1. Congress
Ch 10

2. Why do we have a bicameral legislature?
The Legislative branch was the first branch established within our new government with Article I
The founders chose a bicameral legislature for a number of reasons:
1) Historical rational (British Parliament is bicameral)
2) Practical rational (to merge the New Jersey and Virginia plans)
3) Theoretical rational (it acts as a check on power)

3. Terms of Congress
A term in Congress lasts two years. Starting at noon on January 3rd and ending at 11:59 two years later
A session is the time they actually assemble. There are two sessions a year.
When congress adjourns, they are suspending work until the next session begins. Remember both houses must have permission from the other to adjourn.

4. Special Sessions
The President can call both or only one of the two houses back to work.
However given the nature of the sessions nearly being year round, this may never be needed again.

5. The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 members, with a minimum of one per State.
The District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, select delegates to represent their interests. But they are not voting members (Puerto Rico has a resident commissioner that works in the same manner)
The whole House of Representatives is up for reelection every two years. There is no term limit set currently.

6. How do we determine who gets what number of seats?
Reapportionment occurs every ten years with our national census.
In 1929 Congress established that the House of Representatives would no longer grow (to prevent making the body too bloated to be effective)
Now reapportionment should work out to about 1 representative for every 650,000 people.

7. Vocabulary for Congressional Districts
Single Member District- the seat goes to who ever wins a plurality within a set district
Gerrymandering- Setting districts to either over- represent or under-represent a group within the electorate.

8. Qualifications for the House of Representatives
Formal:
-At least 25
-Citizen of the U.S. for 7 years
-Inhabit the State you Represent
Members can be punished for disorderly behavior with a majority vote and expel a member with 2/3rds vote.

9. The Senate Is made up of 100 members, two from each state.
They serve a six year term, with only 1/3 being up for reelection every two years.
The longer term insulates the Senate from political reverberations and allows them to look at issues with a more measured approach.

10. Qualifications for the Senate
Formal:
-At least 30 years of age
-Be a citizen for at least 9 years
-inhabit the State you Represent
Much like the House of Representatives, the Senate can punish and expel its members

11. Members of Congress-The Iowa Delegation
The Senators of Iowa:
-Joni Ernst (R)(1st Term)
-Chuck Grassley (R)(6th Term)
The Representatives from Iowa:
1st-Rod Blum (R)(1st Term)
2nd-Dave Loebsack (D)(5th Term)
3rd-David Young (R)(1st Term)
4th-Steve King (R)(7th Term)

12. The Job Members of Congress have four major roles: Legislate
Represent their Constituency
Serve on Committees
Play politics as they are politicians

13. How do they vote? Members have four options when it comes to voting:
Vote as a Trustee- vote on the merits of the issue or “call it as you see it”.
Vote as a Delegate- vote as the “folks back home would want” and potentially suppress their own feelings.
Vote as a Partisan- Vote as the party whip tells you.
Vote as a Politico- A mixture of the above.

14. Roles as a Committee Member
Screen legislation to determine if it should make it to the floor.
Act as the oversight function- determining if things are done the way they are suppose to be done.

15. As Servants of the Constituency
Help resolve problems that may arise for citizens by helping them navigate the bureaucracy.
Examples:
-Helping a Veteran receive the benefits that are due to them
-Appointing candidates to the service academies

16. Compensation A member of Congress makes roughly $200,000 a year.
Offices and staffing, and the Franking privilege
Additionally, they receive tax cuts, travel allowances, health benefits, and the pension plan.