Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 231 views

    Entry 1: Chapter 5, Lesson 1 - Congressional Membership

    Uploaded by

    Mr ExMachine
    This document provides information about congressional membership and the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch from two sources: 1) A reading checklist that asks questions about the differences between the House and Senate and salaries/benefits of Congress members. 2) A video worksheet where a Senator discusses his view that the legislative branch should be the center of politics but has delegated authority to the executive branch and agencies. He argues each branch's proper role needs restoring per the Constitution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Entry 1: Chapter 5, Lesson 1 - Congressional Membership

    Uploaded by

    Mr ExMachine
    231 views2 pages
    This document provides information about congressional membership and the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch from two sources: 1) A reading checklist that asks questions about the differences between the House and Senate and salaries/benefits of Congress members. 2) A video worksheet where a Senator discusses his view that the legislative branch should be the center of politics but has delegated authority to the executive branch and agencies. He argues each branch's proper role needs restoring per the Constitution.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    Chapter 5 Lesson 1

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document provides information about congressional membership and the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch from two sources: 1) A reading checklist that asks questions about the differences between the House and Senate and salaries/benefits of Congress members. 2) A video worksheet where a Senator discusses his view that the legislative branch should be the center of politics but has delegated authority to the executive branch and agencies. He argues each branch's proper role needs restoring per the Constitution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    231 views2 pages

    Entry 1: Chapter 5, Lesson 1 - Congressional Membership

    Uploaded by

    Mr ExMachine
    This document provides information about congressional membership and the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch from two sources: 1) A reading checklist that asks questions about the differences between the House and Senate and salaries/benefits of Congress members. 2) A video worksheet where a Senator discusses his view that the legislative branch should be the center of politics but has delegated authority to the executive branch and agencies. He argues each branch's proper role needs restoring per the Constitution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Entry 1: Chapter 5, Lesson 1 – Congressional Membership

    As you read this chapter lesson’s Reading Essentials, you’ll encounter the following questions.
    Please answer them as you read and use this checklist to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

    ☐ What are some of the differences between the House of Representatives and the
    Senate?
    A:Senators have longer terms of office and represent their entire state. Representatives
    have shorter terms and are elected from districts. The House of Representatives is
    larger. It makes rules to limit debate and encourage majority rule. The Senate is smaller. It
    makes rules that give more power to the minority.

    ☐ What salary and benefits do current members of Congress enjoy?

    A:Most members of Congress have earned $174,000 a year. They have many benefits
    in addition to their salaries. They have medical care and their own gymnasium. They
    have large allowances to pay for staff, trips home, telephones, and newsletters. They
    receive income tax benefits for having two homes, one in their home state and one in
    the capital. They also get pensions of up to 80 percent of their salaries and have a
    401(k) plan.

    ☐ Attach your personal notes.

    ☐ Attach the table where you listed the qualifications for representatives and
    senators.

    ☐ Attach your Chapter 5 Video Worksheet – Role of the Legislature.

    C-SPAN: Senator Ben Sasse on the Role of Legislative Branch

    Answer these question as you watch.

    1. Sasse says he has 4 points. What are they?

    • The legislative branch is supposed to be the center of politics;

    • More legislative authority has been delegated to the executive branch every year;

    • The Supreme Court is increasingly a substitute political background in the U.S.;

    • The proper duties and the balance of power from the constitutional system must be
    restored.

    2. Why does he believe that the focus should be on Article 1 of the Constitution?

    He believes the focus should be on Article 1 of the Constitution because it is the one that
    determines the legislative branch’s job.

    3. What does he say about how laws are getting passed right now?

    He says that the legislative branch isn’t actually passing laws, they are simply giving permission
    for someone else to make law-like regulations.

    4. Why does he say that some of the power is given to “experts” or alphabet soup agencies?
    He says that because Congress is giving other unnamed institutions the power to make laws, so
    that they can remains neutral in controversial topics.

    5. According to his statement what are the roles of the branches?

    According to his statement, the role of Congress is to make laws, the Executive branch is
    responsible for enforcing the laws, and the Judiciary branch must apply written laws to facts in
    cases before it.

    After you complete Chapter 5 answer the following:

    6. What other facts about the Legislative Branch did you hear Senator Ben Sasse make that you
    did not notice before you read the chapter?

    I hadn’t noticed that members of Congress may sometimes have difficulties in dealing with
    technical details.

    Note: Senator Sasse talks about Schoolhouse Rock verses. Schoolhouse Rock was a TV program
    that used animation and music to teach concepts. The song he’s probably referring to is Three
    Ring Circus, referring to the three branches of government.

    You might also like