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Members of Congress Explained

Members of Congress Explained

Congress in the United States is a bicameral legislature that is broken down into the Senate and the House of Representatives. The people who are seated members of these bodies are considered to be the members of congress.

Members of congress are elected officials; U.S. congress members elected to the Senate serve 6 year terms. There are only two senators per state in the United States. The other members of Congress, the individuals who are seated in the House of Representatives are also elected by the public. These individuals are representative figures of various districts per state, in the United States.


The districts are determined by prior districts, and the population of the state and within the specific regions. The proportion of representatives in the House of Representatives matches that of the state. This is why California has had around 53 members  of congress in the House of Representatives, while some states only have 3.

U.S. Congress members can also be elected into more specialized rolls within their respective bodies. For example, a member of senate can be elected into the position of President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is the second-highest ranking official in the Senate; this individual facilitates the Senate sessions, and only has voting power in the Senate, in the instance of a tie.

U.S. Congress Members in the House of Representatives also have the chance to have a position of authority within the body; the House of Representatives coveted position is the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House is a high-authority figure, and has the ability to delegate responsibilities regarding the House procedures and discussion onto other members of congress, in the House. This individual is often one of the senior leaders, and is elected during a change in the majority party or if there is a vacancy of the seat during Congress.

Overall, U.S. Congress Members are elected officials who have sworn to uphold the constitution and protect the rights of the American public.

Congress of Industrial Organizations

Congress of Industrial Organizations

 


The Congress of Industrial organizations was an organization created in order to help influence change in the American Federation of Labor. The Congress of Industrial organizations was made up of several smaller groups, and advocated for changes regarding larger production industries, and the way they were organized. The American Federation of Labor rejected all of the demands that were requested by the CIO.

Initially, of the many congresses and unions that were around during the time of the AFL, the congress of industrial organizations was one that took on proactive and interactive roles within the various strikes and campaigns that were going on regarding industrial issues; for instance, during a larger strike at General Motors, the congress of industrial organizations worked to help alleviate tensions and settle the dispute between the employees and the company. This was one of the the initial triumphs that the congress of industrial organizations had in the 1900s.

However, of the different congresses, the congress of industrial organizations was frowned-upon by the American Federation of Labor; the AFL thought of the CIO as an enemy, and used stratagems in order to keep the CIO in check.

While the Congress of industrial organizations was recruiting new members and making new unions, the AFL was adding significantly more members to their cause; however, this would all change in the 1950s. This was because the founders of the CIO and the AFL had started talking about a merger of the two organizations; at this point any differences that there were between the congresses had began to fade away; it felt as if that was the natural progression; the successors of these two organizations to on the merger endeavor which was completed in 1955.

 

Understanding Congressional Term Limits

Understanding Congressional Term Limits

Congress is a bicameral legislature and is the governing body if the United States of America. Now, with most important governmental positions, there are term limits; these are limits that are used to regulate the number of terms served by officials. For example, the current limitation for the President of the United States is two terms; this can either be two consecutive terms, or non-consecutive terms.

However, when it comes to the Congressional bodies: both Senate and House of Representatives there are no congressional term limits. The only term limits for congress which are actually set, are how long terms can be before re-election is necessary. When it comes to this type of congressional term limits, they vary between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

When it comes to term length regarding the Senate; senators are elected for 6 year terms, and once these terms are up, they are allowed to campaign for re-election into the Senate again. This can be done for the entirety of an individual’s life. This is because there are no term limits for congress, regarding how many times one can hold a Congressional office. The House of Representatives has a short term span, of only 2 years before re-election is necessary.

However, the lack of term limits for congress is an issue that some political parties, and members of the American public would like to see changed. Often this is to help keep a fair advantage for those who are vying for the position, to be able to be elected; it also helps to keep new perspectives and variety in the body. However, in order for congressional term limits to be passed, it would have to be a bill passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Congress of Racial Equality

Congress of Racial Equality

The Congress of Racial Equality was an organization that played an larger part in the Civil Rights Movement. It was created in 1942 by James Farmer, Jr., George Houser, Bernice Fisher, and James Robinson. The purpose of the Congress of Racial Equality was to form an organization that would operate and advocate for changes regarding racial issues, in a non-violent fashion.

Under the Congress of Racial Equality there were many chapters which; these chapters were all organized under the same structure; they had officers, monthly meetings, and adhered to the bylaws that were set forth by the overarching Congress of Racial Equality. These various chapters were also comprised of a number of volunteers who would take on various tasks and efforts regarding racial equality and organization of movements.

This organization operated under the idea that anyone could join if they were devoted and determined to see positive change regarding racial equality. There were various areas that were focused on depending upon what area of the United States a group was in. When it came to the North, the Congress of Racial Equality focused primarily on discrimination regarding education, housing, and and employment. In the South, the Congress of Racial Equality fought for the right to vote for individuals who were being discriminated against. They also fought against discrimination regarding jobs, and fought against segregation which was a larger issue.

However, founding members and important officials felt a wave of change regarding the Congress of Racial Equality when certain sentiments of nationalism growing within the party. This is where the party had a separation of certain individuals an regrouped.

Stamp Act Congress

Stamp Act Congress

The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting of delegates from 9 out of the 13 colonies in America. The purpose for this meeting was to discuss the Stamp Act that was imposed on the colonies by Parliament. Parliament is the reigning governing body in England, and it is the body that creates and implements all rules, regulations, acts, taxes, and various other structures that are used on nations, and in various regions.

The Stamp Act was an act passed by Parliament that would have papers stamped with an official seal by Parliament. All of the official paper was to be taxed by England, and the tax was to be paid for, along with the purchase of the paper goods. The reason this tax was implemented was to generate revenue in order to maintain the British Troops that were also stationed in the colonies. The colonies were required to pay for this tax using legal British tender; and they were the most heavily taxed, because the British troops were serving them more than England itself.

The Stamp Act Congress came together on Oct 19, 1765 in New York, in order to discuss the unfairness of the Stamp Act. Through the discourse of the delegates, there was a general census that since the colonies did not have representation in Parliament, it is unfair that Parliament has the right to make laws and implement taxes over this colonies. Instead, the Stamp Act Congress believed that the colonies themselves should have the powers of congress in order to govern themselves, because the colonies knew what they needed better than Parliament.


The Stamp Act congress crafted a document called the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, where the body aired the concerns and necessity for change, in order to gain the powers of congress for their respective lands.

Congress of the People

Congress of the PeopleThe African National Congress is a left-wing party that has been working in conjunction with the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions in order to help promote and progress towards a more democratic society for the entirety of Africa. This particular governing body has been around since 1994 and has made significant movements regarding rights for all Africans.

The Congress of the People is a movement that falls under the body of the African National Congress.  The formation of the Congress of the People occurred in 2008 when there were issues regarding the pre-election of new political figures and a moment of contest between several different parties. The Congress of the People moved out from the African National Congress, to become it’s own political entity.

Essentially, there was a summit held in 2008, in which a political figure by the name of Jacob Zuma was elected for a position President of the African National Congress in front of the former President, Thabo Mbeki; several groups under the African National Congress did not approve of this political movement; Zuma had serious criminal allegations laid out before him of corruption and various other criminal issues; however, he was elected because the it was requested of the African National Congress have the former President Mbeki step down, because the trials of Zuma were purported to have been forced under the opinion of Mbeki.

Overall, the Congress of the People still oppose the ascendancy of Zuma into the position of President of the African National Congress.

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