1. Congress Members, Qualifications, and Elections

2. Congress Members House of Representatives House of Representatives 435 members 435 members Members per state divided based on population (total is always 435) Members per state divided based on population (total is always 435) Every state is guaranteed one House Representative. Every state is guaranteed one House Representative. Represent a congressional district Represent a congressional district Rep. Suzanne Bomanici, Oregon Congressional District 1

3. House Representatives represent one congressional district. (therefore, the U.S. has 435 districts). Districts are based on population. Oregon has 5 congressional districts. Districts are re-done following every census (every 10 years)

5. Congress Members Senate Senate 100 members 100 members 2 Members Per state 2 Members Per state Represent the entire state Represent the entire state Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley (right) and Ron Wyden (left)

6. Terms and Term Limits Senators: Elected for 6 year terms. Senators: Elected for 6 year terms. House Representatives: Elected for 2 year terms. House Representatives: Elected for 2 year terms. (more responsive to the desires of their constituents) (more responsive to the desires of their constituents) Neither have term limits (can be elected an unlimited amount of times) Neither have term limits (can be elected an unlimited amount of times)

7. Formal Qualifications: House of Representatives House of Representatives: House of Representatives: Must be 25 years old Must be 25 years old Must have been a United States citizen for 7 years Must have been a United States citizen for 7 years Must be residents of the states in which they are running for election. Must be residents of the states in which they are running for election.

8. Formal Qualifications: Senate Senate Senate Must be 30 years old Must be 30 years old Must have had U.S. citizenship for 9 years Must have had U.S. citizenship for 9 years Must be a resident of the state you are running for election in. Must be a resident of the state you are running for election in.

9. Informal Qualifications Experience in politics and public service Experience in politics and public service Clean legal background Clean legal background Access to money for funding campaign Access to money for funding campaign Personable Personable

10. Incumbents Incumbent: Current occupant of political office. Incumbent: Current occupant of political office. Significance: Significance: Incumbents have an advantage in elections. Incumbents have an advantage in elections. Experience Experience Track Record Track Record Easily Recognizable Easily Recognizable Constituent A voting member of a community A voting member of a community

12. Activity: Running for Congress You will create a resume and campaign poster for a prospective candidate running for Congress. You will create a resume and campaign poster for a prospective candidate running for Congress. You can create the resume and poster for yourself *or* a fictional candidate. You can create the resume and poster for yourself *or* a fictional candidate. Include: Your Qualifications: Your Qualifications: Formal (age, citizenship, residency) Formal (age, citizenship, residency) Informal (background and experience) Informal (background and experience) Stance on a couple issues (think of issues that are relevant to your local community) Stance on a couple issues (think of issues that are relevant to your local community) Political Party Political Party Statement on why constituents should vote for you Statement on why constituents should vote for youPoster: Striking visual design or color scheme Striking visual design or color scheme Slogan or catchphrase Slogan or catchphrase