political question

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But I don't understand. I see senators and congressmen and both referred to as state representative...?? Is Senator Stabenaw also state rep? Or is Congressman Whalberg? Or both or someone else?

Semantics.

Yes, your US government representatives are Senators and Congressmen (but these belong to the "House of Representatives" and are sometimes referred to as your state rep).

Now, your state also has a Senate (hence you elect your Senator) and a Representative (This would be the person referred to, properly, as YOUR state representative.) In Wisconsin, this is called the Assembly, but I believe this differs by state.

IF you live in a City, you also have reps in the city council and the county board. If you are fortunate, these are part-time positions---thus they cost you less.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
Folks, this is a legitimate question regarding government and is not a political discussion. ALL posts that are political comments or jabs will be deleted. Thanks

Curtis O. Seebeck
IAP Head Moderator
 
Jeff, I believe Ed. is right, bot Congressmen and Senators are both State Representatives, But are you looking for State government or Federal level?? I'm sure the same would apply either way, unless your state has assemblymen which in most states are just local city/county representatives.
Kind of confusing isn't it,
 
Yes its confusing. Question on tape is US state rep..so it sounds like I can name any senator or congressman at federal level..cause I see we also have congress at state level but that's different

So state rep is bit of a trick they toss in
 
Yes its confusing. Question on tape is US state rep..so it sounds like I can name any senator or congressman at federal level..cause I see we also have congress at state level but that's different

So state rep is bit of a trick they toss in

I would answer that specifically: "My member of the US House of Representatives is_____________" Now, the difficulty could be--where is the test being administered? Is it in your congressional district? Will the "testors" KNOW who YOUR rep is? Like most tests, the RIGHT answer may not be YOUR RIGHT answer.
 
There are actually some subtle differences here.

A Member of Congress is literally your representative. Members of Congress are elected by geographically regional districts in proportion to the population of those districts, and are intended to literally be the voice of the people who elected them. At the time the constitution was being drafted, the 'model' for the House of Representatives was the British House of Commons.

By contrast, the Senate was intended to be a place where serious, thoughtful debate took place, and the framers of the Constitution thought that the way to achieve that was to separate the concept of 'representation' from Senate membership. That is, Senators were intended to bring independent, impartial wisdom to the role and not necessarily directly represent the population of their states. So they came up with the idea that each state would be allowed two Senators irrespective of population. The idea behind the Senate was originally to emulate the British House of Lords, but with the notable exception that the writers of the Constitution wanted to avoid at all cost the notion that membership in the 'upper house' would be something that would be passed along to the actual family heirs of the members. To achieve that, the original concept was for Senators to be appointed by the Governors of the states, but experience led to the conclusion that the appointment process was an opportunity for political mischief. So the Constitution was amended to provide for election of Senators, but still with each state still having only two Senators.

So, the theory is that members of Congress are elected, and re-elected to represent the will of the people (and the term of office is only two years so that the election can reflect changes in public opinion), but your Senator are elected for their impartial wisdom and not on the basis of how well they represent your wishes. And to help separate popular whim from the electoral process, Senators have six year terms.

That's the theory. What happens in practice may be something entirely different.
 
District

I think this ok as its not a debate

I got three questions I need to answer

Who is my Senator? I know...Stabenaw and Levin

Who is my congressman? Tim Wahlberg?

Who is my State Representative???

The way the questions are worded - they are looking for your representative in the Michigan State House of Representatives..You find that by finding the State legislative district you live in and finding the Representative from that district. As someone suggested you might want to include the state legislative district in your reply and since Michigan has several congressmen you might also want to includt the the US congressional district.

Congressman is asking for your US Representative to the US House of Representatives.
 
Who asked the question

I think this ok as its not a debate

I got three questions I need to answer

Who is my Senator? I know...Stabenaw and Levin

Who is my congressman? Tim Wahlberg?

Who is my State Representative???

Who is asking the questions. Are they local i.e. high school ..... or do they come from somewhere else?
 
US Homeland Security immigration test. They don't seem to be that picky. I'd like to answer correctly that's why I ask,and I'd like to just know in general, but to get 1 wrong won't fail me. I don't doubt if I say stabenaw it probably is right. They ask several odd questions and the answer is president so this must be another similar thing. I pretty much know it all what they ask...its dates and numbers that throw me the most. I'm writing test and swearing in to the flag next Monday.

