Congress Unit - Terms and Concepts

Incumbents (why are they often reelected?)
     franking priveleges, name recognition, districts remain the same
Terms of office
     (Pres =4, Rep = 2, senator = 6)
Congressional districts ( census, gerrymandering, equal vs. proportional)
Gerrymandering
Bicameral
*Expressed vs Implied Power
     Know the chart on page 159Necessary and Proper Clause = Elastic Clause (article 1 section 8 clause 18)
Steps in how a bill becomes a law
     Introduced and given a number
     Assigned a committee
     debated by the entire chamber and voted on
     (goes to other chamber)
     conference committee (one bill goes to President)
     signed or vetoed by the president
         *Identify where and when a filibuster/ house rule can be used to kill a bill
quorum
caucus
censure
filibuster
cloture
Party leaders, whips (make sure party members vote for key legislation)
Types of committees (standing, select, conference) 
     *list on page 143
     Rules committee in the House
     Foreign Relations in the Senate
authorization bill (pg. 191)
appropriation bill
entitlements (pg 192)

Short Answer ?s

The names of (2) of our national legislators (of which we are constituents), one committee he is on, and one piece of legislation from that committee.

The written paragraph on "How does the Tea Party feel about the elastic clause"  paragraphs on:
     Regulate Interstate Commerce
     Raise and Support an Army
     Immigration and Naturalization
     Debt Ceiling

Should Congressional Members Have Term Limits?

Read through the lists of Pros and Cons at the following website: Balanced Politics

         *feel free to check other sites

What do you think about the argument: "We already have term limits, they're called elections"

Think about:
    Reelection rates
    Committee membership (powerful positions in Congress amongst peers)
    what (if any) advantages incumbents have during campaigns / elections

1 paragraph arguing for or against term limits

Gerrymandering

Read the following Articles:

Best Explanation on Gerrymandering

America's most gerrymandered districts

The Census, Reapportionment, and Redistricting

Read the following article: MD 3rd District

Using the information in the article, write a paragraph analyzing the political cartoon that follows (bottom image)

*Upper image is an example of a congressional district in Chicago

     A) Identify the Political Issue the Cartoon is dealing with
     B) Reference the article (Gerrymander Meander) in your analysis of the cartoon
     C) Include in your paragraph the terms (census, reapportionment, redistricting) and demonstrate an understanding of these concepts in your paragraph and analysis of the cartoon.

Amendment process

Use the chart on page 77 and the map at this LINK to explain the ratification of the 19th amendment

Articles, Branches, and Checks and Balances

Open the following document using notability Checks and Balances Template

Read Chapter 3 section 1

Read and take notes on Chapter 3 section 1 paying careful attention to the Articles and vocabulary.

Federalists vs Anti-federalists

Before the Constitution was ratified, many Americans needed reassuring that the new institutions outlined in the constitution were not going to reverse the progress made by the revolution.

Read: Ratifying the Constitution (pg. 56-57)
     - Create a T-chart with Federalist's on one side and Anti-federalists on the other
    -  List / differentiate between the two view points.