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Explore the advantages and disadvantages of bicameralism in government, focusing on the House of Representatives and Senate structures in the United States. Delve into the intricacies of House apportionment, off-year elections, gerrymandering, qualifications for members of Congress, and voting options. Understand the unique roles and responsibilities of Congress members, along with the compensation and benefits they receive.
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Chapter 10 Notes • Section 1 and 2 • Section 2, Part 2 • Section 3 and 4
Describe the political cartoon below. Jumpstart Assignment
Why bicameralism? • What are the advantages to a bicameral government? • What are the disadvantages to a bicameral legislature?
House of Representatives • 435 Members (a # which is set by Congress) • The original House of Representatives had only 65 members. • House members serve 2 year terms • Why 2 years?
House Apportionment • Reps. are apportioned based on state pop. • They arereapportionedevery 10 years based on the national census. • The Reapportionment Act of 1929set the “permanent” size of the House at 435
Off-Year Elections • Off-year electionsare those congressional elections held between presidential elections.
Today’s Plan • Jumpstart Assignment: Why do you suppose the President’s political party seems to do so poorly in off-year elections throughout most of America’s history? • Reading Minute • Notes: Section 2 • Assignment: Who Represents Me
Districts • The House of Reps. has single member districts. • Under the single-member district arrangement, the voters in each district elect one of the State’s representatives. • The general-ticket system, no longer in use, provided that all of a State’s seats were filled at-large.
Gerrymandering • Districts are drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature. • Wesberry v. Sanders – established “one-person, one-vote” districts
Qualifications • 25 years old • Citizen for 7 yrs. • Inhabitant of the state where he/she is elected • The realities of politics also require some informal qualifications, such as party identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, and political experience.
Today’s Plan • Jumpstart Assignment How should a member of Congress make a decision on a vote, based on views of the people, their own consciences, or based on their political parties view? Explain your answer. • Gerrymandering Activity • Notes: Ch. 10, Section 3 and 4 • Comparing the House and Senate
The Senate • 2 Senators per state (100 total) • Serve 6 year terms (1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election every 2 years) • Until the 17th Amendment (1913), Senators were elected by State Legislatures • The Senate is a continuous body, meaning that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.
Senate Qualifications • 30 years old • Citizen for 9 years • Inhabitant of the state where elected (though not for any specific period of time)
Job of Congress Members • Work in committee to screen proposed laws • Oversight Function – a way to check agencies of the Executive Branch • Represent the people (constituents) • Law Making • Serving their constituents
Voting Options • Trustees – believe that each question they face must be decided on its merit • Delegates – see themselves as agents of the people they represent • Partisans – lawmakers who see their allegiance to their political party as being the most important • Politicos – attempt to combine all three
Compensation • Houseand Senate - $174,000 • Pay is set by Congress • The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free • Office budget
Senate House • Qualifications (age, citizenship) • Terms • Pay • Number • Who they represent?
