CHAPTER OUTLINE
Congress 

Name ___________________________ Class _____________________ Date _______

CHAPTER
10

Directions: Fill in the outline below. Filling in the blanks will help 
you as you read and study Chapter 10.

I. Section 1: The National Legislature
 A. The Bicameral Congress
1. Congress is divided into two houses called the
 __________ and the _________________________________________.
2. One reason the Framers set up a _________________ Congress
 is because they wanted to keep Congress from becoming too
 _____________________.
 B. Terms and Sessions of Congress
A _____________ is a period of time each year when Congress meets to
talk about laws. Each ________ of Congress has two sessions.
 C. Representation in Congress
1. There are _______ senators from each state.
2. The number of House members for each state is 
 determined by ________________.

II. Section 2: The House of Representatives
 A. Terms and Size
1. The House of Representatives has _____ elected officials, each of
 whom serve a ________-year term.
2. States with more people send more ________________________ 
 to Congress than states with fewer people.

2

Name ___________________________ Class _____________________ Date _______

CHAPTER OUTLINE (continued)
Congress 

 B. Reapportionment
Every 10 years after each _______________, the Census Bureau 
decides on the number of House seats for each state.
 C. Congressional Districts
Each member of the House of Representatives is elected
from a ____________ in his or her state.
 D. Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering is the unfair drawing of _______________
_____________ to favor one party over another.
 E. Qualifications
1. Candidates for the House of Representatives must be
 __________ years of age.
2. Candidates for the House must have been citizens of the
 United States for at least _____________ years, and they must 
live in the state from which they are elected.

III. Section 3: The Senate
 A. Size and Term
1. There are __________ senators serving in the Senate today. 
2. A senator’s term in office is __________ years.
 B. Qualifications
1. Senators must be at least ________ years old, citizens of 
 the United States for at least _________ years, and residents of 
the state they represent.
2. Because all of its seats are never up for reelection at the same 
time, the Senate is known as a ______________________
 _________________.

Name ___________________________ Class _____________________ Date _______

CHAPTER OUTLINE (continued)
Congress 

IV. Section 4: The Members of Congress
 A. Backgrounds
1. Most members of Congress were born in the __________
 they represent. 
2. They usually have many years of political ____________________.
 B. The Job
Members of Congress cast their votes in one of four ways: as
___________________, _____________________,
_______________________, or ________________________.
 C. Benefits
Members of Congress receive many ______________. Some include
a tax deduction, travel allowances, medical care, and the
________________ _________________, which allows them to mail 
materials for free.