Congress

1. Congress Chapter 10

2. Section 1 The National Legislature

3. A Bicameral Congress • Historical – British Parliament and most state legislatures • Practical- Great Compromise, Connecticut Compromise • Theoretical- check-and-balance

4. Terms and Sessions • Each term of Congress last 2 years • 111th will start on January 3rd • Originally took session in March, 20th Amendment changed that • A session is the period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/29/steve-buyer-to-retire-ami_n_442031.html

5. Terms and Sessions • Currently Congress is almost a year round session. • The President may call Congress into a special session. • Been used 26 times, last in 1948 by Harry Truman • Senate alone has been called 46 times

6. Section 2 House of Representatives

7. Size and Terms • 435 Members serving 2 year terms • Size set by Congress • Based on populations • 7 States have 1 member • No term limits 5

8. Reapportionment • Redistribution of seats after every census • After last census Indiana lost a seat • House size made permanent with the Reapportionment Act of 1929 • Each member represents approximately 650,000 people

9. Congressional Elections • First Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even numbered year • Alaska has an exception to do them in October • Off-Year Elections are those held in the years when there is no presidential election • Usually the party that controls presidency will lose seats

10. Districts • All done with single member districts • At large tickets were unfair, done away with in 1842

11. Districts drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature. Sometimes done to make the majority of districts for their party Other times to spread out opposing party thinly Gerrymandering

12. Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 • Population differences in Georgia’s congressional districts violated the constitution. • Gerrymandering based solely on race violates the 15th amendment

13. Qualifications for House Members • 25 years of age • Citizen of the U.S. for 7 years • Inhabitant of state from which he or she is elected • Custom that they must live in the district they represent Skinnerin2010

14. Section 3 The Senate

15. 100 members, 2 from each state Originally chosen by state legislatures 17th Amendment in 1913 moved it to the voters 6 year terms, no term limits Increase stability Terms are staggered, 33 or 34 seats up for election every 2 years Size, Election, and Terms

16. Qualifications • 30 years of old • Citizen of U.S. for 9 years • Inhabitant of state from which he or she wishes to represent • May be expelled, 15 total, 14 during Civil War Skinnerin2016

17. Section 4 Members of Congress

18. The Job • Legislators • Representatives of their constituents • Committee members • Servants of their constituents • Politicians

19. Committee Members • Essentially potential legislation is passed through committees before they have the entire congress rule on them. • Standing committees • As of 2007, there are 17 standing committees and 70 subcommittees. • Budget Committee

20. $169,300 per year salary Tax deduction so they may maintain two residences Travel allowances Franking Privilege: free mail President can veto salary, or voter backlash Compensation