DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY & YESTERDAY1) Write: Date: 04/29/11, Topic: Congress2) Next line, write “Opener #51” and then:

1) Write 1 high+1 low in last 24 hours2) 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/ANDQuestions sparked by the clip OR/ANDSummary of the clip OR/ANDAnnouncements: None

Agenda1) Congress Introduction

What you will be able to do:1) Know how Congress works for you

Reminder1) Complete Podcast by Monday

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.

Review4) 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)

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

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/

SENATE

WHITE HOUSE

HOUSE OF REPS

SUPREME COURT OUT BACK

Sunnyvale Population: 132,109

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 down2) 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

34 Dem HoR19 GOP HoR 53: HoR Seats

HoR08-10- DEM: 258, GOP: 17710-12- DEM: 195, GOP: 240

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.

Senate 08-10- DEM: 58, IND: 2 (Liberal), GOP: 3810-12- DEM: 51, IND: 2 (Liberal), GOP: 47

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 DEM1) Terrorism, economic crisis, global warming, we need a “can do” gov

2) Parties just waste time fighting on petty issues

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 SectionsTime Bookmark: 00:00

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

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 ond) Committee Chairman: Controls

com. schedule + what investigations are called

Committee on Agriculture Committee on AppropriationsCommittee on Armed Services Committee on the BudgetCommittee on Education and Labor Committee on Energy and CommerceCommittee on Financial Services Committee on Foreign AffairsCommittee on Homeland Security Committee on the JudiciaryCommittee on Rules Committee on Science and

Technology

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

Diane Feinstein’s Committees(Former SF Mayor)AppropriationsJudiciary

Barbara Boxer’s Committees(Career Politician)Commerce+ScienceEnvironment*, Foreign RelationsEthics*

Mike Honda’s Committees(Sunnyvale HS Teacher)Appropriations

*Chair of that committee

ReviewHow 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

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 SectionsTime Bookmark: 00:00

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)