Basic Facts About Congress

1. Basic Facts About Congress

2. Basic Structure • Bicameral: By way of Connecticut Compromise • Settled dispute over representation (large states vs. small states) • Upper House: Senate • Lower House: House of Representatives • Not just checks and balances between branches of government but also within branches ie, 2 Houses can check each other. • Senate has powers the House does not have • House has powers the Senate does not have

3. Senate • More prestige than House • Represent whole state • High incumbent reelection rate but not as high as House • 6 year term • “Continuous Body” 1/3 up for reelection every 2 years • 2 Senators from each state = 100 total • Smaller membership = fewer rules especially with regard to debate ie, filibuster • Most rules are decided by the Senate not the Constitution; many traditions carry on • Senatorial courtesy • Seniority Rule

4. Senate Continued • Considered very undemocratic and malapportioned due to the 2 senators from each state rule (Alaska vs. California for example)

5. House of Representatives • Less prestige than senate • 2 year terms: everyone up for reelection every 2 years • Represent a district not a state (“at large” representative does represent state) • Each representative represents an equal number of people (as much as is practical to expect) about 650,000 people • Each state regardless of size has at least 1 representative • 435 members total

6. Salary • 111th Congress pay is $174,000 per year, and… • Office space in D.C. and home state • Staff • Franking privilege • Pension plan • Health insurance • Restaurants • Fitness center • Free Parking

7. Apportionment andRedistricting • The Constitution requires that all Americans be counted every 10 years by a census. • The census determines the representation in the House of Representatives. • Redistricting (the redrawing of congressional districts to reflect changes in seats allocated to the states from population shifts) is done by state legislatures and, of course, always has political overtones. • When the process is outrageously political, it is called • gerrymandering and is often struck down by the courts.

8. Powers of Congress • The most important constitutional power of Congress is the power to make laws. • This power is shared by the House and the Senate. • In order to become a law, a bill must be passed by both the House and the Senate.

9. Powers of Congress Continued • Create courts • Investigate and oversight (especially regarding executive branch actions) through hearing process • Spend money, borrow money, collect taxes

10. Members of Congress • Congress is older, better educated, whiter, and richer than most of us. • However, great strides have been made. • Currently, both California senators and both Maine senators are women. Can a man represent a woman? Can a white person adequately represent the views of a black person?

11. The Representational Role ofMembers of Congress • How should an elected official represent his/her • constituents? • Trustee--representatives use their own best judgment • Delegate--representatives vote the way their constituents want them to • Politico--representatives act as party member