CH. 10

Congress is bicameral. HOUSE OF REPS # of reps per state depends on population as counted every 10 years in the National Census and then reapportioned. 435 Reps in total 2 year terms (but no limit on # of terms) Elected by district SENATE 2 Senators per state 100 Senators in total 6 year terms (but no limit on # of terms) Elected by entire state

SENATE  At least 30 yrs. Old  Citizens for 9+ years  More prestige  More Media Coverage  Our Senators:  Each state has 2 senators, no matter size  Some represent very few; some represent a great many HOUSE OF REPS  At least 25 yrs. old  Citizens for 7+ years  Less Prestige  Less Media Coverage  OUR Representatives:  State with MOST Reps:  State with LEAST Reps:  Rep = 650,000 citizens

State legislatures draw boundaries of districts but, since 1964, gerrymandering has been illegal.

1. Legislator: make laws 2. Committee Member:  Screen bills to see if House/Senate should discuss  Check to see if the executive is properly enforcing laws (Oversight Function) 3. Constituent Representative:  Represent/vote as “folk back home” would 4. Constituent Servant:  Do favors for constituents 5. Politician:  Stay in touch with party leaders & fellow candidates

Use own judgment, regardless of voter opinion Trustee: Vote based on views of “folks back home” Delegate: Vote along party lines Partisan: Balance of all three of the above Politico:

 Term = length of time that officials serve after an election, as in a two- or six-year term  Start (per 20th Amendment) at “noon of the 3d day of January” of every odd- numbered year.

The SENATE is a Continuous Body: The entire Senate is NOT up for election at any one time. Instead, 1/3 is up every two years, for a total 6 year term each. Every two years, all Representatives and 1/3 of Senate are up for election.

Session = regular period of time during which Congress conducts business. Congress adjourns, or suspends until the next session, each regular session as it sees fit. If necessary, the President has the power to prorogue, or adjourn, a session, but only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment. Only the President may call Congress into a special session—a meeting to deal with some emergency situation.

 Senators/Representatives salary: $174,000 a year. (Leaders are paid more)  The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage.  The Constitution says that Congress fixes its own “compensation.” Therefore, the only real limits to congressional pay are the President’s veto and fear of voter backlash against a pay increase.

 Can’t be arrested for noncriminal offenses from their official conduct.  Can’t be sued for libel or slander arising from their official conduct.