© 2013 Universal Uclick Our Representatives from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick Who Leads the Congress? When we read The U.S. Senate about arguments and House of Representatives meet or action in the in the U.S. Capitol U.S. Congress, in Washington, D.C. we sometimes This photo shows hear confusing the western front of the building. terms: caucus, House members majority leader, meet in the south president, wing (at the right in whip. Have you the photo); Senate members meet in ever wondered if the north wing. The someone in the large rooms where Capitol is actually they meet are called using a whip?! “chambers.” This week, The photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol Mini Page takes a close look at the In session Leading the Congress leadership and organization of the U.S. Meetings of With 100 senators and 435 Senate and House of Representatives. senators and representatives trying to work representatives together, someone has to be in charge. The legislative branch are called In the Senate, the vice president of Our Constitution divides sessions. the United States also government power into three A few times President Obama gives executive courtesy Kennedy, Chuck by photo States United the of president the of office serves as the president branches: each year, the his 2011 State of the of the Senate. He or • executive (president, vice president Senate and Union address. she does and the Cabinet departments) the House come together for a joint not vote • judicial (courts) session of Congress. unless it’s • legislative (Congress). President of One of the joint sessions is the State necessary to the Senate The legislative branch is where laws of the Union address in January or break a tie. Joe Biden are made. American citizens elect, or February, when the president of the In the choose, senators and representatives Speaker House, the United States speaks about how the of the speaker of to make decisions about laws that will country is doing and outlines the House John the House leads the reflect their wishes. government’s goals for the coming year. Boehner representatives. ®

from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick Who’s Who? You may have heard people talk House leaders Senate leaders about the 113th Congress. This is the • Speaker of the House. • President of the Senate. The current term of Congress. Each term This leader controls debates, or vice president of the United States lasts two years and is divided into discussions, between representatives usually presides over the Senate only two sessions. The 113th Congress on the House floor. He or she acts as on special occasions or when a tie- will end on Jan. 3, 2015, after new a spokesperson for his or her party in breaking vote is needed. senators and representatives are Congress. The person in this position • Senate Majority Leader. This elected in November 2014. would become president should senator is really the leader of the At the beginning of each term, something happen to the current Senate. He or she schedules votes members must choose leaders for the president and vice president. and works with committees. House and Senate. • House Majority Leader. • Senate Assistant Majority Party lines This representative is the second in Leader. This position is similar to Congress isn’t command after the speaker of the the majority whip in the House. separated only into House. He or she manages business Minority leaders on the House floor. the Senate and the The House and Senate also have House of Representatives. Members • House Majority Whip. The whip is an assistant floor leader. leadership positions for the minority of Congress also group together party: according to the major political He or she helps to track votes on different issues. • House Minority Leader parties, the Republicans and the • House Minority Whip Democrats. The term “whip” is believed • Senate Minority Leader After an election, either the • Senate Minority Whip Republicans or the Democrats to come from a fox-hunting term With each new election, the have more members of Congress majority and minority, and the than the other party. This is called for the person who keeps the dogs from straying leadership, can shift to a different a majority. The party with fewer political party. members is called the minority. away from the pack during a hunt. courtesy 1836, Davis, Barrett Richard by painting of detail Collection Mellon Paul Art, British for Center Yale

from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick TM Basset Brown try ’n’ News Congressional Ready Resources The find Hound’s Leaders The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, Words that remind us of congressional leaders are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if books or other resources that will help you learn you can find: CAPITOL, CAUCUS, COMMITTEE, CONFERENCE, CONGRESS, more about this week’s topics. HOUSE, JOINT, LAWS, LEAD, LEGISLATIVE, MAJORITY, MINORITY, PRESIDENT, On the Web: RECOMMEND, REPRESENTATIVE, SENATE, SPEAKER, TERM, WHIP. P I H W C O N F E R E N C E T • congressforkids.net Who • 1.usa.gov/1fumOge represents D N E M M O C E R W M X E V N • house.gov/content/learn you? C A U C U S M A J O R I T Y E • senate.gov Y T I R O N I M P Y E K A H D L D J T N I O J I I T B N O I At the library: A A R E K A E P S T T N E U S • “House Mouse, Senate Mouse” by Peter W. Barnes W E S S E R G N O C T O S S E • “The Congress of the United States” by Christine S L E G I S L A T I V E L E R Taylor-Butler E V I T A T N E S E R P E R P ®

