U.S. Congress

1. U.S. Congress

2. Terms of Congress • The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to be the most powerful branch. • Each term starts January 3 of odd-numbered years and lasts two years. Each term has two sessions. • Now: 115th session • Congress holds special sessions in times of crisis. • Joint session: both houses meet together. Ex: the president’s State of the Union address.

3. A Bicameral Legislature • The Great Compromise made Congress bicameral, meaning it has 2 houses. • TheHouse of Representatives has 435 members and is based on population. • After each census, or population count taken by the Census Bureau, Congress adjusts the number of representatives given to each state. -

4. House of Representatives • States are divided into districts, which get one representative each. • Every district isdrawn to include about the same number of people, around 711,000. • This is called apportionment • Gerrymandering – when districts are drawn in strange shapes to benefit a certain group • House members focus on the concerns of their districts

8. Senate • The Senate has 100 members–two from each state. • Senators represent their entire state. • They serve six-year terms. • Elections are staggered to ensure some stability. Senate elections are held every 2 years. -

9. 114th Congress of the United States

10. Requirements and Benefits of Congress – Senate and HoR • Both senators and members of the House must live in the state they represent. • House members usually live in their districts, but are not required to. • Age • Senators: 30+ years old • House members: 25+ years old • Citizenship • Senators: 9+ years • House members: 7+ years House of Representatives 114th Congress

11. Requirements and Benefits of Congress • Most members of Congress have college degrees. • Nearly half are lawyers. • Members receive a salary of $174,000, free office space, and trips to their home states. • They have the franking privilege–they may send job-related mail for free.

12. Requirements and Benefits of Congress • The Constitution grants senators and representatives immunity, or legal protection in certain circumstances. They may not break the law, though. • Congress does have limitations: • Expulsion -removed from Congress • Censure--formal vote of disapproval of a legislator’s conduct

13. Members of Congress at Work • In representing the people who elected them, members of Congress carry out three major jobs-—making laws, doing casework, and getting pork-barrel spending. • Congress members make laws. • They introduce bills, work on committees, listen to input for and against bills, and then vote. • Congress members do casework–they do research for people • they troubleshoot for people from their home district or state who request help in dealing with the federal government.

14. Members of Congress at Work • Congress members protect the interests of their state or district. • For example, a senator from a state with strong timber industries might seek to influence logging policies. • Government projects and grants that primarily benefit the home district or state are called pork-barrel

15. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-Scenes Helpers • The personal staff run the offices. • They gather information on issues, arrange meetings, and write speeches. • They deal with reporters and lobbyists– people hired by private groups to influence government decision makers. -

16. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-Scenes Helpers • Members of Congress hire students from their home states or districts to serve as interns and pages. • Interns help with research and office duties. • Pages deliver messages and run errands. • .

17. Congressional Staff: Behind-the-Scenes Helpers • The Library of Congress provides information for members of Congress and their staffs. • The Library’s Congressional Research Service looks up facts and spells out arguments for and against bills. • Headed by Librarian of Congress, aka one of Ms. Long’s dream jobs. -