1. The Legislative Branch: Section 2
Members of Congress

2. I. Members of the 115th Congress
Who are Ohio’s two Senators?
Rob Portman (R)
Sherrod Brown (D)
Who is Ohio’s House of Representative (District 10)?
Mike Turner

3. II. Demographics Average is white male 61 (S)/ 57(H) years old
23% women: 83 House, 21 in the Senate
Who is Nancy Pelosi?
1st ever female Speaker of the House (D)

4. II. Demographics
12% of the House is African American (13% of total population); only 3 in Senate
Obama was the 5th African American ever elected to the Senate (10 total)
Mia Love of Utah was the first black Republican woman to serve in Congress
Senator Cory Booker (NJ)

5. II. Demographics 7% are Hispanic: 34 (H), 4 (S)
Republican Presidential Candidates Marco Rubio(Florida) & Ted Cruz (Texas)
Most are married average of 2 kids

6. II. Demographics Religion 7 LGBT 56% Protestant 31% Catholic 30 Jewish
15 Mormon
4 Hindu
2 Muslim
3 Buddhist
9 Don’t know, refused, unaffiliated, atheist
7 LGBT
Barney Frank (MA)
Tammy Baldwin (Wisc)

7. III. Education Almost all are College graduates
Most are Lawyers
Several are Millionaires (268…almost half) and born in the state they represent

8. IV. Democrat vs. Republican
House: 240 Republican; 194 Democrat; 1 Runoff (Louisiana)
Senate: 51Republican; 46 Democrat & 2 independents who lean Democrat; 1 Runoff (Louisiana)

9. V. The Job – 5 Major Roles
Legislators: making laws is #1 responsibility
Representatives for their constituents
Servants of their constituents
Committee Members
Politicians

10. V. The Job Voting Options – 4 Options
Trustee: believe each question they face must be decided on its merits. Conscience and independent… “call em’ as they see em’.”
Delegate: Agents of those who elected them…ignore their own thoughts and vote the way the “folks” back home would want them too.
Partisans: Party first voters (leading factor that influences votes)
Politicos: combination of the 3 above

11. V. The Job Committee Members
Proposed laws are referred to committees in each Chamber (House/Senate)
Screen those proposals & decide which go to the Floor for consideration – that is, be considered by the full membership of the House and Senate
Provide the Oversight Function
Congress’ ability to keep agencies of the Executive Branch in check
e.g. Torture at Gitmo; Watergate

12. V. The Job
Servants to their Constituents: helping their people they represent with bureaucracy – passport application, Social Security benefits, etc.

13. V. The Job Compensation: 27th Amendment
Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400
House Leadership Speaker of the House – $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority Leader - $193,400

14. V. The Job Fringe Benefits
Special Tax Deductions (many have two residences)
Generous Travel allowances
Full Medical care at very low rates
Excellent Retirement
Franking Privilege (don’t pay for postage)
Use signature (Frank) as the stamp