1. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CH 10 The basics of Congress Senate
House of Representative
Members of Congress

2. The Legislative Branch

3. Basics Our Congress is a Bicameral legislature
Meaning: it is made up of 2 houses
Senate
House of Representatives
There was a Compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans
The Senate is based on equal representation (2 per state)
The House is based on the population of the State (the more people, the more Representatives)

4. Basics A term of Congress lasts 2 years.
Starts at “Noon of the 3rd day of January”
We are in the 112th term of Congress that will expire on January 3rd of 2013.
A session of Congress is the period of time where they conduct business
2 sessions per Term, 1 each year
Congress suspends work when they see fit (it used to be 4
or 5 months, but now a lot longer)
A Special Session of Congress is called by only
the President, in times of emergency
This has only happened 26 times, the last was 1948

5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
At least 25 years old
Have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years
Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected
Serve 2 year terms
435 members of the HOUSE
7 states have 1 representative

6. SENATE At least 30 years old
Have been a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years
Must be an inhabitant from the State from which he or she is elected
Serve 6 years
Always 100 senators

7. ILLINOIS’ UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES
Dick Durbin (D)
Mark Kirk (R)
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE – from ILLINOIS 18TH DISTRICT
Aaron Schock(R)
ILLINOIS’ U.S. SENATORS

8. Voting Options: (4) Congressional Duties: (5)
1. Legislator 2. Representative
3. Servant 4. Committee Member
5. Politician
Voting Options: (4)
1. Trustee – Rep. judges by his/her conscience if the bill has merit.
2. Delegate – Rep. is an “agent”, votes according to the constituents.
3. Partisan – B/c of allegiance to the party the Rep. votes along party lines.
4. Politico – Rep. attempts to combine all three methods when voting.

9. Benefits: I. Compensation -
$174,000 (for both Senators/Reps.)
Majority/Minority Leaders = $193,400
Speaker = $223,500
II. Non-salary –
Travel allowance, franking privilege, pension plan, etc.

10. Congressional Districts
Q: How many districts are there in the U.S.?
Q: How are they apportioned?
Reapportionment Act of 1929:
Permanent size = 435
Census Bureau determines new numbers
Pres. Sends it to Congress.
If neither House rejects the Census Bureau’s plan after 60 days, it become effective
Types of Districts:
1. Single-Member Districts (ex: 18th IL)
2. At-Large Districts (ex: Montana, Alaska)

13. GERRYMANDERING
To draw a district to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature.
WHY?
To concentrate the opposition’s voters in 1 or fewer districts, thus leaving the other districts comfortably safe for the dominate party
To spread the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts, limiting the opposition’s ability to win anywhere in the region
The GOAL is to create “safe” districts – districts almost certain to be won by the line-drawing process.

14. GERRYMANDERING District Requirements:
1. Contiguous Territory (all one piece)
2. Nearly equal # of inhabitants
3. Compact Territory (small in area)