TM TM Rookie Cookie’s Recipe Mini Spy . . . Broccoli Side Dish Mini Spy is talking to her classmates about Congress. You’ll need: See if you can find: • exclamation mark • paint roller • 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil • dash cayenne pepper • cat • frog • pencil • chicken • butterfly • 1 tablespoon water • 2 cups fresh broccoli florets • carrot • bear • bell • banana • word MINI • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice • 1 /3 cup chopped red or orange • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar bell pepper • letter B • snake • poodle • pumpkin • 1 teaspoon honey • 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms • comb • kite • letter Z • needle • canoe • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt • 1/4 cup dried cranberries • toothbrush • ruler • number 2 • basket What to do: 1. Combine olive oil, water, lemon juice, vinegar, honey and seasonings in a jar with a tight lid; shake well. 2. In a separate bowl, mix vegetables and cranberries. 3. Add dressing and toss to coat evenly. 4. Cover and chill for 1 hour. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick Meet Barry Gellert Barry Gellert, also called Barry G, is best known for his music with The Dream Jam Band, which he helped found. His first solo CD is “Huh-Uh!” He plays the guitar, sings and composes music. Barry has performed in elementary schools in New York as part of “Dream Jam All Access.” This program teaches kindergartners a variety of musical types. Some of the students now sing with Dream Jam Kids.

photo by Ber Murphy Ber by photo He first began playing the guitar when he was 5 years old. As an adult, he played guitar with several rock bands and began composing music. He now writes and composes musical theater shows for kids. Barry performs music to help raise money for many charities, including food banks and other community programs. He also performs music for kids in hospitals. from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick

TM from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick TM

Supersport: Crystal Dunn All the following jokes have something in common. Height: 5-2 Birthdate: 7-2-92 Can you guess the common theme or category? Hometown: Rockville Centre, N.Y. Crystal Dunn has reached the top of women’s college Charles: Why was George Washington always soccer. She wants to stay there. standing in official White House portraits? After winning National Player of the Year honors and Carrie: Because he could never lie! leading the University of North Carolina to the 2012 NCAA championship, the Tar Heels senior came out this season with her usual competitive fire and desire. She contributed six goals to Cory: If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, what help the No. 1-ranked Heels start 6-0. Listed as a midfielder, the three- would be the most amazing fact about him? time All-American can sparkle at any position. Cindy: His age! Already her name is etched among the most elite players to compete for the nation’s premier college program (21 national titles). She’s also plays Caesar: What was a patriot’s favorite dog for the U.S. national team and has found time to lead a soccer camp for inner-city youth in New York. back in Colonial times? And Dunn isn’t done. She wants to finish her UNC career with another title! Craig: A Yankee poodle! ®

from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick The Three C’s Caucus … … and Committees Within Congress, the Democrats Can you imagine all the subjects subject and study the details about call their party members a caucus that members of Congress must it, then recommend how the Senate (KAW-kus). The caucus is the party’s think about as they make laws? For and the House should vote. organization that helps senators almost any topic that’s important to Each committee may also have many and representatives understand our nation, there is a committee subcommittees. With your class, research the party’s goals as they think of members of Congress. These congressional committees. Which about legislation, or laws being members concentrate on a particular ones make decisions that affect you? considered. For example, the caucus might take Congressional Committees Quiz-a-Roonie a position about Below are some issues that might affect kids. Match the issue with the the importance of Senate or House committee that you think would be best at studying the issue supporting small and making good recommendations for a vote on the Senate or House floor. businesses. If a 1. Improving the quality of A. House Education resolution comes school lunches. and the Workforce before the House that concerns small Committee business, the caucus will share that position with its members. 2. Making security B. House Homeland Conference … screenings at airports Security Committee The Republican group in Congress quicker and more thorough. is called a conference. Similar to the Democrats’ caucus, the 3. Finding new and Republican conference shares the renewable sources C. Senate or House goals of the party with members of of energy for our Veterans’ Affairs future needs. Committee Congress. If the 4. Setting high conference standards for D. Senate Agriculture, believes that education so that Nutrition and Forestry taxes are kids can succeed in Committee too high, college and as adults. Republican 5. Assuring that members will receive information E. Senate Energy and military workers Natural Resources about upcoming bills that have to do returning home from Committee with changing our tax system. war have the services

they need to return to civilian life. 5-C. 4-A; 3-E; 2-B; 1-D; Answers: Look in your newspaper for articles about Congress and the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives. Next week, The Mini Page celebrates Halloween with ideas for a terrorific holiday party.

The Mini Page Staff Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist