Unit 4: Congress

US Congress

17th Amendment

Required voters to select Senators

Continuous body

Not all members of a governing body are up for election at the same time

Senator Qualifications

1. 30 years of Age
2. Resident of state they serve
3. Citizen

THOR Qualifications

1. 25 years of Age
2. Resident of state they serve
3. Citizen

THOR/Senate Similarities

1. Make/Create Laws
2. Resident & Citizenship Requirements
3. Unlimited Terms

THOR/Senate Differences

1. Number of Members
2. Length of Terms
3. Number of People the Represent
4. Election Format

Term

Duration in years of an office

THOR

The House of Representatives. Elected to represent a district of a state. Based on population (435 total)

Senator

2 representatives elected to represent and entire state (100 total)

Function (Job) of Congress

Create/Make laws

Bicameralism

Format of a governing body having 2 chambers (houses)

Checks & Balances

System that limits one groups power over another

Federalism

State & National Government working together

Session

The time in which congress is scheduled to work

recess

The time in which congress is scheduled to not work

Apportion(ment)

distribution of representation evenly (usually based on population)

reapportion(ment)

Redistributing of representatives after district lines have been redrawn.

Off-year election

Midterm Election, election that doesn’t involve electing a president

At Large system

A system where a whole state selects someone to represent them

Single district voting

A system where only members of a district vote for a candidate from that district.

Gerrymander(ing)

Manipulating (changing) district lines to change the outcome of a vote

Michigan US Senator (2001)

Debbie Stabenow

Michigan US Senator (2015)

Gary Peters

6th District of Michigan Representative

Fred Upton