1. Congress What do you know about Congress? What do you want to know about Congress?

3. Congress We have a state and a federal legislative branch. Both are Bicameral= 2 houses Why do we have 2 houses in our legislative branch? Upper house is the Senate- equal rep. Lower house is the House of Representatives-rep. based on pop.

4. Terms and Sessions of Congress Term- each term of congress lasts for 2 years. Starts and ends on January 3 of odd numbered years. Session- period of time during which, each year, congress assembles and conducts business. There are 2 sessions for each term of congress Today, congress stays in session throughout most of the year.

5. House of Representatives 435 members of the house are chosen by the voters in 435 separate congressional districts across the country. Page 270- Why was it deemed unfair to fill house seats with an at-large election, rather than using the single member district arrangement?

7. House of Representatives 435 members 2 year terms The house seats are reapportioned throughout the states every 10 years according to a census Each seat in the house represents roughly 650,000 people on average.

8. Every 10 Years US Pop. = 295,000,000 435 Each Represents Approx. 687,000 People

9. States that Added Congressional Seats after 2010 Census State Before 2010 census After 2010 census [5] [5] Arizona89 (+1) Florida2527 (+2) Georgia1314 (+1) Nevada34 (+1) South Carolina67 (+1) Texas3236 (+4) Utah34 (+1) Washington910 (+1) States that Lost Congressional Seats after 2010 Census State Before 2010 census After 2010 census [6] [6] Illinois1918 (-1) Iowa54 (-1) Louisiana76 (-1) Massachusetts109 (-1) Michigan1514 (-1) Missouri98 (-1) New Jersey1312 (-1) New York2927 (-2) Ohio1816 (-2) Pennsylvania1918 (-1)

10. How districts are drawn Districts are drawn by the state legislatures. In the past districts were not drawn with equal numbers of people. This allowed the congress to be dominated by rural areas. Wesberry v. Sanders 1964- Page 271- What is meant by “one person, one vote”?

11. Why would they shape districts like This?

12. "In gerrymandered election districts, the voters don't choose their politicians - the politicians choose their voters!" The State Legislature redraws Congressional Districts in order to gain an advantage for a certain political party in the elections

13. Gerrymandering District lines are drawn by state legislatures Gerrymandering- redrawing of district lines to gain political advantage. Lines are drawn to either 1. Concentrate the oppositions voters in one or a few districts. 2. To spread the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts.

14. ISD 196

15. CRACKING PACKING

16. 61.Gerrymandering p. 271 n a. How did Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) impact gerrymandering practices. n b.Using 4 circles, 5 triangles and 3 districts, show how the minority of circles can get two reps and the majority of triangles only one.

18. Gerrymandering Go to pg 274 and answer questions 1-3 on the bottom right hand corner Once finished partner with 2-3 people and discuss your answers.

19. House of Representatives qualifications Must be at least 25 years of age Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected. Traditionally lives within the district.

20. Agree or Disagree? Explain Competitive elections are good for the country. Elections in the House of Representatives are extremely competitive. Gerrymandering increases partisanship in the House of Representatives. Incumbents have major advantages in getting re-elected, especially in the House of Representatives. Partisan members of the House of Representatives decrease participation in elections.

21. The Senate 2 from each state 6 year terms Terms are staggered (only 1/3 of them expire every 2 years) Senators represent entire states so they tend to represent larger, more diverse populations

22. Differences between House and Senate “It is indispensable that besides the House of Representatives which runs on popular sentiment, we should have a body like the Senate which may refuse to run with it all when it seems to be wrong. A body which has time and security enough to keep its head, if only now and then and but for a little while, till other people have had time to think” Woodrow Wilson

23. Why would Woodrow Wilson say that the House of Representatives runs on popular sentiment? Why might he claim that the Senate can choose to not “run with it” if they so choose”

24. Qualifications for Senators Must be 30 yrs of age Must have been a citizen for 9 yrs Must be an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected

26. Cross Section of Congress 2006 House- 367 men 68 women Senate- 86 men 14 women Page- 280

27. Personal and Political Background Nearly all are married. A few are divorced. 1/3 of house and ½ the senate are lawyers House members vary more in political philosophy and background, where as members of the Senate are usually more moderate Why might this be the case?

28. Personal and Political Backgrounds 535 members of congress are not an accurate cross section of the American People. Why not?

29. Roles of a Congress Person Law Maker Representative of their constituents Committee members-proposed laws are referred to committees in each chamber Servants of their constituents politicians

30. On what basis do representatives cast their votes? Trustee- trusts their own conscience/judgment Delegate- votes as the “folks back home” would like. Partisan- votes according to party Politico- combines basic elements of all three

31. The Scope of Congressional Power Types of Congressional power Expressed Powers- explicitly written in the constitution. Implied Powers- reasonable deduction from the expressed powers. Non-legislative powers- powers that do not deal with creating legislation.

32. Strict vs. Liberal Construction Strict Constructionists- believed congress had expressed powers and implied powers absolutely necessary to carry out those expressed powers. They wanted the states to keep as much power as possible. Believed states were best able to meet their own interests, not a far off national govt. Understood the need for national defense and interstate trade.

33. Liberal Constructionists Favored a broad interpretation of the Constitution. They believed we “need an energetic government”. Which group won this argument? Which interpretation of the constitution do you favor?

34. Vocabulary Constituency Strict Constructionist Incumbent Liberal Constructionist Reapportionment Expressed powers Gerrymandering Implied Powers Trustee Partisans Politicos Delegates