| How Congress Works A Look at the Legislative Branch Lerner Publications, 2004 ISBN-10: 0-8225-1347-1 ISBN-13: 978-0-8225-1347-6 Pages: 56 Reading Level: Grade 5 For ages 9-14 Available at most booksellers, including: AbeBooks.com Powell's Books Independent booksellers need our support!
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Together, one hundred senators, the vice president, and 435 representatives make up the Federal government's Legislative Branch. Not just lawmakers, members of Congress also investigate government activities, declare war, impeach public officials such as the president or a judge, create taxes, make treaties, and change the Constitution. Take a look at How Congress Works to see how members of the Senate and the House of Representatives work together to do what is best for our nation while representing the people of America—including you! EXCERPT: |
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PAGING THROUGH CONGRESS
Eric Ode says that watching Congress at work is "way better
than TV." Michelle Rappaport agrees with him. Eric and
Michelle know what they’re talking about. They were
Senate pages. They spent nearly six months in 2002 working
from a platform in the middle of the Senate. You can hardly
get closer to Congress than that!
Congressional pages are young people who
deliver packages, take messages, and get materials ready for
member of Congress. About one hundred pages worked with Eric
and Michelle. They were all high school juniors, at least
sixteen years old.
Each page has an elected sponsor in the
House or Senate. Usually pages come from the same state as
their sponsors. Eric comes from Burlington, Vermont. His
sponsor was Vermont senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat.
Michelle comes from Salt Lake City, Utah. Her sponsor was Utah
senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican.
Pages go to school
in Washington, D.C. They start school at 6:15 A.M. and have
classes until about 9:45 A.M. Then they report for work. They
stay on duty in Congress as long as the members are formally
meeting—sometimes way past midnight!