in an cartoon. Drawing Conclusions What danger might these oddly shaped districts pose that might make the cartoonist see them as monsters? Florida CONNECTION An End to Gerrymandering? In November 00, Florida voters approved two amendments to their state constitution that would stop the practice of gerrymandering in the drawing of legislative and congressional districts. Opponents of these amendments filed a lawsuit Brown v. State of Florida seeking to block these amendments. Reading HELP DESK census a population count taken by the Census Bureau 9 The Legislative Branch The House of Representatives is the larger of the two houses of Congress. It has voting members who are divided among the states on the basis of their population. These representatives serve two-year terms. The United States Constitution allows each state at least one representative, no matter how small its population. Every 0 years, a census, or population count, is taken by the Census Bureau. Congress then adjusts, or changes, the number of representatives given to each state based on the census results. States that have gained enough people since the last census might get one or even two more House members. Those that lose people might lose one or more seats. Each state is divided into one or more congressional districts. One representative, or House member, is elected by the voters of each district. State legislatures must draw the boundaries of these districts. Legislatures are required to draw the districts so that they each include roughly the same number of constituents (kuhn STIHCH wuhnts), or people represented. Sometimes lawmakers abuse their power to draw district lines. They might draw these lines to favor one political party over another, for instance. This practice is called gerrymandering. A gerrymander is an oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group. Suppose that one party has a strong majority in the state legislature. That party would be able to control how the map is drawn for new House districts. In that case, party members might draw the lines so that as many districts as possible have voters from their party outnumbering those from other parties. Laws have tried to limit gerrymandering, but the practice has not been stopped. The House of Representatives also has six nonvoting members. One represents the people of the District of Columbia. The other five represent the people of Puerto Rico and four Academic Vocabulary adjust to change or alter in order to fit or conform constituent a person from a legislator s district gerrymander an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group PHOTO: North Wind/North Wind Picture Archives. The House of Representatives
PHOTO: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc./Jill Braaten, photographer island territories in the Pacific Ocean. These six members do not vote on bills being considered in the House. The Senate The Senate has 00 members, with two coming from each of the 0 states. Each senator represents his or her entire state rather than a particular district. Senators serve six-year terms. However, elections are staggered. This means that no more than one-third of the senators are running for reelection at any one time. The remaining two-thirds of the senators ensure that the Senate is stable through each election. This helps shield the Senate from sudden shifts in public opinion. A senator may die or resign before the end of his or her term. How the vacant seat is filled depends on state law. In most states, the governor can name someone to fill the empty position. That person will hold the office until there is an election. Most states wait until the next regular election to choose a permanent new senator. Other states will call for a special election to be held sooner. Congressional Leadership In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half of the members belong is known as the majority party. The other party, with less than half of the members, is called the minority party. At the beginning of each new Congress, each party s members in each house choose the party s leaders to direct its activities. Each political party chooses its leader, called either the majority or the minority leader, depending on that party s position in the new Congress. Each leader speaks for his or her party on issues that come up in that house. Each leader tries to push along and sway votes in favor of bills supported by his or her party. An assistant leader, called a whip, helps each party leader. For example, the whip makes sure legislators are present for key votes. Top Leadership in the House In addition to these party leaders, each house of Congress has one presiding officer. In the House of Representatives, this leader is called the Speaker of the House. Members of the majority party choose the Speaker at a caucus, or closed meeting. The rest of the House then approves the choice of Speaker. In January 0, John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, became the Speaker of the House. Making Inferences Which political party do you think had a majority in the House in 0, the Republicans or the Democrats? Why? majority party in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong minority party in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong Lesson 99
During the two terms of President George W. Bush (00 009), Vice President Richard Cheney (top center) was the presiding officer of the Senate. Speculating Why do you think the vice president is allowed to vote to break a tie in the Senate? SS..C.. The Speaker of the House has great power. He or she presides over the House and leads its majority party. The Speaker guides legislation through the House and leads floor debates. If anything happens to the president and vice president, the Speaker is next in line to become president, provided he or she is legally qualified. Speakers rely on persuasion and the power of their position to influence other House members. On a typical day, the Speaker may talk with dozens of members of Congress. Often the Speaker listens to requests for a favor. In return for meeting such requests, the Speaker expects the representatives support on important issues. The office of the Speaker is mentioned in the Constitution. That document gives PHOTO: Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images no other details about the office or its powers, however. The duties of the office have developed over time, shaped by the actions of the people who have served as Speaker. Top Leadership in the Senate Like the