Unit 4: Congress 2

Question 1

Congress is established by Article 1 of the Constitution - The Legislative branch

Answer 1

• The US Congress is bicameral-2 houses. House of Representatives and the Senate
• Felt as though Congress would be the most powerful in the Government
• The Senate has 2 members per State (purpose to have the states have a say in what was happening in the Government) ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO have a place for the State government to have a say in passing and not passing laws

Question 2

Why does the United States have a bicameral legislature?

3 reasons

Answer 2

1. British Parliament: We’ve always had a bicameral legislature the people who wrote the Constitution grew up British
2. Settle Conflict: Nj v. Virginia Plans leading to the Great Compromise where they BOTH agreed to a bicameral legislature
3. Check on it’s own power (having two houses means there’s a really strong check and balance on Congress, built into Congress

Question 3

How Congress Meets

3 things

Answer 3

• Session: Period of time during the year Congress meets (seperated into semesters)
• Adjourn: Suspend. Congress adjourns at the end of each session. Both houses must agree
• Special Session: A meeting called by the President to discuss urgent matters with Congress when they are in recess (adjourned) (requiring Congress to come in to work NO MATTER WHAT)

Question 4

House of Representatives Qualifications

Members, Term Length, Age Requirement, Citizenship, Location

Answer 4

• Members: 435
• Term Length: 2
• Age Requirement: 25
• Citizenship: 7 years
• Location: Live in the State from which he or she is elected

Question 5

Senate Qualifications

Members, Term Length, Age Requirement, Citizenship, Location

Answer 5

• Members: 100 (2 per state)
• Term Length: 6 years
• Age Requirement: 30
• Citizenship: 9 years
• Location: Live in the State from which he or she is represented

Question 6

Informal Qualifications of memebrs of the House (something voters expect)

3 things

Answer 6

• Party identification: peope vote for those in their own party
• Political experience: some look for those who are most experienced, or new people who can bring change
• Personal characteristics: Voting for people based on appearance, height, personality, etc.

Question 7

House Elections

Answer 7

• Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even numbered years
• Off-year elections: often called Mid-term elections. Held two years after a presidential election
• Party which holds the Presidency usually loses seats in Congress. Why?
• Because they crave balance and want a majority of same party seats as possible