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The people that created the Constitution wanted the lawmaking role to be in the hands of a representative body. They considered Congress, the collective name for the Senate and House of Representatives, to be the primary maker of national policy. John Boehner is currently the Speaker of the House for the House of Representatives. The House Speaker is both the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and  the leader of the majority party. Their responsibilities include to seek and maintain party unity and discipline, to decide the outcome of voice votes and announce the results of recorded votes, and to plan and implement the legislative agenda of the House. Other than to succeed to the presidency upon the death or resignation of a president, a vice president's only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate. This is currently the job of Joe Biden. He acts as the official spokesperson for the Senate, appoints committee chairs and members, refer bills to committee, and signs legislation, writs and warrants.

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What is the main responsibility of Congress? (2)

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What is the main responsibility of Congress? (2)

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The most important responsibility of Congress is making the laws of the United States. Congress can also declare war and raise and provide public money. The two houses have an equal voice in legislation, but revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives also imposes taxes and has the ability to impeach the president. The Senate must approve treaties with other nations. The Senate acts as the jury in impeachment cases and to be removed from office, the impeached officer must be convicted by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

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What are the qualifications to become a Representative and Senator? (3)

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What are the qualifications to become a Representative and Senator? (3)

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Representative:

A member of the House of Reperesentatives must be at least 25 years old, they must have been an American citizen for itleast 7 years, and he or she must live in the state they wish to represent.

Senator:

A Senate member must be atleast 30 years old, they must have been a American citizen for itleast 9 years, and he or she must live in the state they wish to represent.

Source: Government alive! textbook

Picture: Senate and House seals

http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/Senate-House%20seals_2.JPG

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How are the members of Congress selected? (4)

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How are the members of Congress selected? (4)

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Representative:

Members of the House are elected by the people every two years. The number of representatives per state is determinded by the states population. A Cencus is taken every 10 years to determin the correct ammount of people per state to determine the number of Representatives per state.

Senator:

Members of the Senate are elected by the people every 2 years. Senators serve 6 year terms. One third of the Senate is reelected every two years to ensure a continuity of Senators.

Source: Government alive! textbook

Picture: House of Representatives

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Obama_Health_Care_Speech_to_Joint_Session_of_Congress.jpg

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Describe the impeachment process. Explain who has the power to do what. (5) 

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Describe the impeachment process. Explain who has the power to do what. (5) 

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In the House:

1. A member of the Judiciary Committee may introduce a bill of impeachment.

2. The Judiciary Committee will vote and state whether or not there is enough evidence for impeachment.

3. The House will then vote to state whether there should be a hearing.

4. The Judiciary holds a hearing.

5. The Committee votes on one or more issues and reports it to the House.

6. The House votes on the bill of impeachment. A major decides whether to bring the case to the Senate. The House can overturn the Judiciary Committee.

In the Senate:

1. The Senate holds the jury for the House Judiciary Committee against the President who is defended by his own lawyers. The Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides over the trial.

2. If two/thirds of the votes are from the Senate, then the president is removed from office.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/impeachment/

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Follow the flow chart to follow how a bill becomes a law!

http://cdn1.kidsdiscover.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/How-a-Bill-becomes-a-Law-Kids-Discover.jpg

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What are the powers of Congress? What role does the Elastic Clause play? (7)

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What are the powers of Congress? What role does the Elastic Clause play? (7)

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Powers of Congress-

1. To give and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and exercises to pay debts

2. To borrow money

3. To regulate foreign trade and interstate commerce

4. To regulate how an immigrant becomes a citizen and controls bankruptcy laws

5. To establish the national currency

6. Provides punishment for counterfeiting or the making of imitation money

7. To set up the mail system

8. To pass copyright and patent laws

9. To create a federal court system

10. To punish crimes at sea

11. To declare war

12. Raising an army

13. Maintaining a navy

14. Regulating armed forces

15. Calling up the militia

16 Regulating the militia

17. Controls federal property

Elastic Clause-

Gives congress the power and flexibility to pass "unspecified laws"

source: Government alive! textbook Picture Source- http://www.docstoc.com/docs/93494701/Elastic-Clause

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How is the power of Congress limited? What are they restricted from doing? (8)

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How is the power of Congress limited? What are they restricted from doing? (8)

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1. May not suspend the Habeas Corpus, which gives prisoners the right to challenge their imprisonment in court.

2. Congress cannot pass a law declaring a person or group guilty of a crime, or a law making an act illegal after it has been committed.

3. Congress is prohibited to tax individual income.

4. Prohibited from taxing exported goods,

5. Must ensure free trade between the states.

6. Cannot spend public money unless a law has passed to allow it.a87OY6G

Source: Government Alive! textbook

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States cannot exercise powers that are given to Congress or the President. This includes negotiating with foreign nations.

Source: Government alive! textbook Picture Source- http://aclpo.wordpress.com/core-issues/limited-government/

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What significant changes have been made to Article 1? (10)

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What significant changes have been made to Article 1? (10)

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Article 1 has had multiple amendments added to it. For instance, in Section 2 Clause 3, the total number of Representatives is now fixed at 435. This clause was also rendered meaningless by the Thirteenth Amendment, which ended slavery. In Section 3 Clause 1, the election of the senators used to be chosen by the Legislature, but now it’s chosen by a direct election. In order to ensure the continuity of the Senate, Clause 2 states that the senators run for reelection every two years. In Section 4 Clause 2, it states that Congress is required to meet at least once a year. The Twentieth Amendment moved the opening day of Congress to January 3. Section 9 Clause 1 was completely removed because slave trade was outlawed. Clause 4 was also removed because it prohibited direct taxes on individuals which was voided by the Sixteenth Amendment.