House, the Senate needs a presiding officer. That person runs the sessions of the Senate and keeps order. The presiding officer in the Senate is the vice president. The vice president differs from the Speaker of the House in an important way. The Speaker can vote on any matter before the House. The vice president, however, can vote in the Senate only when there is a tie. The vice president cannot always be present when the Senate is in session, though. When he or she is absent, a temporary officer fills in. That officer is named the president pro tempore (proh TEHM puh ree) meaning for the time being. He or she is from the majority party and is usually its most senior member. The president pro tempore is also in the line of succession to fill the presidency, coming after the Speaker of the House. PROGRESS CHECK Reading HELPDESK Recalling How many members are there in the House? The Senate? Reading Strategy: Contrasting SS..C.. The two houses of Congress differ in the roles of their top leaders. On a separate sheet of paper, draw a two-column chart to show how the Speaker of the House and the vice president differ in their roles as leaders of Congress. 00 The Legislative Branch
The Committee System GUIDING QUESTION Why are members of Congress assigned to work on committees? In a single session, each house of Congress handles thousands of bills, or proposed laws. In order to carefully consider so many bills at one time, each house has set up many different committees. The committee system makes Congress s large workload easier. President Woodrow Wilson noted the importance of committees. PRIMARY SOURCE It is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work. Woodrow Wilson, Congressional Government, Types of Committees Congress has three types of committees. They are standing committees, select committees, and joint committees. Standing committees are permanent, meaning they are used each term. They focus on specific areas of government work. For example, both the Senate and the House have standing committees to deal with agriculture, commerce, and veterans affairs. The House and Senate sometimes form temporary committees to deal with special issues. These select committees meet for a limited time until they complete their assigned task. Occasionally, the Senate and the House form joint committees, which include members of both houses. Joint committees meet to consider specific issues. Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and Labor Energy and Commerce Financial Services Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES House of Representatives STANDING COMMITTEES Foreign Affairs Homeland Security House Administration Judiciary Natural Resources Oversight and Government Reform Senate STANDING COMMITTEES Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environmental and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Rules Science and Technology Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans Affairs Ways and Means Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans Affairs NGSSS covered in The Committee System SS..C.. Illustrate the structure and function (three branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution. SS..C.. Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. CHART SKILLS The House and Senate have their own standing committees. Identifying Which type of committee has members from both houses? Drawing Conclusions Why do you think both the House and Senate have committees that cover the same issues? SS..C.. JOINT COMMITTEES Economic Printing Taxation Library Lesson 0
Florida CONNECTION Charles William Bill Young When the th Congress convened in 0, Charles William Bill Young was the longest serving Republican member of the House. He has represented Florida in that chamber since 9. He held the powerful position of Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee from 999 till 00. How do you think seniority helped him get this job? SS..C.. seniority years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members Serving on Committees Newly elected senators and representatives try to get placed on committees that affect the people who elected them. For example, members of Congress from farm areas might want to serve on agriculture committees. Those with many factories in their districts might be interested in serving on labor committees. It is the task of party leaders to make committee assignments. In doing so, they consider members interests, experience, and loyalty to their party. Another key factor is seniority, or years of service. The senators and representatives who have been in Congress longest usually get to serve on the most favored or most powerful committees. The longest-serving committee member from the majority party usually becomes the chairperson. The person in this position has a great deal of power. Chairpersons decide when and if a committee will meet. They also decide which bills will be studied and who will serve on each of the subcommittees. The longest-serving committee member from the minority party leads the members of that party in the committee. He or she is called the ranking minority member. Some people think the seniority system is a good idea. They say that it prevents fights over committee jobs. They also say it ensures that chairpersons will have experience. Opponents complain that talented committee members may be overlooked in favor of those who have simply been around for a while. There has been so much criticism of the seniority system over the years that both political parties have moved slightly away from it. The senior majority party member still usually becomes the committee chair. It is no longer guaranteed, however. PROGRESS CHECK Identifying What are the three types of committees? LESSON REVIEW Review Vocabulary. How does the census affect representation in the House of Representatives? LA...6.. How do states divide the number of constituents in their congressional districts? How are constituents divided in a gerrymander? LA...6.. What determines which is the majority party and which is the minority party in each house? 0 The Legislative Branch SS..C.. Answer the Guiding Questions. Expressing Why are the two houses of Congress good places to discuss issues that might require new laws?. Explaining Why does Congress rely on the committee system? SS..C.. 6. PERSUASIVE WRITING Do you think that government by committee makes the role of individual members of Congress less important? Express your opinion in a paragraph. Give reasons to support your opinion. SS..C.. SS..C..