| Line 67: |
Line 67: |
| | Article I of the U.S. Constitution defines and limits the powers of Congress. | | Article I of the U.S. Constitution defines and limits the powers of Congress. |
| | | | |
| − | Congress has two entities: the [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]]. Each "chamber" (House and Senate) is run by its own set of rules. | + | Congress has two entities: the [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]]. Each "chamber" (House and Senate) is run by its own set of rules. |
| | + | |
| | + | All congressmen are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years, and if there is a vacancy mid-term then there is usually a special election held soon afterward to fill it. One-third of the Senate is elected on the same Election Day used for electing congressmen. |
| | + | |
| | + | The newly elected congressmen and Senators then take office about two months after Election Day, near the beginning of January. |
| | | | |
| | === House of Representatives === | | === House of Representatives === |
| Line 198: |
Line 202: |
| | <br>10. The constitutionality of "ObamaCare" was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2012 based on which clause(s)? Discuss. | | <br>10. The constitutionality of "ObamaCare" was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2012 based on which clause(s)? Discuss. |
| | <br>11. Draft a new law that Congress would have the power to pass to give additional protection to homeschooling. | | <br>11. Draft a new law that Congress would have the power to pass to give additional protection to homeschooling. |
| − | <br>12. Which party controls the House of Representatives today, and by what margin (approximation is fine)? E.g., is it controlled by Democrats by a 235-200 margin? | + | <br>12. Which party controls the House of Representatives today, and by what margin (approximation is fine)? E.g., is it controlled by Democrats by a 235-200 margin? What do you think the margin will be in January 2013? |
| | | | |
| | You can post your answers at [[American Government Homework Two]]. | | You can post your answers at [[American Government Homework Two]]. |
| | | | |
| | [[Category:American Government lectures]] | | [[Category:American Government lectures]] |