1. Congress

2. The National Legislature
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. CONGRESS or Congressman
House of Representatives (HOR/House)
Representative
Senate
Senator

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

5. Practical
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

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

7. Terms and Sessions of Congress
A term of congress last two years
The 20th 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

8. Terms and Sessions of Congress
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

9. The House of Representatives
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

10. The House of Representatives
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 gained a seat in 2010

12. Qualifications for the House
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

13. Congressional Elections
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

14. Congressional Districts
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

16. Gerrymandering
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

17. Illinois District 4
Illinois' 4th congressional district - since January 3, 2013.
Current Representative:
Luis Gutiérrez (D–Chicago)
Median income 39,744
Ethnicity
57.9% White
3.9% Black
2.3% Asian
71.8% Hispanic
0.2% Native American
0.0% Hawaiian

19. Congressional Districts
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

20. The Senate

21. The Senate
Unlike the House, the size of the United States Senate is limited by the Constitution
Each state is allowed two senators to represent them in Congress
Each state is represented equally!
There are currently 50 states, which mean that there are 100 senators!

22. Terms and Elections
Unlike members of the House who are elected for 2-year terms, members of the Senate are elected for 6-year terms
Members of both houses are not restricted by term limits
A Senator represents the entire state from which he/she is elected
Senators have a larger constituency

23. Terms and Elections
The Senate is a continuous body, meaning that only a portion (1/3) of the senators are up for election at one time
The Constitution originally called for state legislatures to select senators for each state
Changed by the 17th Amendment which calls for the people to elect senators

24. Qualification for the Senate
The Constitution sets higher level qualifications for the Senate than it does the House
You must be at least 30 years old
You must have been a citizen of the US for at least 9 years
You must be an inhabitant of the state from which you are elected

25. Senate Powers
Both the House and the Senate have the power to exclude members by a majority vote
The Senate also has the power to expel a member with 2/3 vote for disorderly conduct
Approve Cabinet members, Federal Judges and Ambassadors appointed by the President.

26. Fillabuster A stalling tactic to delay a vote on a specific bill.
An attempt to “Talk a bill to death
Was designed to ensure that minority groups were still able to voice their opinions on the Senate Floor.
A senator could speak on a bill for as long as they wish. With the goal to delay or stop a vote on a bill.
Filibusters can stop senate business for up to a week.

27. Rules of a filibuster During the filibuster the senator may not:
Sit or lead against an object
Eat
Drink
Use the Restroom

28. Cloture With out cloture to filibuster may continue until…
The senator leaves the floor (Give us the filibuster)
The Remaining Senators invoke Cloture
Cloture is the process in ending a filibuster with a vote of 3/5 or ____________/100

29. Famous Filabusters
Most Recent: Jeff Merkley D-Or. 15 Hours on Trumps Supreme Court Appointment Niel Gorsuch
On June 12, 1935, Sen. Huey Long, D-La., filibustered for more than 15 hours
Strom Thurmand 1957 R- S.C.
24 hours and 18 minutes to block a vote on the Civirl Rights Act.

30. Famous Filibuster's Cont.
Sen. Alfonse D’Amato R-NY: Talked for 15 hours
Much of his time talking was spend reading the local phone book

31. Members of Congress

32. Members of Congress
Congress is made up of people from a variety of different backgrounds, but is not yet considered a representative cross section of American society
On average, members of Congress are white men in their early 50’s
Of the 6 representatives in Nevada, 4 are white males

33. Most Common Traits Among Congress
Married w/Children (2)
Religious Affiliation
Protestant
Catholic
Many are lawyers
Most went to college
Advanced degrees
Born in the state that they represent
Political experience
Average Senator is serving their 2nd term
Typical Rep. has served 4 terms
Most are upper middle class Americans

34. Roles of Congressman
Senators and Representatives play five different roles
Legislators
Representatives to their Constituents
Trustees
Partisans
Delegates
Politicos
Committee Members
Oversight function
Servants of their Constituents
Politicians

35. Compensation
Being a member of Congress is a job, and like other jobs, you get paid (or compensated) for your work
The Constitution says that members of Congress may set their own pay
On average, most Reps and Senators make about $162,000 per year
In addition, Congressional members may also receive nonsalary compensation
Travel allowances, special tax deductions, cheap life &
health insurance, retirement plan, offices, money for
staff, franking privilege, free printing, etc.

36. Compensation
Although Congress may set its own salary, there are limits. Limits include…
Presidents veto power
Potential voter backlash
Members of Congress also receive other benefits
One such benefit is legislative immunity which protects them from lawsuits for libel and slander
This is a Constitutional provision; the Framers believed that freedom of speech was a vital part of legislative debate
This protection applies whether debating on the floor, working in committee, or anything done in relation to Congressional business