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Congress

Congress. Chapter 10. The National Legislature. Section I. Concepts. What type of democracy does America have? Indirect Democracy Representative Democracy General public not directly involved Congress fulfills duties of the day-to-day government Translates public will into public policy

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Congress

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  1. Congress Chapter 10

  2. The National Legislature Section I

  3. Concepts • What type of democracy does America have? • Indirect Democracy • Representative Democracy • General public not directly involved • Congress fulfills duties of the day-to-day government • Translates public will into public policy • Creates laws • “First Branch”- Madison • Outlined in Article I of the Constitution

  4. A Bicameral Congress • Two Houses • Precedence • Historical • British Parliament has two houses • 1787-All but two states had bicameral houses • Nebraska remaining unicameral state

  5. …Continued • Practical • Compromise between Virginia & New Jersey Plans • Federalist idea • Equality in the Senate • Popular separation in the House • Theoretical • Two houses “Check” each other • Prevents Congress from becoming too powerful

  6. Terms of Congress • Each term lasts 2 years • Consecutively numbered • 20th Amendment • Changed term start date • Formerly in March • Now 3rd day in January at noon • Currently, 113th Congress • January 3, 2013-January 3, 2015

  7. Sessions • Session-Yearly time when Congress meets and conducts business • Two sessions per term • Congress typically works most of a year • Several short breaks • Holiday/Seasonal Breaks • Allowances to work in States • Adjourns-Suspension until next session • Both houses must agree on an adjournment • President may prorogue (end) a session • Never been used

  8. Special Sessions • Meeting to deal with an emergency issue • Can only be called by the President • 26 Special Sessions have been called • Most recent 1948, President Truman • Senate called 46 times • Consider treaties or presidential appointments • Not since 1933 • House never called alone • Year round meetings limit special sessions • Limits presidential power • Threats used now more than the action

  9. Section II The House of Representatives

  10. Size & Terms • 435 Current Membership • Set by Congress and NOT by the Constitution • Seats should be apportioned among States • Population based • Each state guaranteed one • AK, DE, MT, ND, SD, VT, & WY • Other appointments • Elected representative- DC, Guam, Virgin Islands, & American Samoa • Resident Commissioner- Puerto Rico • Not full members

  11. …Continued • Article I, Sec. II, Clause I • Elections held every two years • Elections always looming • The purpose • Keep better ear to electorate issues • No limit on number of terms • Past pushes to place term limits • 3 to 4 terms • 6 to 8 years

  12. Reapportionment • Redistribution of the House occurs after every ten year census • First Two Congresses (1789-1793) • 65 Seats • 1790 census • 3.9 Million Americans • 41 Seats added • Total of 106

  13. A Growing Nation • As more states were added so too did the number of seats grow • 435 seats achieved in 1912 • 1910 census • Admission of Arizona & New Mexico • Size of the House was proving difficult to manage • Congress chose to do nothing • No reapportionment after the 1920 census

  14. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 • Establishes • “Permanent” House size at 435 members • Congress may enlarge the House • Census Bureau will determine number of seats per state • Bureau’s plan must be sent to Congress • After 60 days with no rejection the plan becomes effective • Congress stays Constitutionally correct • Pressure placed on Census Bureau

  15. Congressional Election Dates • Held the same day across the Country • First Tuesday after the first Monday of Nov. • Even numbered years • Alaska once voted in Oct. • Ballots must be either written or printed • Voting machines approved in 1899 • Most modern elections use electronic voting machines

  16. Off-Year Elections • Occur in nonpresidential election years • 2010 the most recent • Party in power usually loses seats • Example • 1974 Nixon’s party did poorly after Watergate • 1994 during Clinton’s first term • Exception • 1998 Republicans lost seats during Clinton impeachment • Limited public support

  17. Districts • 435 national districts • Seven states have 1 • 43 states hold the remaining 428 • Single-Member District • Voters chose from a list of State candidates • General Ticket System • Voters could vote for candidates from each district • Seen as unfair • Ended in 1842

  18. …Continued • Rules on the Districts • 1842 Law: District must be of contiguous territory State legislatures responsible for district drawing • 1872: Districts should have as equal as possible populations • 1901: Districts small in area • State legislatures did not follow Laws • Not expressed in Reapportionment Act of 1929 • 1932 Supreme Court repealed laws

  19. Gerrymandering • Districts drawn to advantage of political party in power • Found across U.S. and in varying levels of government • Two forms • Concentrate the opposition’s voter into one district • Spread opposition thinly

  20. IL 4thCon.District

  21. …Continued • Purpose is to create “safe” districts • Has made most Congressional seats safe • 40 Congressional districts deemed “unsafe” • Push in power between • the Rep. and Dem. • the Urban and Rural • Can become race based

