1. Basic Facts About Congress

2. Basic Structure Bicameral: By way of Connecticut Compromise
Settled dispute over representation (large states vs. small states)
Upper House: Senate
Lower House: House of Representatives
Not just checks and balances between branches of government but also within branches ie, 2 Houses can check each other.
Senate has powers the House does not have
House has powers the Senate does not have

3. Senate More prestige than House Represent whole state
High incumbent reelection rate but not as high as House
6 year term
“Continuous Body” 1/3 up for reelection every 2 years
2 Senators from each state = 100 total
Smaller membership = fewer rules especially with regard to debate ie, filibuster
Most rules are decided by the Senate not the Constitution; many traditions carry on
Senatorial courtesy
Seniority Rule

4. Senate Continued
Considered very undemocratic and malapportioned due to the 2 senators from each state rule (Alaska vs. California for example)

5. House of Representatives
Less prestige than senate
2 year terms: everyone up for reelection every 2 years
Represent a district not a state (“at large” representative does represent state)
Each representative represents an equal number of people (as much as is practical to expect) about 650,000 people
Each state regardless of size has at least 1 representative
435 members total

6. Salary 111th Congress pay is $174,000 per year, and…
Office space in D.C. and home state
Staff
Franking privilege
Pension plan
Health insurance
Restaurants
Fitness center
Free Parking

7. Apportionment and Redistricting
The Constitution requires that all Americans be counted
every 10 years by a census.
The census determines the representation in the House of Representatives.
Redistricting (the redrawing of congressional districts to reflect changes in seats allocated to the states from population shifts) is done by state legislatures and, of course, always has political overtones.
When the process is outrageously political, it is called
gerrymandering and is often struck down by the courts.

8. Powers of Congress
The most important constitutional power of Congress is the power to make laws.
This power is shared by the House and the Senate.
In order to become a law, a bill must be passed by both the House and the Senate.

9. Powers of Congress Continued
Create courts
Investigate and oversight (especially regarding executive branch actions) through hearing process
Spend money, borrow money, collect taxes

10. Members of Congress
Congress is older, better educated, whiter, and richer than most of us.
However, great strides have been made.
Currently, both California senators and both Maine senators are women.
Can a man represent a woman?
Can a white person adequately represent
the views of a black person?

11. The Representational Role of Members of Congress
How should an elected official represent his/her
constituents?
Trustee--representatives use their own best judgment
Delegate--representatives vote the way their constituents want them to
Politico--representatives act as party member