2.  Our Constitution sets up a bicameral Congress  Two houses  House of Representatives  Senate  The Framers of the Constitution set up a two house Congress for three reasons  Historical  Practical  Theoretical

3.  British Parliament made up of two houses  Most colonial assemblies and state legislatures hade been bicameral

4.  The Framers had to settle the conflict between the large states and small states in regards to representation issues  Based on population?  Based on equality?  Each state is represented equally in the Senate  Representation is based on population in the House

5.  A two house Congress would allow for one house to act as a check on the other house  Remember – Checks & Balances

6.  A term of congress last two years  The 20 th Amendment to the Constitution states that each new two-year term begins at “noon of the 3d day of January”  Congress has the power to “appoint a different day”  A term of Congress is made up of two sessions  A session is when Congress actually assembles to conduct business

7.  Congress has the power to adjourn, or suspend, each regular session as it sees fit  Congress remains in session through most of each year  President has the power to prorogue (end or discontinue) a session if the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment  The President may call a special session of Congress to deal with emergency situations  Only 26 special sessions have ever been held  May call all of Congress, or just the House or Senate  Threats of special sessions

8.  Each state is apportioned seats in the House based on population  Nevada = 4  California = 53  These numbers may change due to the census!  The size of the House is set by Congress  In 1929, the size of the House was permanently set at 435

9.  Every state is guarantees at least one seat in the House  The number of seats each state has can be reapportioned (redistributed) every 10 years based on the outcome of the census  Because the House is permanently set 435, if one state gains seats, then another must lose seats  Nevada may gained a seat in 2010

10.  In order to run and hold a seat in the House of Representative, you must meet certain criteria set out in the Constitution:  You must be at least 25 years old  You must have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years  You must be an inhabitant of the state from which you are elected  According to long standing custom, most candidates are also required to live in the district that they represent

11.  Congressional elections are held on the same day in every state  The first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even numbered year  A congressional election that is held on a “nonpresidential” year is called an off-year election!  During an off-year election, it is typical for the party that holds the presidency to loss seats in Congress

12.  For 10 points extra credit, please tell me  1) the exact date of the next Congressional election  2) whether or not it is an off-year election, and  3) which party is likely to gain seats in Congress!  Due at the beginning of next class!

13.  A member of the House typically represents a district within a state  State legislatures are responsible for drawing the Congressional district within their state  District are required by law to meet certain criteria:  A district must be made up of “contiguous territory”  Must be all one piece  Each district in a state must have roughly the same population

15.  Sometimes, Congressional districts may be drawn in odd shapes; these districts are usually the result of gerrymandering  To gerrymander means to draw the district in a way that will benefit the party in power (state legislature)  To concentrate the oppositions voters in one or few districts  To spread the opposition as thinly as possible

16.  Congressional districts are set up under the basis of the single-member district  Only people living in the district may vote for the representative for that district  Some states used to use the at-large system  All people in the state voted for all Reps for the state  Considered unfair