U.S. Congress

House of Representatives -435 total members (fixed total) representation based on each state’s population -3 requirements (for members) 25 years old Live in state they represent U.S. citizen for 7 years -2 year terms Elected every two years The House of Representatives is based on population The Senate is based on equal representation, with two Senators from every state (today)

-census determines the number from each state House Membership -census determines the number from each state -apportionment-- Term that refers to the number of representatives assigned to a state based upon its population Divide members by states -gerrymandering-- Drawing a district’s boundaries in an odd shaped manner in order to benefit one political party over another Strengthens group’s voting power -each member represents one certain district – closer to the people -represents constituents (citizens) A “gerrymander” is an oddly-shaped district drawn to increase the voting power of one specific group of people. Why do people think this should be illegal? Who would it benefit? Who would it hurt?

Current North Carolina Congressional districts. Which district do we live in? Who is our district Representative in the House of Representatives? How are those people “closer to the people”?

House of Representatives Leaders Republican John Boehner is the current Speaker of the House and is 3rd in line to be President should something happen to the acting President and Vice President. -Speaker of the House -basically runs House of Reps. Must be from Majority Party 3rd in line to be President -sets up calendar, schedules bills for debate -Majority Leader -each House chooses a leader of the majority party to be floor leader Party with most representation -Minority Leader -each House picks a minority party member to its floor leader Party with least representation -Party Whip -each party in each House has a Party Whip to keep track of voting on important issues Get party members to vote with the rest of the political party Republican Eric Cantor serves as the House Majority Leader, while Democrat Nancy Pelosi serves as the House Minority Leader.

The House of Representatives is based on population Senate -100 members -based on every state being equal (2 from each state) -3 requirements 30 years old Live in state they represent U.S. citizen for 9 years -6 year terms Staggered elections (1/3 elected every two years) every 2 years One Senator serves 6 years -each represents the whole state The House of Representatives is based on population The Senate is based on equal representation, with two Senators from every state (today)

Kay Hagan was elected in 2008. When will she be up for re-election? North Carolina Senator Richard Burr is a Republican and Kay Hagan is a Democrat. Who does each represent? Kay Hagan was elected in 2008. When will she be up for re-election? Richard Burr was elected in 2010. When will he be up for re-election?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Senate Leaders -Vice President -official leader but only votes in a tie and is rarely present -President Pro-Tempore -mostly symbolic position given to the longest serving Senator from the majority party -Majority Leader -each House chooses a leader of the majority party to be floor leader -Minority Leader -each House picks a minority party member to its floor leader -Party Whip -each party in each House has a Party Whip to keep track of voting on important issues Vice President Joe Biden is the official leader of the U.S. Senate. However, he rarely attends and only votes in a tie. Therefore, the President Pro Tempore, the day-to-day leader of the Senate, is Hawaiian Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Congressional Leadership House of Representatives Senate Speaker of the House – Always from MAJORITY party Vice President – Rarely attends and only votes in a tie Majority Leader Minority Leader President Pro Tempore – Always from MAJORITY party, day-to-day leader Majority Party Whip Minority Party Whip Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Team Minority Whip Team Majority Party Whip Minority Party Whip House Committee Chairpersons – ALWAYS from majority party Majority Whip Team Minority Whip Team Senate Committee Chairpersons – ALWAYS from majority party

Term Limitations term limitations??? -Idea that legislators should only be allowed a maximum number of years in office in order to encourage more involvement in government Why do you think that some people do not want Congressmen to be able to serve unlimited numbers of terms? What is a “citizen legislator”? According to this picture, why should we have “citizen legislators” rather than “career politicians”?

An incumbent is a person who is already in office when an election comes. During the election, the incumbent will run to keep the same position. What do you think this political cartoon is trying to say about term limitations?

-Developed to help Congress operate Congressional Rules -Developed to help Congress operate Everyone has a different opinion and different goals -House has more rules than Senate why??? More people in one space -Parliamentary Procedures both Houses of Congress use a formal system of debate which keeps the debate orderly What do you think Congress would be like, and achieve, if there were not rules?

Congressional Sessions -each Congress serves two years and is given a number Entire Congress is elected every two years -Congress meets from Jan. to Nov/Dec 20th Amendment “In session” -can be called into special sessions by President Whenever he feels necessary Every two years an entirely new Congress is sworn in during the month of January. The 109th Congress began in a new way. For the first time, a woman (Nancy Pelosi) became the leader of the House of Representatives, and she swore in the new members.

Congressional Benefits -salary Approx. $150,000 a year -budgets for their staff -office space at Capital -franking privileges-- Right of a Congressmen to send job-related mail without postage -limited immunity Legal protection to speak freely while in Congress -Limitations -expulsion-removed from Congress -censure--Formal vote of disapproval of a legislator’s conduct Why do you think the franking privilege is a benefit to U.S. Congressmen?