Chapter 12: Congress

Study Plan

In this chapter, we will:

• examine the concept of representation. We will also look at how members of Congress act on behalf of their constituents and how the electoral process affects the relationship between Congress and the people.
• discuss the legislative process. We will study the building blocks of congressional organization, including political parties, the committee system, congressional staff, and caucuses. We then turn to the rules of congressional procedure, through which laws are formulated.
• explore congressional decision making, examining the influences on the legislation that Congress produces. The complex legislative process is subject to a variety of influences from inside and outside government, including constituencies, interest groups, and party leaders.
• turn to other powers that allow Congress to influence the process of government. In addition to the power to make law, Congress has an array of instruments to use in its relationship with the president and the executive branch.

As you work through the below assignments, don't forget to generate a Progress Report. Fill out the sections you have completed and send a copy to your email account.

Organize

1. Follow this Study Plan to access your chapter assignments.
2. Print out the Chapter Outline and bring it to lecture to help structure your note-taking and check-off topics covered in class.
3. Access Quiz+! The results of this chapter quiz create a Custom Study Plan that links you directly to materials that will assist your pre-exam review.

Learn

1. Read Chapter 12 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Read the Chapter Review of Chapter 12. Note any material you have difficulty remembering from the text.
3. Master the key terms for this chapter by working through the deck of Flashcards.

Connect

1. Explore the Interactive Politics Simulation and the questions that follow.
2. Complete the You Decide Exercise after reading the Policy Debate box in Chapter 12 of your textbook or ebook.
3. Answer the Questions for Discussion and Thought and articulate your own point of view on the chapter's material.
4. Complete the What Government Does Exercises to understand the structure of American government and how it affects your life in a direct way.
5. Complete the Get Involved Exercise to see how you can use what you have learned in this chapter to effect change in politics and policy.
6. Watch the Video Exercises for this chapter and answer the accompanying questions.
7. Mobilize for political action with Mobilize.org!

Links

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