American Government
Chp. 5—Role and Powers of Congress
Section 1: Congress
Section 2: Powers of Congress
Section 5: Congress at Work
Section 1:
Role of Congress
Objectives:
1.
How does Congress represent the people?
2.
Why is the structure of Congress so important?
3.
What is the role of Congress in the system of
checks & balances?
How does
Congress represent the people in their duties:
Consider …
Consider
…
Consider …
Consider
…
Consider …
Has at least a …
Above average …
Over …
Increasing
…
Lawyers are
…
Structure of Congress:
House of Representatives
Senate
Congressional Power with the system of Checks & Balances:
Legislative Power ...
Congress writes …
Impeachment—
Charged in …
Can result in …
Purpose of congressional investigations:
Examine the …
Look into …
Section 2:
Powers of Congress
Objectives:
Defining the Powers of Congress:
Section 3:
The House of Representatives
Objectives:
What are the key features of the House of
Representatives and its membership?
What are some of the challenges that
reapportionment and redistricting raise?
How is the leadership of the House organized?
What is the role of committees in the operation
of the House?
Membership in the House:
l
Designed to be …
l
Expulsion requires …
l
Election & Re-election …
Reapportionment and Redistricting:
l
Districts drawn …
l
Population changes lead to …
l
Redistricting …
Issues with Gerrymandering:
l
Redistricting is done …
l
Gerrymandering—
l
Supreme Court cases …
o
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)—
o
In a series of cases, the …
o
Davis v. Bandemer (1986)—
House Leadership:
l
Speaker of the House—
l
Majority and minority floor leaders—
l
Majority and minority whips—
l
Party Caucus—
House Rules:
Give more guidelines …
Section 4:
The Senate
Objectives:
l
What are the key features of
the Senate and its membership?
l
How is the leadership of the
Senate organized?
l
What are some of the
distinctive rules and traditions of the Senate?
Election of Senators:
l
Constitution gave …
o
Part of the …
o
Proved to be …
l
Reformers changed it …
Traditionally more Prestigious:
l
Tend to be…
l
Fewer …
l
Slower paced debate—
l
More involved in …
Senate Leadership:
l
US Vice President—
l
Majority & minority floor
leaders—
l
Majority & minority whips—
l
Party Caucus—
Senate Rules:
l
No limits on …
l
President pro tempore—
Section 5:
Congress at Work
Objectives:
How are bills introduced in Congress?
What happens to a bill in committee?
What happens to a bill on the floor?
What is a conference committee?
What actions can a President take on a bill?
What are some special issues faced by Congress?
Introducing a Bill:
l
Bills can originate …
l
Any bill that …
l
May contain a rider—
How bills are referred to a committee:
l
Referred by the …
l
Determined by …
l
Bills can be …
Types of Committees:
l
Committees exist to …
l
Standing Committees—
l
Select Committees—
l
Joint Committees—
l
Conference Committee—
Committee Organization:
l
Chair—head of …
l
Membership—
Purpose of committee hearings and markup sessions:
l
Committee hearings …
l
Markup sessions allow …
The course a bill takes when it reaches the full House or
Senate floor:
l
Debated—
l
Amended—
l
Vote—
Courses of action the president can take on a bill passed
by Congress:
l
Sign—
l
Veto—
l
No action:
Special issues faced by Congress:
l
Interest groups
o
Provide …
o
Organize support …
o
Campaign …
o
Endorsing …
l
“Earmarks” & “Pork-barrel Projects” increase
spending
l
Party Politics can cause division & make
government less effective
o
Party-line voting …
1.
Favors politics …
2.
Favors politics …
o
Gridlock—
l
Negative view of Congress by most Americans
o
Scandals & Corruption
1.
Erode the …
2.
Rare occurrence—
o
Political ideology
1.
Political parties …
2.
Majority of …
o
Grandstanding & Hype
1.
Get involved in ...
2.
Fail to follow …