The Legislative Branch Article I of the Constitution

Concept 2: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions Topics will include: Breakdown of the US Congress Qualifications/ Terms/ Compensation & Privileges of Congress The Election Process/ The Impact of the 17th Amendment The Legislative Process (Bill  Law) Functions of leadership positions and committees Influence of lobbyists and interest groups

The U.S. Congress Bicameral Senate House 100 members 6 years 435 Reapportioned after each census

House of Representatives Term: 2 years Qualifications 25 years old 7 years as a U.S. citizen Resident of represented state

House of Representatives There are 435 representatives Speaker of the House – Paul Ryan 3rd in line of succession

Senate Term of office: 6 years Every 2 years 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election Ensures 2/3 have prior experience Qualifications: 30 years old 9 years a citizen of the U.S. Resident of the represented state

Senate There are 100 senators Head of the Senate: U.S. Vice President – Mike Pence 2nd in line of succession

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Salaries Vice President (is over the Senate) receives $230,700 Speaker of the House receives $223,500 Majority/ Minority Party Leaders receive $193,400 Base Congressional Members receive $174,000 per year

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Allowances House members can spend more than $900,000 to maintain a staff of 18 permanent positions $250,000 for office expenses and travel (administrative costs for the office)

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Allowances Senate member get a minimum of $500,000 for three office assistants The average spent in 2010 was $3.3 million

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Office Space Congress members get a free office at Capitol Hill & free parking Home district office can be as large as 8,200 square feet in their home district Can have additional offices throughout the state in federal buildings

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Office Space There is no restriction on the # of offices they can open in federal buildings in their home states Minimum $40,000 for office furniture

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Bonus Tax Deduction Can deduct up to $3000 for expenses while outside their home district or state Franking privilege- free postage on all mail to constituents

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Insurance/ Retirement Same life insurance and health/ dental plan as other federal workers Receive both a pension & 401(k) Also can receive Social Security This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Downtime (Plenty of time off) Congress only works about 3 days per week when in session They get Presidents’ Day, spring break, Memorial Day break, Independence Day break, summer break, Thanksgiving break, and Christmas break

Compensation & Privileges of Congress members: Immunity or legal protection: Cannot be sued for anything they say or write while carrying out their duties Cannot be arrested while Congress is in session unless a felony or treason May not hold other political office at the same time

Who are your Senators? Johnny Isakson David Purdue