Congressional Membership Chapter 5 Section 1

Section 1 Congressional Sessions The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning it is made up of two houses: the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Each Congressional term is two sessions, or meetings. A session lasts one year and includes breaks for holidays and vacations.

Section 1 Membership of the House The House of Representatives has 435 members. Members of the House must be: at least 25 years old, citizens of the U.S. for at least 7 years, and legal residents of the state that elects them. Members of the House are elected for two-year terms.

Section 1 Membership of the House (cont.) To assign representatives on the basis of population, the Census Bureau takes a national census, or population count, every 10 years. Each state’s population determines the number of representatives it will have for the next 10 years through the process of reapportionment. Congressional Apportionment, 2000

Section 1 Membership of the House (cont.) Redistricting is the process of setting up new district lines within each state after reapportionment. State legislatures have abused their power to divide the state into congressional districts by gerrymandering—drawing distinct boundaries to give one party an electoral advantage. North Carolina Congressional Districts, 2002

Section 1 Membership of the Senate The Senate is composed of 100 members– two from each state. All voters of each state elect senators at-large, or statewide, with no particular district. The Senate and the House set their own salaries. Swings in Control of Congress

Section 1 The Members of Congress (cont.) In recent years, Congress has slowly begun to reflect more racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. Membership in Congress changes slowly because incumbents—members who are already in office, often win reelection. The Internet has joined TV and radio as an important campaigning tool.