1. Good Day! DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY & YESTERDAY 1) Write: Date: 11/09/09 , Topic: Congress 2) On the next line, write “ Opener #40 ” and then: 1) Plot your mood, reflect in 1 sent . 2) Respond to the opener by writing at least 2 sentences about : Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND Summary of the clip OR/AND Other things going on in the news. Announcements: None Intro Music: Untitled

2. Agenda 1) Congress Introduction What you will be able to do: 1) Know how Congress works for you Reminder 1) No HW

3. Review 1) Legislative Branch : Research laws, creates laws, and investigates if laws are being carried out by the executive branch 2) Executive Branch : President overseas the bureaucracy in executing the laws of Congress 3) Judicial Branch : Interprets the constitutional and laws for the country when people disagree to their interpretation.

5. Notes #40a , Title: “ Congress Intro Notes ” 1) republican Govt (little r) : Method of gov by representatives 2) Bicameral Legislature : US legislature divided into 2 independent parts: House of Representatives (elected) and Senate (initially state appointed, 1913: now elected)

6. 3) Purpose of Legislature : a) Create laws (legislate, tax bills orig in House) b) Conduct investigations (hearings) c) Help citizens with US gov (case work) 4) House of Reps (435/Honda) : Local US rep, serve 2 yr term/no limits. Tends to be more extremist (less intimate + more extreme voters) 5) Senate (100/Boxer+Feinsten) : State US rep, serve 6 yr term/no limit. Tends to be more moderate (more intimate + broader voters) http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/freshman.year/

8. SENATE  WHITE HOUSE HOUSE OF REPS SUPREME COURT OUT BACK

9. Work #40a , “ Bicameral Debate ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: 2 Too Slow 1) 2 chambers means a bill has to go through 2 places, slowing things down 2) Senate is a waste, why should a small state have 2 senators like a big state PRO: 2 Chambers Good 1) 2 chambers allows to separate eyes to look at any bill 2) 2 chambers allows small states to have more power in 1 chamber, and big states in another

10. 34 Dem HoR 19 GOP HoR 53: HoR Seats

11. HoR DEM: 258, GOP: 177

15. Senate DEM: 58, IND: 2 (Liberal), GOP: 40

16. Work #40a , “ Divided Gov Debate ” 1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write which you choose and explain why . 2) Then write down what your partner thinks ( include their name at the end ). 1 2 3 4 5 CON: Good to have 1 party control congress, another the presidency 1) We need a gov with checks against waste and abuse, parties do that 2) Parties bring different ideas to gov PRO: We need unified gov, all GOP or all DEM 1) Terrorism, economic crisis, global warming, we need a can do gov 2) Parties just waste time fighting on petty issues

17. Notes #40b , Title: “ Congress Notes ” 6) Committee: Small groups with in H + S, for efficiency + experience . 1) Committee votes: 1/2+ 2) Floor votes: 1/2+ (If a Senate filibuster, 60+ for S) 3) Other chamber: (H or S) 4) Conference Comm: Works out differences, then both floors vote again (1/2+) 5) Pres Signs or Override Veto: 2/3 H + S

18. Notes #40b , Title: “ Congress Notes ” 6) Committee: Small groups with in H + S, for efficiency + experience . 1) Committee votes: 1/2+ 2) Floor votes: 1/2+ (If a Senate filibuster, 60+ for S) 3) Other chamber: (H or S) 4) Conference Comm: Works out differences, then both floors vote again (1/2+) 5) Pres Signs or Override Veto: 2/3 H + S

20. 7) Committee Work : Most of H + S time is spent their committees ( public, you can go watch ). a) Role of Committees : To research a bill ( hearings ) + to edit bills ( mark up ). b) Power of Committees : If a com. doesn’t like the bill (less than 1/2 of com), bill is DEAD ! 8) Committee Chairman : Usually most senior member of the com. from majority party a) Role of Chairman : Leadership + efficiency b) Power of Committee Chairman : Controls com. schedule + what investigations are called Committee on Agriculture Committee on Appropriations Committee on Armed Services Committee on the Budget Committee on Education and Labor Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Financial Services Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Homeland Security Committee on the Judiciary Committee on Rules Committee on Science and Technology

22. 9) Most Powerful Committees: a) Rules Committee : Rules committee last place all H bills go b4 floor vote. Rules sets the rules on floor debate ( how long to talk, what changes can be made ). Rules can delay or kill any bill. Only HoR has Rules C b) Appropriations Committee : All bills that cost money will pass through this com. HoR + Senate both have App Com

24. 10) Hearings: Committees calls experts to testify on a proposed bill OR if current law is being enforced (testimony is under oath)

26. Homework: 1) Study today’s notes + work sections for a possible workbook quiz .