1. The Legislative Branch
The Senate & The House of Representatives

2. Two Houses of Congress The legislative branch makes the country’s laws
Constitution states that Congress shall be composed of two houses
Senate
House of Representatives
Both small and large states would be fairly represented
House of Representatives based on state population
Each state represented equally in Senate (2 senators)
Each house can check the actions of the other
Prevents Congress from passing laws too hastily

3. House of Representatives
Fixed number of 435
Number of representatives each state has is based on that state’s population
After every census (10 years), Congress determines how each state will be represented
How will those 435 seats be divided up among the states?

4. Congressional Districts
Representatives are elected by voters in a congressional district
State legislatures must divide the state into as many districts as it has representatives
(13 representatives = 13 districts)
District boundaries must be drawn so that each district is approx. equal in population

5. Congressional Districts
Some politicians draw district lines that favor a certain political party or group of people
Gerrymandering
For example, Democrats may draw district lines that place Democratic voters as the majority in those districts so they can get more votes
Republicans might draw district lines to gain more white voters or keep out black voters

6. Electing Representatives
Representatives are elected every two years
Serve two year terms
Can serve as long as they are re- elected (no term limits)
 Walter Jones, 3rd District, in office since 1995

7. The Senate Each state, regardless of size, has two senators
100 members, 2 from each of the 50 states
Senators represent the entire state
Elected every six years
Only 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years
1995- Supreme Court ruled that term limits for senators are unconstitutional
People have a right to choose their federal lawmakers- term limits infringe upon this right

8. Qualifications Representatives: Senators
25 years old
U.S. citizen for 7 years
Legal resident of the state he/she represents
Senators
30 years old
U.S. citizen for 9 years
Ratio of women and ethnic minorities in Congress still well below percentages in the actual population

9. Salary & Benefits Yearly salary of $145,100
The power of Congress to set its own salary was hotly debated
27th Amendment- no increase in pay can take place until after the next congressional election
Allows voters to respond by voting for or against members who supported a pay increase

10. Salary & Benefits
Offices in the Capitol Building and receive an allowance to pay staff members
Free trips to home states, other allowances
Franking Privilege- can mail official letters or packages free of charge
Immunity- cannot be arrested in a meeting of Congress, or on their way to or from a meeting
Ensures members of Congress are not kept from doing their jobs
Cannot be sued for what they say while speaking to Congress- freedom to debate

11. Rules of Conduct
Senate and the House have a right to decide who can become a member of Congress
Debates over elected members rarely happen
Congress has set rules of conduct for its members
Cannot use campaign finances for personal expenses
Limit to the amount of outside income they can receive
Must make a full disclosure of their financial holdings

12. Rules of Conduct
Expulsion- serious misconduct may result in a member of Congress being removed from office
Two-thirds vote of whatever house it is
Usually a result of serious offenses
Vote of Censure- formal disproval of a member’s actions
Must stand alone in front of whatever house it is and listen to the charges brought against them

13. ?
How are states represented in the Senate? How are they represented in the House of Representatives?
Why is it possible that a state’s representatives in the House might change every 10 years?
What is gerrymandering?
When are senators elected? Why do they not have term limits?
What is the significance of the 27th Amendment?