C ONGRESS U3, C10

N ATIONAL L EGISLATURE Why bicameral? Historical The British Parliament as well as many of the state legislatures Practical Settle dispute between Virginia and New Jersey Plans Federalism Theoretical One house act as a check on the other Terms and Sessions Term: two years (March 4, 1789) Session: period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business (adjourn; prorogue) Special session: meeting to deal with emergency situation

H OUSE OF R EPRESENTATIVES Size and Terms 435 members set by Congress Seats apportioned (distributed) to states based on population 2 year terms No constitutional term limits Constituents: district from which elected Qualifications Formal 25 years old Citizen of US for 7 years Inhabitant of State from which elected House may refuse to seat and expel members Informal: vote-getting abilities (party identification, name familiarity, ethnic characteristics, political experience)

S ENATE Size Two Senators from each state Currently 100 members Term 6 year terms No term limits Qualifications 30 years old Citizens of US for 9 years Inhabitant of State from which elected Constituents: citizens of entire state from which elected May exclude members and remove for misbehavior

Major Differences Between the House and Senate HOUSESENATE Larger body (435 members)Smaller body (100 members) Shorter term (2 years); entire House up for reelection every two years Longer term (6 years); 1/3 of Senate up for reelection every two years Smaller constituencies (elected from districts within States) Larger constituencies (elected from entire State) Qualifications -25 years old -Citizen of US for 7 years -Inhabitant of State from which elected Qualifications -30 years old -Citizen of US for 9 years -Inhabitant of State from which elected Less prestigeMore prestige Lower visibility in the news mediaHigher visibility in the news media Strict rules, limited debateFlexible rules, nearly unlimited debate Most work is done in committees, not on the floor Work is split more evenly between committees and the floor Initiate revenues bills and ImpeachmentApproves or rejects treaties and presidential appointments; Removal from office

E LECTIONS First Tuesday, after first Monday in November Off year elections: elections that occur in nonpresidential years Districts Single-member: voters in each district elect one of State’s representatives among field of candidates State legislature responsible for drawing district lines in state Redistricting Gerrymander: districts drawn to the advantage of political party that controls state legislature Wesberry v. Sanders (1964): one person, one vote Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960): gerrymandering based on race alone is violation of 15 th Amendment 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every two years Continuous body: all of its seats are never up for election at same time Originally: members of Senate chosen by state legislatures 17 th Amendment: Senators picked by voters in State HouseSenate

G ERRYMANDER

P ERSONAL AND P OLITICAL B ACKGROUNDS Descriptive representation: view that a legislature should resemble the demographic characteristics of the population it represents Average member: white male, early 50s – not representative of cross section of American people Rise in number of minorities 60% Protestant Lawyers; college educated Political experience

T HE J OB Legislator Representatives of their constituents Trustee: each question faced must be decided on merits; decide on issues regardless of views held by constituents Delegates: agents of those who elected them Partisan: allegiance to political party Politicos: combine elements of all these Committee members: screen legislation; oversight function Servants of their constituents: help people who have problems with federal bureaucracy Politicians

D ILEMMA OF R EPRESENTATION Trustee: representatives obligated to consider the views of their constituents; not obligated to vote according to those views if think misguided Delegate: legislator whose primary responsibility is to represent the majority view of his or her constituents, regardless of his or her own view

C OMPENSATION Salary: $162,000/year Nonsalary Tax deduction; travel allowances; health insurances; pension; offices, staff, operation budget Franking privilege: allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage free Membership privileges Privileged from arrest while in session or on way to or from (Article I, Section 6) Article I, Section 6: Speech and Debate clause Protects members of Congress from suits for libel or slander arising out of official conduct Protect freedom of legislative debate