CW #8 Congress

U.S. Congress House Senate Size 435 Qualifications 1. 25 years old 2. Citizen 7 years 3. Resident of state Term of Office 2 years Non-Continuous: All seats up for election every two years No Term Limits Size 100 Qualifications 1. 30 years old 2. Citizen 9 years 3. Resident of state Term of Office 6 years Continuous: Only 1/3 of seats up for election every two years No Term Limits

U.S. Congress House Senate Representation: Each state guaranteed 1 rep Census (pop. count) every 10 years Reapportionment: seats redistributed to states based on pop. Some states add seats, while others lose them Redistricting: state legislatures redraw district boundaries Single-member Districts: Voters in each district elect a representative About 700,000 per district Representation: Each state gets 2 Senators Elected at-large: from the state as a whole

U.S. Congress House Senate Leadership: Speaker of the House: Presiding officer most powerful leader. Chosen by the majority party Majority Leader: Speaker’s top asst. Helps plan party’s legislative program, steer bills through the House, and make sure committee chairs finish work on bills important to the party Majority Whip: asst floor leader persuades party members to vote as party wishes and makes sure party members are present for votes Leadership: President of the Senate: Constitution makes Vice President leader of Senate. VP does not take part in debates and only votes if there is a tie President Pro Tempore: Presides when VP is away. Chosen by majority party and is usually the most senior member Majority Leader: Plan party’s legislative program and steer bills through the Senate Responsible for making sure party members attend important sessions and for organizing support on key bills

U.S. Congress House Senate Leadership: Minority Leader: Plans party’s legislative program and tries to steer floor action to party’s benefit. No power over scheduling work in the House Minority Whip: asst floor leader persuades party members to vote as party wishes and makes sure party members are present for votes Leadership: Majority Whip: asst floor leader persuades party members to vote as party wishes and makes sure party members are present for votes Minority Leader: Plans party’s legislative program and tries to steer floor action to party’s benefit. No power over scheduling work in the House Minority Whip: asst floor leader

U.S. Congress House Senate Salary: $174,000 Benefits: Special tax deduction Travel allowance Low cost Life and health insurance Pension Office space Franking Privilege: free postage Free printing Gymnasiums, swimming pools, exercise rooms, saunas Free parking Salary: $174,000 Benefits: Special tax deduction Travel allowance Low cost Life and health insurance Pension Office space Franking Privilege: free postage Free printing Gymnasiums, swimming pools, exercise rooms, saunas Free parking

U.S. Congress House Senate Privileges: Legislative immunity: protected from suits for libel or slander arising out of their official duties Discipline: Censure: Vote of formal disapproval Expulsion: Removal of a member from the House. Must be a 2/3 vote Reserved for only most serious offenses, such as treason or accepting a bribe Privileges: Legislative immunity: protected from suits for libel or slander arising out of their official duties Discipline: Censure: Vote of formal disapproval Expulsion: Removal of a member from the Senate. Must be a 2/3 vote Reserved for only most serious offenses, such as treason or accepting a bribe

Vice President Mike Pence President Pro Tem Orrin Hatch Senate Leaders Vice President Mike Pence President Pro Tem Orrin Hatch

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Senate Leaders Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

California Senators Sen. Kamala Harris Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Speaker of House Paul Ryan Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy House Leaders Speaker of House Paul Ryan Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi House Leaders Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Rep. Ken Calvert