1. The Legislative Branch

2. 10.1 – The National Legislature
A Bicameral Congress – 2 House Legislature
Historical: Most of the Framers of the Constitution were already familiar with the British Parliament (2 Houses: House of Lords & House of Commons)
Practical: fair and equal representation in both houses of Congress
Theoretical: in hopes that one house might act as a check on the other

3. Terms & Sessions Terms of Congress – 2 years (111th)
Start Date: January 3rd of odd-numbered years
Sessions – period of time in which congress assembles and conducts business
2 Sessions for every term
Adjourning a session can be done by both houses or the president
Special Sessions: called in case of an emergency

4. 10.2 & 10.3 – The House & The Senate
The House of Representatives
The Senate
1.Larger body (435) Smaller body (100)
2.Shorter term (2 yr.) Longer term (6 yr.)
3.Smaller Larger
constituencies constituencies
4.Younger Older
membership (25 yr.) membership (30 yr.)

5. The House of Representatives
The Senate
5.Less prestige More prestige
6.Lower visibility Higher visibility in
in the news media the news media
7.Strict rules, Flexible rules,
limited debate nearly unlimited debate
8.Most work is done Work is split more
in committees, Not on evenly between
the floor committees and
the floor

6. The House of Representatives
The Senate
9.No power over Approves or rejects treaties and treaties and
presidential presidential
appointments appointments
10.Single-member At-large elections
district elections

7. 10.4 – Members of Congress Characteristics of Members of Congress
NOT a cross section of the American people
White, male, mid-50’s
89/538 – Women
42/538 – African American
27/538 – Hispanic
7/538 – Asian
Most are lawyers; 80% have college degrees
Upper-middle class hard-working Americans

8. Major Roles Representatives: of their constituents (people)
Trustee: votes by conscience & judgment
Delegate: votes by what the people want
Partisan: votes by party
Politico: uses all of the above to vote
Committee Members: screen proposed laws
Servants to their constituency

9. Compensation $165,200/yr. House & Senate $215,700/yr. Speaker & V.P.
$180,100/yr. President Pro Tem/
Majority & Minority
Non-Salary: “Fringe Benefits”
Tax deductions
Travel allowances
Health & Life insurance
Retirement plan
Allowances for offices and staff
Franking privilege – mail postage-free
Free printing
Free from arrest while in session (Excluding cases of treason and felony)

10. 24.2 – The Texas State Legislature
Structure & Size
Bicameral: Senate (31 members) & House (150 members)
Qualifications
Senate – Age: 26; Residency: 5 yrs. Before election and last year within the district of representation
House – Age: 21; Residency: 2 yrs. Before election and last year within the district of representation

11. The State Legislature
Election: Popular vote; November of even-numbered years
Terms
Senate: 4 years
House: 2 years
Compensation
Salary: $600/month; $10,000-25,000/month for office expenses; Pensions
Legislative Sessions
meets every other year
special sessions