Congress Structure & Organization
What is the term for the division of Congress into two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives?
Bicameral Legislature
Name one major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate in terms of term length.
House members serve two-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms.
What are the qualifications for election to the House of Representatives in terms of age, citizenship, and residency?
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and legal residents of their state.
How has the Internet changed the way congressional candidates interact with voters and conduct campaigns?
Candidates use websites and social media for campaigning, reaching a broader audience, and interacting with voters more effectively.
What is the name of the first main part of the Constitution that describes the powers and organization of Congress?
Another way to word this question....The Constitution is divided into ______; ______ describes the Organization of Congress.
Article I
What is the term for the process of drawing boundaries for congressional districts after reapportionment?
Redistricting
What are the qualifications for becoming a Senator, including age, citizenship, and residency requirements?
Senators must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least nine years before the election, and legal residents of the state they represent.
How does technology positively impact members of Congress in being re-elected?
Members of Congress are more recognizable to voters because they are often seen on television, in news stories, and at public events. This recognition can lead to higher levels of trust and support from voters.
How often does the Census Bureau conduct a national census to determine the apportionment of representatives among the states?
Every 10 years
What is the term for the practice of drawing district boundaries to give one political party an electoral advantage?
Gerrymandering
What is the total number of members in the House of Representatives?
435 members
Members of Congress can heighten their chances of being re-elected by responding to real life issues. What type of issues do members of Congress need to be aware of and have a plan to solve these issues?
*Name one real-life issue and provide some details.
Answers will vary.
In Chapter 5- Lesson 1, the Supreme Court case Baker v. Carr was mentioned. What details can you provide about this court case?
Before Baker v. Carr, people in Tennessee were upset because the way voting districts were set up didn't give everyone an equal voice in choosing their state lawmakers. Some districts had a lot more people than others, which meant that some votes counted more than others.
What is the term for the failure of Congress to get critical legislative work done due to differences between the two houses?
Legislative gridlock
Just a the roof on a house is usually smaller than the base of the house; the Senate is the upper house and has a smaller amount of members than the House of Representatives, which is considered the lower house, and has a larger amount of members. One chamber or house is not necessarily more power than the other. They both have distinct powers and work together.
What is the current annual salary for most members of Congress, and what are some of the benefits and resources they receive as part of their compensation?
Since 2009, most members of Congress have earned an annual salary of $174,000. They also receive benefits such as stationery, postage, a medical clinic, a gymnasium, allowances for staff and trips, and income tax deductions for maintaining two residences.
Members of Congress can heighten their chances of being re-elected by responding to real life issues. What type of issues do members of Congress need to be aware of and have a plan to solve these issues?
*Name one real-life issue and provide some details.
Answers will vary.
In Chapter 5- Lesson 1 the Supreme Court case Shaw v. Reno was mentioned. Provide some information about this court case?
In North Carolina, lawmakers redrew their voting districts, and some people thought it was done in a way that was unfair. Some of the new districts looked really weird, and it seemed like they were drawn just to give an advantage to one political party.
What role does Congress play in formulating national policies, and what are some of the areas it deals with?
Another way to word this question...How are policies made and what type of policies are made?
Congress initiates and approves laws on various issues, including healthcare and taxation.
How is the number of senators and representatives determined?
The Constitution says that two senators will represent an entire country. There are 50 states in the United States so there are 100 senators. The number of representatives for each state is based on the population size of that state. Representatives do not represent the entire state; they represent districts within a state.
*FYI: The current law says that there can't more than 435 representatives. (This decision was made in the 1920s).
How do Senate elections work, and how do Senators' terms of office differ from those of House members?
Senators are elected statewide, serve six-year terms, and one-third of them are up for reelection every two years.
Members of Congress can heighten their chances of being re-elected by responding to real life issues. What type of issues do members of Congress need to be aware of and have a plan to solve these issues?
*Name one real-life issue and provide some details.
Answers will vary.
Why did the Founders of the United States establish a bicameral legislature in the United States, and what are some advantages of having a bicameral system over a unicameral one?
*Use the following words to answer the above question: 1) factions; 2) checks and balances 3)representation; 4)compromise 5) stability
*You will get double the points...this is a lengthy question
Answers may vary.