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What I Learned Section 1 -- Answer
the Following Questions: Delegates came from twelve of the thirteen states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Did you know Rhode Island did not send any delegates? The Articles of Confederation was ratified in 1781, and provided for a weak and ineffective central government. The delegates met in 1787, to draft a new plan establishing a stronger federal government. After four months of discussing and compromising, the Constitution of the United States was written. 2. How many branches
of government are established in the Constitution of the United
States? 3. True or False: The
Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. During the Constitutional Convention, delegates from large states wanted the population to determine the numbers of members of Congress, and delegates from small states wanted each state to have the same number of members. Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth (both from Connecticut), suggested an idea to balance the interests of the large and small states. The House of Representatives would be elected according to population. This pleased the large states because the large states would have more representatives. The Senate would be made up of two Senators from each state. This pleased the small states because each state would have the same number of Senators. This compromise is known as the Great Compromise. 4. True or False: Every
bill the Congress passes becomes law. First, a bill must pass both houses of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). Then the bill goes to the president. Once on the president's desk, there are several ways a bill becomes law or gets vetoed:
If the president vetoes a bill, the bill can still become law if both houses of Congress pass the bill by a two-thirds majority. This is known as "overriding a veto." Did you know veto means to reject? The Supreme Court can undo any law passed by the Congress by declaring it unconstitutional. Congress can then pass another version of the law. 5. How many members
are in the House of Representatives? The seats of the House of Representatives are based on population, and the larger states have more members in the House of Representatives then smaller states. Every ten years, the U.S. government takes the national census which counts the number of people living in the country. The census numbers determine how many representatives each state will have. California is the most populated state, and therefore, has the most members. California has fifty-two members. Each state has at least one member. Did you know Alaska, Delaware, Montana, and Vermont only have one member? Members of the House of Representatives are elected to a two-year term by the constituents in their district. The Constitution of the United States requires a representative to:
There is no requirement the representatives live in the actual district in which they represent. The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. In 2002, the Speaker is Denny Hastert, a Republican from Illinois. Hastert was chosen from members of the Republican party and elected by the House. Did you know the Speaker of the House is the second in order (after the vice president) of succession to the President of the United States? 6. How many senators
are in the Senate? Senators are elected to a six-year term by the constituents in their states. Every two years, one-third of the senate seats are up for re-election. The Constitution of the United States requires a senator to:
The Senate confirms members of the president's Cabinet and federal judges. For example, when the president nominates a person for the U.S. Supreme Court, the Senate must confirm that person by a majority vote. The nominee is referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to be interviewed and investigated. The Judiciary Committee first votes, and then the entire Senate votes on this person. If the Senate votes in favor of this person, he or she becomes a Supreme Court Justice. If the Senate votes against this person, then the president nominates another person. This is an example of "checks and balances." The Senate also ratifies (or accepts) treaties. Treaties are agreements the president makes with other countries. The Senate must approve treaties by a two-thirds majority. This is another example of "checks and balances." What I Learned Section 2 -- Define the
following words: Citizen: Person entitled to full legal rights and privileges Federal: Nationwide Majority: The larger group Minority: The smaller group Population: The number of people living in an area Bonus Questions (Answer 1 of the
Following Questions for Your FREE
Bookmark): The Constitution of the United States is made up of seven Articles. The first three Articles describe the three branches of government. Article I describes the legislative branch. It consists of the U.S. Congress which contains both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Article II describes the executive branch. It consists of the President and Vice President. Article III describes the judicial branch. It consists of the U.S. Supreme Court. b. Describe how the
Congress works. Congress makes laws for the United States. Its laws tax and spend, regulate trade, and declare war. Congress also decides which states will be admitted to the Union. Did you know Hawaii became the fiftieth state in 1959? The party with the greatest number of representatives in each chamber is called the majority party and controls that chamber. The other party is called the minority party. For example, in 2002, the Republicans are the majority party in the House of Representatives, and the Democrats are the majority party in the Senate. Congress has committees which hold congressional hearings to study problems and new ideas. Members of the majority party are chosen as the chairpersons of these committees. Some committees are permanent, and others are set up to discuss a particular bill. When a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, it is referred to a committee to hold hearings and have further discussions. For example, a bill regarding health care, may be referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Some of the committees in the House of Representatives include:
Some of the committees in the Senate include:
c. What is the Congressional
Record? d. Name the two largest
political parties in the United States. In 2002, the Republican party controls the House of Representatives, and the Democratic party controls the Senate. Each party chooses its own leaders. The leaders schedule and control the discussion of different bills. In the House of Representatives, Republican Denny Hastert is the Speaker of the House, Republican Dick Armey is the Majority Leader, and Democrat Richard Gephardt is the Minority Leader. In the Senate, Democrat Thomas Daschle is the Majority Leader, and Republican Trent Lott is the Minority Leader. e. Have you contacted
your Representative or Senator? You can address you letters:
f. What is a Congressional
Page? You can also work as an intern for a Representative or Senator. g. Use five of the words
in Section 2 in a sentence.
h. Have a parent or friend give you a spelling test with EACH of the words in Section 2. More Valuable Information about the
U.S. Congress:
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Congress (True Books, Government)
If the president signs the bill, it becomes law.
