The Legislative Branch The Senate & The House of Representatives

Two Houses of Congress The legislative branch makes the country’s laws Constitution states that Congress shall be composed of two houses Senate House of Representatives Both small and large states would be fairly represented House of Representatives based on state population Each state represented equally in Senate (2 senators) Each house can check the actions of the other Prevents Congress from passing laws too hastily

House of Representatives Fixed number of 435 Number of representatives each state has is based on that state’s population After every census (10 years), Congress determines how each state will be represented How will those 435 seats be divided up among the states?

Congressional Districts Representatives are elected by voters in a congressional district State legislatures must divide the state into as many districts as it has representatives (13 representatives = 13 districts) District boundaries must be drawn so that each district is approx. equal in population

Congressional Districts Some politicians draw district lines that favor a certain political party or group of people Gerrymandering For example, Democrats may draw district lines that place Democratic voters as the majority in those districts so they can get more votes Republicans might draw district lines to gain more white voters or keep out black voters

Electing Representatives Representatives are elected every two years Serve two year terms Can serve as long as they are re- elected (no term limits)  Walter Jones, 3rd District, in office since 1995

The Senate Each state, regardless of size, has two senators 100 members, 2 from each of the 50 states Senators represent the entire state Elected every six years Only 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years 1995- Supreme Court ruled that term limits for senators are unconstitutional People have a right to choose their federal lawmakers- term limits infringe upon this right

Qualifications Representatives: Senators 25 years old U.S. citizen for 7 years Legal resident of the state he/she represents Senators 30 years old U.S. citizen for 9 years Ratio of women and ethnic minorities in Congress still well below percentages in the actual population

Salary & Benefits Yearly salary of $145,100 The power of Congress to set its own salary was hotly debated 27th Amendment- no increase in pay can take place until after the next congressional election Allows voters to respond by voting for or against members who supported a pay increase

Salary & Benefits Offices in the Capitol Building and receive an allowance to pay staff members Free trips to home states, other allowances Franking Privilege- can mail official letters or packages free of charge Immunity- cannot be arrested in a meeting of Congress, or on their way to or from a meeting Ensures members of Congress are not kept from doing their jobs Cannot be sued for what they say while speaking to Congress- freedom to debate

Rules of Conduct Senate and the House have a right to decide who can become a member of Congress Debates over elected members rarely happen Congress has set rules of conduct for its members Cannot use campaign finances for personal expenses Limit to the amount of outside income they can receive Must make a full disclosure of their financial holdings

Rules of Conduct Expulsion- serious misconduct may result in a member of Congress being removed from office Two-thirds vote of whatever house it is Usually a result of serious offenses Vote of Censure- formal disproval of a member’s actions Must stand alone in front of whatever house it is and listen to the charges brought against them

? How are states represented in the Senate? How are they represented in the House of Representatives? Why is it possible that a state’s representatives in the House might change every 10 years? What is gerrymandering? When are senators elected? Why do they not have term limits? What is the significance of the 27th Amendment?