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Congress

Congress. Bicameral Legislature. Lawmaking body consisting of two houses: House of Representatives and Senate How did we get there? Virginia Plan: Bicameral legislature with houses based off population

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Congress

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  1. Congress

  2. Bicameral Legislature • Lawmaking body consisting of two houses: House of Representatives and Senate • How did we get there? • Virginia Plan: Bicameral legislature with houses based off population • New Jersey Plan: Bicameral legislature with houses based off a set number of representatives per state • Connecticut Compromise: One house (House of Representatives) uses population data, the other uses a set number (Senate)

  3. House of Representatives • Based off population but each state must have at least 1 representative • District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands have one delegate who cannot vote • Consists of 435 members • Why 435? • 1789: 65 reps in the House (one for every 30,000 people) • Over time change needed due to added population • 1911: Limit to be 435

  4. How does the 435 get divided? • Apportioned (distributed by population) • Each state gets a number appropriate to it from census data • If population increases, you may acquire seats • If population decreases, you may lose seats • Each state is divided into districts based off population • Gerrymandering: drawing district lines that favor a particular political party, politician, group, etc.

  5. House (continued) • Elections held every even-numbered year • All members have two-year terms • If a member dies or resigns during his term, the governor of the home state is required to call a special election to fill the vacancy

  6. Requirements for the House • Be at least 25 years old • Been a US citizen for at least 7 years • Be a legal resident of the state you represent • Not necessary to live in district you run in

  7. Senate • Two Senators from each state • Six year terms • Elections held each even-numbered year • Thus, 1/3 of Senate comes up for election every 2 years • Ensures 2/3 have experience • If someone dies, governors appoint member until next regular election or state has a special election

  8. Congress in General • Salary: $174,000 • Members get an allowance to pay staff members as well • Provided offices in Capitol • Free trips to home state • Allowances for local offices • Franking privilege: right to mail letters or packages for free • Leaders in each chamber receive extra compensation • No limits on how many terms you may have

  9. Congress (continued) • Immunity when Congress is in session • Cannot be arrested in or on their way to or from a meeting in Congress • Reason: not unnecessarily kept from performing their duties • Rules of Conduct • Limits on outside income and full disclosure of finances • Can challenge qualifications of newly elected members

  10. Can our Reps be punished? • Expulsion: Person must give up seat in Congress • Requires a 2/3 vote • Only for very serious offenses • Only happened 20 times (5 in House; 15 in Senate) • Last House member in 2002 (James Traficant) • Last Senate member in 1862 (Jesse D. Bright) • Many times expulsion votes fail or person in question resigns • John Ensign of Nevada in 2011

  11. Can our Reps be punished? • Censure: Formal disapproval of actions • Must stand alone at front of House/Senate and listen as the charges are read • Censures: 9 in Senate, 23 in House • Last one in 2010: Charles Rangel of New York

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