Assignment

1. The Congress – Requirements to be a member of the House, requirements to be a member of the Senate.

2. Different methods of selection to the House and the Senate

3. Different purposes of the Senate and House as reflected in the hot tea (or coffee) – cold splash of cream (or milk) metaphor.

4. Different responsibilities of the House and Senate – Who impeaches? Who conducts impeachment trials? Who confirms presidential appointments? Ratifies treaties? Initiates bills for taxation?

5. Committee system in both houses of Congress.

6. Importance of party control in both Houses of Congress.

7. The leadership in both houses of congress from Speaker to President pro tempore, to majority and minority leaders, whips, and committee chairs.

8. Major powers of Congress as found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution – including (but not limited to), power to tax, provide for a national defense, coin currency, regulate interstate commerce, international commerce, bankruptcy, post offices, declare war.

9. Process of a bill becoming a law – committees, amendments, debate on the floor, rules committee (and its function in the House of Representatives) Conference Committee and presidential veto

10. Debates surrounding the creation of the presidency – committee or single person? How Chosen? Eligible to serve more than once? Powers and duties and responsibilities of the president. `

11. Electoral College – its reasons for existence, and what the alternatives might have been to choosing a president.