The Legislative Branch Chapter 10

Two Houses of Congress The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature for three reasons: 1. Historical The British Parliament was bicameral 2. Practical Reflects Federalism 3. Theoretical Each house checks the other house

Terms of Congress A term is the length of time that officials serve after an election, as in a two- or six-year term

Sessions of Congress A session is the regular period of time during which Congress conducts business Adjourns (suspends)each regular session as it sees fit President has the power to prorogue (adjourn) a session only if both houses cannot agree on a date. Only President can call Congress into a special session to deal with a pressing issue There are two sessions in a term of Congress

Section 2 Size and terms 435 members - determined by Congress apportioned among the States on the basis of their populations No limits on the amount of terms served Must be 25, have citizenship for at least 7 years and inhabit state representing

Reapportionment The Reapportionment Act of 1929 Article I of the Constitution directs Congress to reapportion - redistribute- the seats in the House after each Census The Reapportionment Act of 1929

Current Apportionment

Congressional Elections Tuesday following the first Monday in November each even numbered year Off-year elections are those congressional elections held between presidential elections

Districts and Gerrymandering single member district arrangement: the voter’s in each district elect one of the state’s representatives gerrymandering: act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of the political party that controls the State legislature. Gerrymandering Senatorial Districts 2011

Section 3 Size, Election, Terms Two Senators per state 100 Senators total 17th Amendment (1912): Made a popular election of all senators but previously senators were picked by state legislators 6 year term Continuous body: all its seats are never up for election at the same time only 1/3 at a time Constituencies are the people and interests senators or elected officials represent

Qualifications Set up in the Constitution 1. at least 30 years of age 2. citizen of the US for at least 9 years 3. resident of the State from which he/she is elected Dianne Feinstein (D) since 1992 Kamala Harris (D) 2017

Section 4 Members of Congress 50th District

115th Congress (20)

116th Congress elected Nov 2018 service starts Jan 2019 Senate 100 Members House of Reps 435 Members

Midterm Election 2018 graphic Graphic of Control 2018 Mid term Election

4 Roles of Representatives of the People Senators and reps are elected to represent people. As legislators they have 4 voting options:

Committee Membership and Public Servants Both screen proposed laws before they are voted on oversight function: process in which Congress, thru committees, checks to see that the agencies of the executive branch are working effectively

Compensation (2015) and privileges Salaries as of Jan 2015 Travel expenses to and from state, low cost health insurance, retirement pension, money to run office and staff, and free postage “cloak of legislative immunity” members of congress are immune from arrest for noncriminal offenses ( misdemeanors) while engaged in congressional business Article I, Section 6, Clause 1: protects reps and senators from suits for libel and slander arising from their official conduct

Comparisons of pensions we will pay for each until their death