  22. Qualification For House Membership • Formal • 25 years of age • U.S. citizen for at least 7 years • Inhabit the State from which they are elected • Customs • Live in the district of representation

  23. …Continued • House has final say on Representative election issues • Refused Brigham Roberts (1900) from Utah due to his religious practices • Congress can not, now, prevent someone from taking office • House can punish or expel members • With majority or 2/3 vote respectively • Reasons for past expulsions • “Support of rebellion”, corruption, bribery, fraud, and tax evasion

  24. Informal Qualifications • “Vote-getting abilities” • Party identification • Name familiarity • Gender • Ethnic characteristics • Political experience • Game of getting the right combination Bill Enyart 12th Congressional District of Illinois

  25. Section III The Senate

  26. Size • 100 Member Senate • Equal representation for all states • Larger and more broad electorate • Has grown as the country has grown • Goal • Senate would be the more level headed chamber • Longer terms • Membership qualifications higher

  27. Elections • Senators originally picked by State legislatures • Twice Senate voted down House-passed amendment • 1912-Senate finally relented • 17th Amendment (1913) allowed for voter choice • 1 Senator up for election at a time • Pre-17th Amendment • Senators picked who were popular or most qualified • Often product of political/financial gains • Senate once known as the “Millionaire’s Club”

  28. Terms • Six year terms • No term limit • Robert Byrd (D-WV) longest serving Senator • 1959-2010 • Over 51 years of service • Staggered Terms • 1/3 of Senators up for election at a time • Makes the Senate a Continuous House • Job Security • Less susceptible to public pressure

  29. …Continued • Longer terms means better focus on “Big Picture” ideas • Appeal to a larger Constituency • Champion of public policy issues • Better access to public media • Training ground for presidential candidates

  30. Qualifications Senator Dick Durbin • 30 years of age • U.S. citizen for at least 9 years • Live in the State from which elected Senator Mark Kirk

  31. …Continued • Senate judges qualifications of election victors • Senate may punish (majority vote) or expel (2/3 vote) members • 1797 • William Blount expelled • Conspiring to invade Florida with British and Native American assistance • 1861-1862 • 14 Senators expelled in the early years of the Civil War • “Support of rebellion”

  32. Members of Congress Section IV

  33. 113th Congress Demographics • New Members • 13 Senators • 84 House Members • Women • 78 in the House • 20 in the Senate • 95% of the Senate is white • 19% of the House are from minority groups • 8.5% of the House is under 40

  34. …Continued • 27% of the Senate is Catholic • 5 former athletes • 12 who have served in the armed forces • Senate • 52 Democrats, 2 Independence (D), & 46 Republicans • House • 232 Republicans, 200 Democrats, 3 Vacancies

  35. The Job • Congressmen and women hold several positions • Legislator/Legislative Delegate • Representative of Constituents • Committee Member • Constituent Servant • Politician

  36. “To Represent” • Trustees • Each question set before members must be looked carefully • Judge for constituencies • Agents of the people • Think of the “Folks back home” • MUST suppress own views

  37. …Continued • Partisan • First allegiance to political party • Duty bound to vote on party lines • Leading voting factor • Politicos • Balance between being a • Legislative Delegate • Trustee • Partisan

  38. …Continued • Committee Member • Bill process begins in committee • Congressional members hear, amendment, kill proposals • Perform an oversight function • Leg. check on executive branch agencies • Makes sure Congressional policies and laws are being followed

  39. Servants • Assist constituents through federal bureaucracy • Social Security • Passport trouble • Small business loans • Continually swamped with requests • Securing government contracts • Admittance into a military academy • Potential votes are on the line

  40. Compensation • Salary • Annual Congressional members salary • $174,000 • Between 1789-1815 ($6 a day) • Speaker of the House • $223.500 • Leadership (Majority Leader, Whips, etc.) • $193,400

  41. …Continued • Non-salary Compensation • Fringe Benefits • Special Tax Deductions • Travel Allowances • Smaller Insurance Payments • Low Medical Cost • Access to Military Hospitals • Retirement Plan • Based on years of service

  42. …Continued • Offices in Washington & Home State • Operating costs • Hiring staff • Franking Privilege • Postage-free mailing/ “signature stamp” • Free printing/low cost production • Restaurants, gyms, pools, etc. access in D.C. • Access to Library of Congress • Free Parking • Capital • Washington airports

  43. Politics of Pay • Only two limits on Congressional pay level • Presidential veto • Voter backlash • Congress skirts compensation issue for voters • Hope • Pay and benefits may attract the most qualified individuals to public office

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