1 / 31

Ch. 10 - Congress

Ch. 10 - Congress. “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were elected to Congress… but I repeat myself.” -Mark Twain. Back to Chapter 1 for a sec…. What kind of democracy do we live in? So the people rule, but they don’t make public policy Who does make it?. Bicameral Congress.

connie
Télécharger la présentation

Ch. 10 - Congress

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ch. 10 - Congress “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were elected to Congress… but I repeat myself.” -Mark Twain

  2. Back to Chapter 1 for a sec… • What kind of democracy do we live in? • So the people rule, but they don’t make public policy • Who does make it?

  3. Bicameral Congress • Our Congress is bicameral, meaning it has two houses • The larger house, which is supposedly the “common man’s house,” is the House of Representatives • The smaller house, which is for “the elite” of America is the Senate

  4. Members of the House of Representatives • Official title is “Representative So and So…” • Also called “congressman or congresswoman” • There are 435 congressmen • Congressmen are elected to a term of 2 years

  5. The House of Representatives House of Reps.

  6. The House of Representatives

  7. Members of the Senate • Official title is “Senator So and So” • There are 100 Senators (2 from each state) • Senators are elected to a term of 6 years

  8. The Senate The Senate

  9. The Senate

  10. Basic Information • Since you get new congressmen every 2 years, we call each 2 year period a “term” of Congress • The terms are numbered consecutively… the one that ended Dec. 2010 was the 112th Congress • The one that is in session now is called the 112th Congress

  11. Basic Information • A session of Congress is all the time it takes to finish their business for the year • So how many sessions are there in a term of Congress? Two!

  12. Seats in the House • Seats are apportioned (given out) to each state based on population • Every 10 years seats are reapportioned after the census, when a new count of the population is taken • Ever since 1929, the number has been 435 (Reapportionment Act)

  13. Seats in the House • Every state divides itself into districts based on the number of seats apportioned to the state • For example, Arizona is given 8 seats based on our population. Upon the next apportionment, it will be 9…

  14. What Does it Take to be in the House? I am in the house, and the things like that. • 25 years old • U.S. citizen for at least 7 years • Must live in the state you are elected in

  15. 1 Year from now… “Mr. Toro” Congress 2012 “Pointing to a brighter tomorrow”

  16. Off-Year Elections That really stinks, yo. • In the election years where there is no presidential election (2002, 2006), the president’s party usually loses seats in Congress

  17. Seats in the Senate • There will always be 2 seats per state in the Senate • 50 States = 100 Senators

  18. What Does it Take to be in the Senate? • 30 Years Old • U.S. Citizen for 9 Years • Must live in the state you are elected in

  19. 5 Years from now… “Mr. Toro” Senate 2016 A “Slam-Dunk” for our State!

  20. Foreign Perspectives Questions for President Bush from a Venezuelan Journalist Are artificial sweetners safe? Are you sure there are WMDs in Iraq? Did Anna Nicole marry for love?

  21. Comparing the House and the Senate • Originally, congressmen were elected by the public, and Senators were elected by the state legislatures • Founding Fathers did not trust the public with all power • 17th Amendment has since changed Senate elections to a public vote

  22. Comparing the House and the Senate • Senators have a much longer term • Entire House is elected at once, while only 1/3 of Senate is chosen at a time • House members appeal to one small district, Senators appeal to entire state

  23. The Big Question? WHY???

  24. Founding Fathers’ Intent • The Founding Fathers wanted to have one house that would quickly respond to the desires of the public (House of Reps) • And one house that would be moderate, and stop any crazy nonsense the House would try (Senate)

  25. Demographics of Congress • Congress is not at all demographically representative of the U.S. population • For example…

  26. U.S. Males – 49% Females – 51% Congress Males – 86% Females – 14% Demographics of Congress

  27. U.S. White – 75% Black – 12% Hispanic – 13% Asian – 4% Native – 1% *Many people qualify as more than 1 race Congress White – 87% Black – 7% Hispanic – 4% Asian – 1% Native – 0.6% Demographics of Congress

  28. U.S. Millionaires – 0.7% Non-Millionaires – 99.3% Congress Millionaires – 29% Non-Millionaires – 71% Demographics of Congress

More Related