Further breakdown of the Legislative Branch House of Representatives and the Senate

Standing Committee Activity Standing Committees deal with proposed bills and also act in an oversight function. They are permanent, existing from one congress to the next. You are in the Senate’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee: teams-will-soon-be-patting-you-down-outside-the-airport teams-will-soon-be-patting-you-down-outside-the-airport There is a proposed bill that is coming through your standing committee that aims to further prevent terrorism. The bill wants to add stricter regulations at airports, more security screenings, screening people randomly throughout the airport, screening people outside the airport, along with at train stations and concert venues. Weigh the pros and cons of this bill and make a decision as a group as to if this bill should be passed. Be willing to discuss

Breakdown of Congress by the people

The House of Representatives Exact size today is 435 members, not a fixed size, but fixed by congress. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives shall be apportioned (distributed) among the States on the basis of their respective populations. Seven states have only one representative apiece due to their size: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Rules for getting elected to the House of Representatives According to “Article 1, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution provides that “Representatives shall be……..chosen every second Year.” This rather short term means that, for House members, the next election is always just around the corner. That fact tends to make them pay close attention to “the folks back home.”

Term Limits There is no constitutional limit on the number of terms any member of Congress may serve.

Reapportionment Article 1 of the Constitution directs Congress to reapportion (redistribute) the seats in the House every ten years, after each census.

Reapportionment after 2010 census

A Growing Nation As the nation’s population grew over the decades, and as the number of states also increased, so did the size of the House of Representatives. It went fro 142 seats after the census of 1800, to 182 seats 10 years later.

Reapportionment Act of The “permanent” size of the House is 435 members. Of course that figure is permanent only so long as Congress does not decide to change it. Today each of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives represents an average of some 700,000 persons. Following each census, the Census Bureau is to determine the number of seats each State should have. When the Bureau’s plan is ready, the President must send it to Congress. If, within 60 days of receiving it, neither house rejects the Census Bureau’s plan, it becomes effective.

The Election of the House of Representatives itself Congressional elections are held on the same day in every State. Since 1872 Congress has required that those elections be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November Gerrymandering- Congressional district maps in several states show one and sometimes several districts of very odd shapes. Some look like letters S or Y, some resemble a dumbell or squiggly piece of spaghetti. Those districts have usually been gerrymandered. That is, they have been drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature. Gerrymandering’s main goal is to create as many “safe” districts as possible.

Supreme Court Case involving Gerrymandering Wesberry vs. Sanders (1964)- The Supreme Court held that the Constitution demands that the States draw congressional districts of substantially equal populations.

Formal Qualifications for becoming a member of the House of Representatives Must be at least 25 years of age. Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years. Be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected

Informal Qualifications of being elected to the House of Representatives Vote getting abilities, they consist of the following; Party identification Name familiarity Gender Ethnic characteristics Political Experience

The Senate (Important to know) Nearly a third of the present members of the Senate once served in the House of Representatives None of the current members of the House have ever served in the Senate. The Senate is known as the “upper house”

Make-up of the Senate The Constitution says that the Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each state” Today the Senate is a much larger body than the Framers imagined. Some 100 senators represent 50 states.

Terms of a Senator Senators serve for six-year terms, three times the length of those for which members of the house are chosen. The constitution puts no limit on the number of terms to which a senator may be elected. Ex: Robert Byrd (Democrat, West Virginia) completed 9 terms. A continuous body- That is, all of its seats are never up for election at the same time. Senator from

Qualifications to be a Senator A senator must meet a high level of qualifications than that of a House member. Must be 30 years of age Have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years. Be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

Demographic Breakdown of Congress compared to the Rest of America - 27% of Americans have college degrees, 93% of congressman have college degrees (44% of congressmen have law degrees) - 51% of Americans are Women, 17% of congress is women. - 17% of Americans are age 60 or older, 40% of Congress is 60 or older. - 13% of Americans are foreign born, 2% of congress is foreign born

Occupations Prior to congress

How do the representative represent the people? As a delegate, trustee, partisan, or politico Delegate- sees themselves as the agents of the people who elected them. Trustee- believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits. Partisan- believe that they owe their first allegiance to their political party. Politico- attempt to combine the basic elements of the delegate, trustee, and partisan roles.

Breakdown of the Legislative Branch In every session of Congress, proposed laws, known as bills, are referred to the various committees in each chamber. As committee members, senators and representatives must screen those proposals. They decide, in the committee, which measures will go on to floor consideration……..

Salaries Today, senators and representatives are paid $174,000 per year. (per capita income in Prince William County- $36,842) A few members are paid somewhat more. The Speaker of the House makes $223,500 per year. The Vice President makes $227,300 per year. The floor leaders of both houses receive $193,400 per year. President’s Salary- $400,000 annual salary, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment

The Powers of Congress identify, in your own words, the powers granted to the United States Congress in Article I of the United States Constitution.

The Powers of Congress Define each and determine Congresses’ role in being responsible for each of these powers. As a group determine if you think Congress is the right branch of government to look after these powers. Is this putting too much power in one branch? (use previous government philosophers or philosophies that we have talked about to back up your answer). Levy taxes Borrow money Regulate commerce Coin money

Constitution Hall Pass

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