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Section 1 Congressional Membership Chapter Focus Section 1 Congressional Membership Section 2 The House of Representatives Section 3 The Senate Section 4 Congressional Committees Section 5 Staff and Support Agencies Chapter Assessment Contents

Why It’s Important

Section 1 Introduction-1 Congressional Membership Key Terms bicameral legislature, session, census, reapportionment, redistrict, gerrymander, at-large, censure, incumbent Objective(s) • Describe the structure of Congress and list the qualifications for congressional membership. • What are the key common characteristics of members of Congress? Section 1 Introduction-1

Jeanette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, was the first woman elected to Congress. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1916 and was reelected in 1940. Section 1-1

I. Congressional Sessions (page 123) - Each term begins January 1st - One session each year B. Sessions last until Congress votes to adjourn. - Adjourn = break off with the intention of meeting later Each term of Congress has two sessions. Section 1-2

Sessions: A term of Congress is divided into two "sessions", one for each year; Congress has occasionally also been called into an extra session. A new session commences on January 3 each year. Before the Twentieth Amendment, Congress met from the first Monday in December to April or May in the first session of their term and from December to March 4 in the second "short session". The southwest corner of the United States Capital in Washington. The Constitution forbids Congress from meeting elsewhere. The Constitution forbids either house from meeting any place outside the Capital, or from adjourning for more than three days, without the consent of the other house. The provision was intended to prevent one house from thwarting legislative business simply by refusing to meet. To avoid obtaining consent during long recesses, the House or Senate may sometimes hold pro forma meetings, sometimes only minutes long, every three days. The consent of both bodies is required for Congress's final adjournment, or adjournment sine die, at the end of each congressional session. If the two houses cannot agree on a date, the Constitution permits the President to settle the dispute

I. Congressional Sessions (page 123) Until 1933 Congress remained in session only four to six months each year. Should modern Congresses return to this schedule? Why or why not? Section 1-3

II. Membership of the House (pages 124–127) 435 Members Decided on November 11th A. Members must be at least 25 years old, citizens for at least 7 years, and residents of the states they represent. B. Members serve for two-year terms. C. The number of representatives from each state is determined by the census population count every 10 years. D. State legislatures set up congressional districts after the census count, with one representative from each district. Section 1-4

II. Membership of the House (pages 124–127) Section 1-5

II. Membership of the House (pages 124–127) Today, each House member represents about 625,000 people. When the population increases, should Congress add more members to the House? Why or why not? No. The size of the House is limited for more efficient government. Section 1-6

II. Membership of the House (pages 124–127) Section 1-7

III. Membership of the Senate (pages 128–129) A. Senators must be at least 30 years old, citizens for at least 9 years, and residents of the states they represent. B. Senators serve for 6-year terms; one-third are elected every two years. C. Each state elects two senators. D. The Senate and the House set their members’ salaries; members receive numerous benefits, allowances for office staffs and business trips, tax breaks for maintaining two residences, and pensions when they retire. WHY DO THEY SERVE LONGER? This continuity and the longer six year term was meant to enable Senators to resist the pressure of immediate popular opinion and be able to serve as a restraining influence. The framers expected Senators to be older, wiser, and more deliberative than Representatives Section 1-8

III. Membership of the Senate (pages 128–129) E. Both House and Senate members enjoy immunity from arrest, in cases not involving a felony or treason, or being sued for libel when Congress is in session. F. Both the Senate and House may refuse to seat a member and may censure or even expel members. Section 1-9

Cover Story 1

III. Membership of Senate (pages 128–129) The Senate and the House set their own salaries. - In 1789 salaries for both houses were $6 per day. Twenty-Seventh Amendment was ratified that prohibits a sitting Congress from giving itself a pay raise. However cost of living adjustments allow for changes to be made. Average annual salary for a Congressman is $174,000. If you were a politician, would you rather be a member of the House or the Senate? Explain. Section 1-10

IV. The Members of Congress (pages 129–130) A. Nearly half the members of Congress are lawyers. B. White, middle-aged male members are increasingly joined by members reflecting the ethnic, racial, and gender makeup of the general population. B. 43 members of House are African Americans and 2 Senators. The average age is 57 years old with most being males. There are more Republicans in the present congress than Democrats Section 1-11

IV. The Members of Congress (pages 129–130) Section 1-12

Checking for Understanding 1. Main Idea In a graphic organizer similar to the one below, compare the qualifications for representatives and senators. House: 25 years old; citizen for 7 years; resident of state. Senate: 30 years old; citizen for 9 years; resident of state. Section 1 Assessment-1

Checking for Understanding Match the term with the correct definition. ___ bicameral legislation ___ censure ___ census ___ incumbent ___ gerrymander ___ at-large A. a population count B. elected official that is already in office C. as a whole; for example, statewide D. a vote of formal disapproval of a member’s actions E. to draw a district’s boundaries to gain advantages in elections F. a two-chambered legislature Section 1 Assessment-2

Checking for Understanding 4. How does Congress reapportion House seats among the states every ten years? Following the Census, each state’s population determines how the House seats are reapportioned. Section 1 Assessment-4

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity 1. What is the subject of this cartoon? The subject is incumbent members of Congress. Chapter Assessment 11

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity 2. What do the roots of the tree trunk symbolize? The roots represent the network of support that incumbents build—a network that makes it hard for them to be “uprooted” by a challenger at election time. Chapter Assessment 12

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity 3. According to this cartoon, how difficult is it to unseat an incumbent? It is extremely difficult. Chapter Assessment 13

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