My fav test questions...
What ocean on west coast?
What ocean on east coast? Lol
 
Jeff they most likely are looking for your State Rep to the Federal Government, so I think you are right naming Mr Stabenaw>>>>>>>> and which ocean is on the Northern boarder??
 
My fav test questions...
What ocean on west coast?
What ocean on east coast? Lol

So now we are discriminating against directional challenged? Good thing my wife was born here! (and in the back of my head I hear "oh. your going straight to hell for that one" from Good Morning Vietnam).
 
US Homeland Security immigration test. They don't seem to be that picky. I'd like to answer correctly that's why I ask,and I'd like to just know in general, but to get 1 wrong won't fail me. I don't doubt if I say stabenaw it probably is right. They ask several odd questions and the answer is president so this must be another similar thing. I pretty much know it all what they ask...its dates and numbers that throw me the most. I'm writing test and swearing in to the flag next Monday.

My fav test questions...
What ocean on west coast?
What ocean on east coast? Lol
If memory serves me right, my wife did this 2 years ago. The immigration test is asking you about the Federal reps i.e. your 2 U.S. Senators and your Representative for the U.S. House of Representatives, colloquially referred to as your Congressman even though the Senate is a part of Congress the Senate being the upper house of Congress. But it would not hurt to know your Michigan State Representative.
 
Jeff, I wish to welcome you to Citizenship here in the United States of America. We will be much better off with people of your character and talent helping to guide and direct us. A big hearty WELCOME from far west Kentucky.
Charles
 
Jeff, good luck with the test. Knowing the answer to these questions will put your knowledge of this country well above the average US citizen.
 
it's a joke what they teach as American Government in School these days.

Believe it or not the American government is actually taught in agonizing detail. The reason hardly anyone in america knows anything about the government is one two reasons they either didn't pay attention in class( most don't) and they don't pay any attention to the news. My point is that you can't blame the schools for the students not knowing jack about the political system.
 
Part of this is a complete lack of memory these days.

Ask anyone who the current VicePresident is. If they happen to get that RIGHT, ask who the LAST Vice President was. They used to know, but even the 30 year olds now claim "early old-timers disease". Actually, the computer thinks for us, we have forgotten how to remember.
 
Part of this is a complete lack of memory these days.

Ask anyone who the current VicePresident is. If they happen to get that RIGHT, ask who the LAST Vice President was. They used to know, but even the 30 year olds now claim "early old-timers disease". Actually, the computer thinks for us, we have forgotten how to remember.
Some old white haired Mathematician once said "
"I never commit to memory anything that can easily be looked up in a book."
The guys name was Albert something, I'll go look it up!!
 
Jeff, I would offer you luck in passing the test however I know it is not needed as you will do great! So glad to see another great person wishing to join our Great Nation! Here is an early Congrats and welcome!
 
I'm from Delaware

Part of this is a complete lack of memory these days.

Ask anyone who the current VicePresident is. If they happen to get that RIGHT, ask who the LAST Vice President was. They used to know, but even the 30 year olds now claim "early old-timers disease". Actually, the computer thinks for us, we have forgotten how to remember.

Go ahead - ask me - I am now living in DE and I was born 20 miles from Scranton PA - ask me. BTW Dick Cheney was the last one and Al Gore was the one before him and Dan Quayle preceeded him with George H.W.Bush ahead of Quayle and Walter Mondale as Jimmy Carter's VP.---is that far enough back --- Nixons was kind of a screwed up mess...Spiro Agnew was elected and re-elected, resigned and was replaced by Gerald Ford. The Happy Warrier Hubert Humphrey was LBJ's VP - LBJ was John Kennedy's and Richard Nixon was DDE's. I don't remember Truman's but it might have been Henry Wallace. Franklin Roosevelt had 4 Truman was the last and the others were all elected before I was born.

Sorry Henry Wallace was another one of Roosevelt's VP's - not Truman's
 
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I think this ok as its not a debate

I got three questions I need to answer

Who is my Senator? I know...Stabenaw and Levin

Who is my congressman? Tim Wahlberg?

Who is my State Representative???

Somewhere in the Lansing State Urinal... errr Journal.. Somewhere is a block That give all of your (our) elected officials. It runs at least once a week. just no idea as to what day it gets published
 
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