The Legislative Branch Congress

Introduction to Congress The U.S. has a “representative democracy” (a.k.a “republic”) Congress’ main responsibility is to “translate the public will into public policy in the form of law” Article I of the Constitution sets up a “bicameral legislature” (2 groups…House of Representatives and the Senate) Why Bicameral? –Historical reasons British Parliament is bicameral since 1300s Most colonial legislatures were bicameral –Practical reason “Great Compromise” between VA and NJ plans –Theoretical reasons Upholds “federalism”…power of states (Senate favors small states, House of Reps favors large ones) Upholds “checks and balances” principle since House of Reps and Senate can check one another’s power (i.e. in law-making, impeachment, war- making, economic decisions)

Congressional Membership Stuff You Need to Know (but probably wish you didn’t…) Each term of Congress starts on January 3 of odd numbered years. So, on January 3, 2013 the 113 th Congress began. Each term lasts two years and is divided into two sessions. Congress remains in session until its members vote to adjourn, but neither the House nor the Senate can adjourn for more than three days without permission from the other house. The President can call Congress into “special session” if he wants/needs to (i.e. emergencies, use as a threat) Complete Article I on separate paper (turned in on test day)

The House of Representatives Membership of the House: There are 435 members in the House. Membership is based on population. Each state is entitled to at least one seat in the House, no matter how small the state’s population is. A representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years, and be a legal resident of their state. Members are elected to 2 year terms. Elections for the house occur on even year elections. All 435 members must be elected every two years! (Don’t worry, 90% of Congress gets reelected each year… they’re generally pretty safe.)

Advantages of Incumbents Incumbent=an elected official who is already in office Easier to raise money for campaigns –Better know to voters –Recognizable face –Have solved voters’ problems Established voting record Seniority Gerrymandering=redrawing Congressional district boundaries to gain an advantage in elections

The Senate Each state gets 2 Senators. Right now we have 50 states X 2 per state = 100 Senators! There are no Senate Districts; both Senators represents the whole state they are from. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen for at least 9 years, and have a residence in the state they represent They are elected to 6 year terms, and only 1/3 of the Senate is ever up for re-election on election day. Privileges of Being in Congress: 1.Free from arrest (except for treason or felony) when at or going to Congress. 2.Cannot be sued from anything they say in the House or Senate. 3.As of 2015, their salary was $174,000, they get free postage and stationary for work, great medical benefits, a medical clinic, and a gym!

The House Democrats: 188 Republicans: 247 _________________ 435 Total There is also one delegate representing each of the following (currently all are non-voting Democrats): --Washington D.C. --Guam --American Samoa --Northern Marianas Islands --U.S. Virgin Islands --Puerto Rico The Senate Democrats: 44 Republicans: 54 Independent: 2 (they meet with Dems) _________________ 100 Total

House of Representatives Racial Composition of the House: White – 348 African American – 41 Latino – 31 Asian American Indian -2 Gender Composition of the House: Men – 355 Women – 77 The average age of a Member of the House is 57 years old.

Senate Racial Composition of the Senate: White – 93 African American – 2 Latino – 4 Asian -- 1 Gender Composition of the Senate: Men – 80 Women – 20 ** This is a record number of women in the Senate. The average age of a Member of the Senate is 62 years old! CA Senator Feinstein is the oldest at 81 years old.

Congress vs. U.S. Stats (as of 2011)

House Leadership The Speaker of the House of Representatives: The most powerful member of the House of Reps, the presiding officer of the House and the leader of the majority party. Influences proceedings by recognizing who can speak and in what order, appoints members to committees, assigns bills to committees, and decides what bills get acted on. Follows the Vice President in the order of succession to the presidency. John Boehner – (R) Ohio

Majority/Minority Leaders – They are the floor leaders for their political parties. They help push the legislative agenda and are the main spokesperson for their party. Majority/Minority Whips – They are the assistant floor leader. Their main job is to track how the members of their party plan to vote, and to “whip” their people into voting the way their party leadership wants them to vote. Rep. McCarthy (R-CA) Rep. Pelosi (D-CA) Rep. Scalise (R-LA) Rep. Hoyer (D-MD)

Senate Leadership Senators are allowed more flexibility to speak (i.e. “filibuster”) and the rules are much more informal than the house. The leadership structure is very similar except the Senate does not have a Speaker. The Vice President presides over the Senate, but only votes to break ties. When the VP is not present, the Senate is presided over by the President Pro Tempore (or Tem). “pro tempore” means for the time being. The Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate have less influence over their members because senators have more freedoms in their activities and ability to express ideas.

Sen. McConnell (R-KY) Sen. Reid (D-NV) Minority Leader Majority Leader VP Joe Biden (D) Sen Leahy (D-VT) Pres. of Senate Pres. Pro Tempore  These two have MOST of the power in the Senate. These two are primarily figureheads with little actual  power in the Senate.

YOUR ELECTED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Senator Dianne Feinstein Democrat; former Mayor of SF Elected in Senator Barbara Boxer Democrat; former Rep from CA Elected in 1992

Congressman Paul Cook Republican Served for 26 years in the Marines (earned Bronze Star and 2 Purple Hearts) Served in CA State Assembly Elected in 2012 Represents the 8 th District of CA Serves on the Armed Forces, Veteran’s Affairs, and Foreign Affairs

Representation, Reapportionment & Redistricting: The Census Bureau takes a national census (population count) every 10 years. This first began in 1790, and each state was apportioned (given) its representatives. The population of each state determines the new number of representatives they are entitled to. This process is called reapportionment. In 1790 there were only 64 members of the House of Representatives. In 1810 there were 186 members, and by 1911 there were 435. In 1929 Congress passed a law that froze the number at 435. Now we use the census to decide how those 435 seats get divided by each state. Some states lose seats, while others gain seats after each census is taken.

Once the states have been reapportioned their number of seats, each state legislature has to draw district maps. 34 states use this method In California that means that they had to draw maps based on population for all 53 seats in the House of Representatives… this can be politically messy! Some legislatures draw districts to be “safe seats” for members of the majority party and this practice of drawing districts to ensure the outcome is called gerrymandering. Voters in CA approved the creation of the Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2008 (Prop 11) in order to make it bipartisan. The maps now look less gerrymandered than ever before. 6 other states use this method.

Census every ten years (count of the American Population) Reapportionment of 435 Congressional seats (to represent population shifts) Redistricting (redrawing of district lines for national and state legislative offices, with each district having about the same # of people)

CA Party Registration: Democrat: 44% Republican: 29% Independent: 21% Other: 6% 2012 CA House of Reps Seats Democrat: 38 (72%) Republican: 15 (28%) (prior to 2010 redistricting )

(after 2010 redistricting)

Gerrymandering Activity Each letter shows a concentration of 60,000 Democrats or Republicans Divide the state into 4 districts with 13 letters in each Districts must be continuous Gerrymander to favor one party 3 districts to 1 Gerrymandered districts must be at least 8-5 (label this) to ensure that one party is sure to win. Creative gerrymanderers get an extra point Answer the questions completely for full credit.