1. Congress
Unit 2

2. I. The National Legislature

3. Bicameral Congress Reasons:
Historical - British Parliament is bicameral
Practical - New Jersey and Virginia Plan
Theoretical - allows for checks and balances

4. Terms and Sessions Terms of Congress Lasts for two years
Currently: 113th Congress
Session
One session each year
Special Session
Called by the President in emergency

5. II. The House of Representatives

6. Size and Terms
435 members
Representatives are apportioned (distributed) based on state population
Two-Year Terms

7. Reapportionment
Article 1 of Constitution - reapportion or redistribute seats after census (every 10 years)

8. Congressional Elections
Off-Year Elections
AKA not a presidential election (2010, 2014)
Usually the party in power (president’s party) loses seats

9. Congressional Elections
Districts
435 members = 435 districts
Single-member district = we vote for one representative for each district

10. Congressional Elections
Gerrymandering
Drawing district lines to help party in charge
Meant to:
Concentrate oppositions voters to a few districts
Spread opposition as thinly as possibly

11. Congressional Elections
Supreme Court Cases
Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964: districts must be drawn so equal amounts of people are included in each district
Gomillion v. Lightfoot, 1960: gerrymandering can’t be done based solely on race

12. Qualifications for House Members
Rules Set by Constitution
At least 25 years of age
U.S. citizen for the last 7 years
Resident of state in which he/she is elected

13. III. The Senate

14. Size and Election 2 Senators per state (100 total)
17th Amendment - popular election of senators

15. Senate Terms 6-year terms
Continuous body - all seats aren’t given up at the same time since terms are staggered
Focus on “big picture”

16. Qualifications for Senators
Rules Set by Constitution
At least 30 years old
Citizen of the U.S. for last nine years
Resident of the state in which he/she is elected

17. IV. The Members of Congress

18. Backgrounds
Average member of Congress is a white male in his early 50s
This current Congress is the most diverse

20. The Job Legislators - lawmakers Representatives of their Constituents
Committee Members
Servants of their Constituents
Politicians

21. Compensation Salary = $174,000/year (average) Non-Salary Compensation
tax deductions, travel allowances, offices in Capitol and home town, “franking privilege” (mail letters postage-free), free printing, etc.