Ch 5 U.S. Government Democracy in Action Organization of Congress

Reminder Taking Notes Add the STGs Include: the Assessments and Vocabulary in your notes and explanations of concepts Anything in Bold or italics Court Cases: Issue, Decision, Date decided People Documents Events Key Points of Video Clips Summaries of Class Discussions

Congressional Membership Section 1 Congressional Membership

From the Library of Congress Organization of Congress & Legislative Process - An Overview

Congressional Membership Bicameral Patterned after English Parliament Has more power than any other branch

Congressional Sessions A term of Congress is for two years Each term - begins January 3 of odd numbered years Ex: The 107th Term of Congress began January 3, 2001 Extra Credit: What Term is Congress currently serving?

Congressional Sessions Terms end in November/December (depends on workload) Each term has two sessions (each 1 year)

Congressional Sessions Congress is in session until members vote to adjourn Neither “house” can “rest” or adjourn for more than 3 days w/o other house’s approval Congress can be called back for a special session by the President

House of Representatives Membership Seats per State - varies with population More Populated States = More Representatives Each state entitled to 1 seat minimum Extra Credit: How many Representatives are there currently?

House of Representatives Membership Qualifications Set by the Constitution Q: What Article? What Section? Must be at least 25 years old U.S. Citizens – at least 7 years Must be Legal Residents of State electing them Usually claim Primary Residence in District they represent

Term of Office Elected for two-year terms Elections – November of even numbered years Ex: November 2008, November 2010 Members begin serving January 3rd following the November election

Term of Office – The House The whole House of Representatives is up for election every two years in even numbered years Most are reelected (90%) = Continuity

Term of Office – The House of Reps Governors appoint temporary replacement if a member is no longer serving the term until a Special Election is held. Note: Former Governor Blajovich of Illinois is no longer governor because he was accused of putting up Senator Obama’s seat up for sale when Obama became President.

House Membership Number of Seats capped at 435 Representatives. (Territories & Washington, DC add 6 more – but they do not vote on bills). Q: What Act set that limit? A: The Reapportionment Act of 1929 The Census count determines how the 435 seats are divided among the 50 states. Q: What is the name of that process? A: reapportionment

Redistricting The process of setting up new district lines after reapportionment

Redistricting Controversy #1 Districts can be unequal in size (large district has only 1 rep while a smaller one has 1 rep). So the larger district is really underrepresented while the smaller district has more political voice.

Redistricting Controversy #2 Gerrymandering-Drawing districts to favor a political party’s power in Congress via “packing” Ex: Draw the boundary lines to include constituents (voters) of mostly one party “cracking” (pg 125-126) Ex: Draw the boundary lines to bust up a party’s dominance.

U.S. Supreme Court on Redistricting The district must be: Compact (not too large) Contiguous (no parts separated – all parts’ boundaries/lines must touch) Pg 127

The Senate Membership Qualifications Must be: At least 30 years old A U.S. resident for at least 9 years Elected by ALL THE VOTERS IN THAT STATE not by a district

The Senate Term of Office Serve 6-year terms Elections held every 2 years in November BUT unlike the House, ONLY 1/3 OF THE SENATE IS UP FOR ELECTION AT ONE TIME Term begins January 3rd after the November election If a Senator ties during term, the governor appoints a replacement til next election.

Salary & Benefits Set by Congress BUT Congress cannot give itself a pay raise (27th Amendment – 1992) although it was proposed in 1789 by James Madison The PAY RAISE GOES INTO EFFECT after the NEXT ELECTION Q: How effective is the 27th Amendment when most incumbents (politicians already in office) get reelected?

Salary & Benefits They get an automatic COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) added to pay to offset inflation Medical insurance and Medical Clinic A gym Free Postage (Franking Privilege) for official business & Free Stationery

Salary & Benefits Large Allowances (money to spend on): Staff Assistants Trips Home Telephones/Telegrams Newsletters An Income Tax Allowance for BOTH Homes Eligible to receive Pensions of $150,000 +

Privileges of Members Free from Arrest “in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace” While in Congress, on the way to/from Congress Cannot be sued for anything they say on the floor of The House or The Senate DOES NOT EXTEND to what is said OUTSIDE CONGRESS (Hutchinson v Proxmire, 1979)

Privileges Power of Exclusion The Senate & The House judge a member’s qualifications & whether to seat them by a majority vote Defined by Supreme Court Powell v McCormack Censure – Majority Vote of Disapproval of actions Expel – for serious offenses (treason, bribery) by 2/3 vote (Member is no longer in Congress).

Members of Congress Senate – 100 Senators House of Representatives – 435 Representatives PLUS NON-VOTING MEMBERS 1 – Washington, DC 1 - Guam 1 – America Samoa 1 – Virgin Islands 1 – Puerto Rico resident commissioner THEY CAN INTRODUCE BILLS, DEBATE, ATTEND SESSIONS & VOTE IN COMMITTEES

Characteristics Almost ½ = Lawyers Many from banking, business, education Typically white, middle-aged males over 50

Reelection to Congress About 90% are reelected (incumbents are already in office) Q: Why? The public is more aware of incumbents than newbies PAC (Political Action Committees) fundraise to reelect them Gerrymandering Incumbents use their staff & office to solve problems for voters (creates voter loyalty) Since 1990s, easier to unseat incumbents

Congress Today What is the makeup of Congress today? Ethnicity Age Gender Which political party is the majority in: The Senate The House of Representatives TIP: Go online, look at Congressional Quarterly