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ROSS, CHAPTERS 5,6 AND PAGES 197-200: LEGISLATORS—CONGRESS, STATE, OTHERS (22)

PART A: STRUCTURE, MEMBERSHIP, TERMS OF OFFICE, AREAS SERVED BY MEMBERS (PAGE 838F)

The branch of the government of the United States that makes laws is separated into two houses, also called chambers. One house is called the United States Senate and its members are called U.S. Senators. The other house is called the United States House of Representatives and its members are called Representatives, Congressmen, Congresswomen, or Congresspersons. Together these two houses are known as the United States Congress, or more often just Congress.

There are 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate, two from each of the fifty states in the United States. U.S. Senators are elected to six year terms and serve the entire state from which they are elected. Each resident of a state is represented by two U.S. Senators.

There are 435 Congresspeople in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is at least one Congressperson elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from each state, but states with large populations, like California, have many more. Each member of the House of Representatives is elected to a two year term and represents one Congressional District (CD). Each resident of a state is represented by one member of the House of Representatives.

Every resident of every state in the United States is represented in the U.S. Congress by three people; two U.S. Senators and one member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Questions, A

A1. What are the two houses of the U.S. Congress?

A2. What are members of the U.S. Senate called?

A3. What are members of the U.S. House of Representatives called?

A4. How many U.S. Senators are there?

A5. How many members of the U.S. House of Representatives are there?

A6. How long is the term of U.S. Senators?

A7. How long is the term of members of the U.S. House of Representatives?

A8. How many U.S. Senators are elected from each state?

A9. What is the minimum number of U.S. Congresspersons elected from each state?

A10.What area does a U.S. Senator serve?

A11.What area does a U.S. Representative serve?

A12.How many people represent you in the U.S. Senate?

A13.How many people represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives?

A14.How many people serve in the U.S. Congress?

A15.Every person in every state in the U.S. lives in one _____________ ________, represented by one member.

PART B: POWERS OF CONGRESS (PAGE 838F)

POWERS OF CONGRESS (BOTH HOUSES)

1.Pass bills that are sent to the president

2.DECLARE WAR

3.Propose constitutional amendments that are sent to the states

4.Provide services to constituents who request them [casework]

POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONLY

1.Begin tax bills

2.Begin spending bills

3.Impeach the President, federal judges and justices

POWERS OF THE US SENATE ONLY

1.Confirm Presidential appointments

2.Ratify treaties

3.Try impeached President, federal judges and justices

QUESTIONS, B

B1. Who declares war?

B2 .Who begins tax bills?

B3. Which of Congress’ two houses impeaches Presidents, federal judges and justices?

B4. Who tries Presidents, federal judges, and justices after they have been impeached?

B5. Does the President of the United States have the power to declare war?

B6. Who confirms presidential appointments?

B7. Who passes bills that are then sent to the President?

B8. Who begins spending bills?

B9. Has a President of the United States ever declared war on another country?

B10.Which house of Congress tried and acquitted William Jefferson Clinton in Washington D.C.?

B11.Which house of Congress successfully impeached William Jefferson Clinton?

B12.Which house of Congress can propose constitutional amendments?

B13.Which house provides services to constituents who request them?