The document provides an overview of the US Congress and how it works: 1) Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Bills must pass both chambers to become law. Most of the legislators' time is spent in committees that review bills and conduct oversight. 2) Powerful committees like Appropriations and Rules in the House and Judiciary in the Senate influence the legislative agenda. Committee chairs control the schedule and hearings. 3) The document reviews the lawmaking process, including the roles of committees, floor votes, conferences to resolve differences, and the president signing or vetoing the bill. It also discusses representation in Congress.

1. DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY & YESTERDAY 1) Write: Date: 04/29/11 , Topic: Congress 2) Next line, write “ Opener #51 ” and then: 1) Write 1 high + 1 low in last 24 hours 2) Rate your understanding of yesterday: lost < 1-5 > too easy (3 is perfect) 3) Respond to the Opening Clip by writing at least 1 sentences about : Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND Summary of the clip OR/AND Announcements: None

7. Agenda 1) Congress Introduction What you will be able to do: 1) Know how Congress works for you Reminder 1) Complete Podcast by Monday

8. 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.

10. Review 4) republican Govt (little r) : Const. promises gov by representatives (not direct) 5) Bicameral Legislature : US legislature divided into 2 independent parts: House of Representatives (elected) and Senate (initially state appointed, 1913 : now elected)

11. Notes #50a , Title: “ Congress Notes ” 1) How a Bill Becomes a Law 1) Committee votes: 1/2+ 2) Floor votes: 1/2+ (If a Senate filibuster, 60+ to stop filibuster, 60 is key !) 3) Other chamber: (H or S) 4) Conference Comm: Work out any differences, then both H+S vote again (1/2+) 5) Pres Signs or Override Veto: 2/3 H+S to override

12. 2) Purpose of Legislature : a) Create laws (legislate) b) Conduct investigations/research (hearings) c) Help citizens with US gov (casework) 3) House of Reps (435/Honda) : Local US rep, serve 2 yr term/no limits. Tends to be more extremist (less power, driven by rules) 4) Senate (100/Boxer+Feinsten) : State US rep, serve 6 yr term/no limit. Tends to be more moderate (more power, easier to edit bills=$$$) http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/freshman.year/

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

15. Sunnyvale Population: 132,109

16. Journ. #50a , “ 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: 1 Chamber by Pop| (only go by population) 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 that give each state 2) 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

17. 34 Dem HoR 19 GOP HoR 53: HoR Seats

18. HoR 08-10- DEM: 258, GOP: 177 10-12- DEM: 195, GOP: 240

20. KEY PARTS OF THE HOUSE BILL (HR 3962) Creates a public health insurance option and the Secretary of Health and Human Services would negotiate rates with doctors. Mandates for individuals to purchase and businesses to provide health insurance or pay a fine. Individual penalty is 2.5 percent of gross income. Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition. There are caps on annual out of pocket spending at $5000. Allows individuals up to 27-years-old to stay on their parent’s health insurance Expands Medicaid from 100 percent to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. As amended, it prohibits federal funds from covering abortions. Women would need to purchase riders to insurance purchased on the exchange if they wanted that coverage. The bill taxes individuals making more than $500,000 and $1 million for couples. It is a 5.4 percent tax.

22. Senate 08-10- DEM: 58, IND: 2 (Liberal), GOP: 38 10-12- DEM: 51, IND: 2 (Liberal), GOP: 47

23. Journ. #51a , “ 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 mixed control congress (no party in comp. power) 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

24. Journal #50b , Title “ Video: ” 1) Copy Source Title: A 2…) Discuss questions on the board with a partner. Summarize your discussion ( include their name at the end ). Remember participation points are deducted if off task. 5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Journal Sections Time Bookmark: 00:00

25. Notes #51a , Title: “ Congress Notes ” 1) Committee: Small groups with in H+S, for efficiency + experience (majority apponts chairperson who controls com. bill+ hearing schedule) Most Powerful Committees: H: Ways and Means (taxes) H: Rules (all bills go to rules) H+S: Appropriations (spend) Your party leaders chose your committees

29. 2) Committee Work : Most of H + S time is spent their committees ( ask your rep to testify ). 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 ! c) Your Party : Chooses which comm. you are on d) 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

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

33. Diane Feinstein’s Committees (Former SF Mayor) Appropriations Judiciary Barbara Boxer’s Committees (Career Politician) Commerce+Science Environment*, Foreign Relations Ethics* Mike Honda’s Committees (Sunnyvale HS Teacher) Appropriations *Chair of that committee

34. Review How a Bill Becomes a Law 1) Committee votes: 1/2+ 2) Floor votes: 1/2+ (If a Senate filibuster, 60+ to stop filibuster, 60 is key !) 3) Other chamber: (H or S) 4) Conference Comm: Work out any differences, then both H+S vote again (1/2+) 5) Pres Signs or Override Veto: 2/3 H+S to override

37. Journal #51b , Title “ Video: ” 1) Copy Source Title: A 2…) Discuss questions on the board with a partner. Summarize your discussion ( include their name at the end ). Remember participation points are deducted if off task. 5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Journal Sections Time Bookmark: 00:00

38. Homework: 1) Study today’s notes + journal sections for a possible journal quiz . 2) Pick and listen to your 4 news podcast by next Monday. Journal Check: If your name is called, drop off your journal with Mr. Chiang ( if requested, points lost if your journal is not turned in )