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The Structure of Congress. Libertyville High School. Requirements to Serve. House
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The Structure of Congress Libertyville High School
Requirements to Serve • House “No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.” (Constitution 1, ii) • 25 years or older • 7 years citizen of US • Resident of state when elected
Requirements to Serve • Senate “No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.” (Constitution, 1, iii) • 30 years or older • 9 years citizen • Resident of state when elected
Number of House, Senate Members • House members? • 435 members + 6 non voting members (1 each from Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, DC, US Virgin Islands, Guam • Illinois members • Senate members? • 100 members • Illinois members • Richard Durbin (D) • Mark Kirk (R)
Comparing the Chambers House of Representatives US Senate Chamber of Minority Rights Formal Leadership = President pro tempore Actual leadership = Majority Leader Majority Party Power Weak! Party Discipline Weak Individual member’s power strong! Committees Strong! Rules Committee? No Special Constitutional Powers: try impeachments; a&c appointments; ratify treaties • Chamber of Majority Power • Formal Leadership = Speaker of the House • Actual leadership = Speaker of the House • Majority Party Power Strong! • Party Discipline Strong! • Individual Member’s power weak • Committees strong • Rules Committee? Yes • Special Constitutional Powers: impeach president; revenue bills