Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator—a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to improve the understanding of Congress—http://www.webcommunicator.org.

1. People Who Served in Congress
2. Congress Defined
3. Congressional Staff Pay
4. The Republican Congress: A Manifesto for Change
5. Illinois Delegation Letters: 1983-94
6. Best Practices for Teaching About Congress
7. Constitution Still Relevant & Trivia
8. Postscript Information

1. PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS
Sketches of famous and not-so-famous Senators and Representatives

Ted Stevens (1923- ): A member of the Senate for 37 years, Ted Stevens is Alaska's senior Senator. Stevens' tenure in the Senate makes him the fourth-most senior member among his colleagues, and first among Republicans. Stevens holds the position of Senate President Pro Tempore [see Congress Defined below]. He also is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has oversight of the Departments of Commerce and Transportation. In addition, the Committee's broad jurisdiction covers issues including telecommunications, fisheries, oceans and maritime policy, the Coast Guard, aviation (including the Transportation Security Administration), rail, highway safety, global climate change, interstate commerce, space, science, technology, economic development, trade, tourism, consumer issues, product safety, and sports.

Reference: http://stevens.senate.gov/about.cfm. Accessed September 25, 2006.

2. CONGRESS DEFINED
Words and phrases that describe congressional processes

Senate Pro Tempore. The literal translation of President Pro Tempore is "president for a time." The President Pro Tempore is a constitutionally appointed officer who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence. As the Chamber's presiding officer, the President Pro Tempore is authorized to perform certain duties, including ruling on points of order and enforcing decorum in the Senate Chamber and Galleries. The President Pro Tempore also signs legislation passed by the Senate before it is sent to the President for his signature. Since 1947, the President Pro Tempore has been third in the line of presidential succession, behind the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. The President Pro Tempore also serves as a member of the majority party's leadership team. Since the PPT is usually the most senior Senator of the majority party, he or she also most likely chairs a major Senate committee, along with other duties of the Senate.

Reference: http://stevens.senate.gov/protem.cfm. Accessed September 25, 2006.

3. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF PAY

* NEW RESOURCE *

Who is employed by Congress and how much they are paid is often a source of fascination for the politically aware. If you are a curious teacher or student, you no longer have to wonder what workers on the Hill earn—U.S. congressional staff salaries are now viewable online. Find Congressional Staff Pay at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_index5res.htm.

4. THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS: A MANIFESTO FOR CHANGE

* NEW RESOURCE *

In January 1992, the Republican minority issued a document designed to outline how the Republicans would govern should they obtain the majority. Fifteen Republicans contributed to the project, each writing an essay on a different topic. For example, Leader Michel entitled his, "What I Would Do as Speaker of the House."

To learn more about this project, find The Republican Congress: A Manifesto for Change in the House of Representatives at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_michel_manifesto.htm.

5. ILLINOIS DELEGATION LETTERS, 1983-94

* NEW RESOURCE *

This new addition to the Robert H. Michel Papers Collection consists of letters stating positions or requesting action on behalf of the Republicans and Democrats representing Illinois in the U.S. House and Senate. Find the Illinois Delegation Letters, 1983-94, at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/findingaids/rhm_legislativeseries_ildelegation.htm.

6. BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING ABOUT CONGRESS

In The Center's annual summer workshop for teachers, Congress in the Classroom®, each participant shares a resource, lesson plan, or Web site they use to teach their students about Congress. This assignment requires you to submit for eventual posting in the Work Products section of our Congress in the Classroom Online® site your "best practice" for teaching about Congress.

Best Practices for Teaching About Congress: http://www.congressclass.org/print_assignment20.htm.

To help you understand today's Congress and discover ways to teach about it, we encourage you to register to participate in our online professional development workshop, Congress in the Classroom Online®. For a complete workshop overview visit: http://www.congressclass.org/courseinformation_contents.htm.

7. CONSTITUTION STILL RELEVANT & TRIVIA

The Columbia Daily Tribune featured Congress for Kids in a recent article authored by Joyce Hulett published on September 14, 2006. Congress for Kids is cited for offering information about the Constitution in simple terms, using cartoons to hold students' attention.

Is the Constitution still relevant as it was 219 years ago? Find the answer and read more about Congress for Kids at: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Sep/20060914Life001.asp.

Trivia: Who from the following list was not a President Pro Tempore?

1. William Bradford
2. Isham G. Harris
3. Strom Thurmond
4. Abraham Lincoln

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

For a complete list of Presidents Pro Tempore visit: http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_senateprotem.htm#5.

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