Chapter 5 Section 1 (pgs ) The Senate and the House of Representatives ESSENTIAL QUESTION: HOW IS CONGRESS SET UP?

Two Houses of Congress (pgs )  Congress: the lawmaking body of the federal government  The framers of the Constitution divided Congress to be a bicameral legislature Bicameral Legislature : a lawmaking body of two houses  This bicameral system allows each house to check and balance the other house  The two houses/ departments of Congress are: 1) Senate 2) House of Representatives  Each state is represented equally in the Senate  State representation is calculated by state population in the House of Representative

The House of Representatives (pgs )  Congress has limited the size of this house/department to 435 representatives  The number of representatives per state is based on the state’s population  The Census taken every 10 years determines how the 435 seats are apportioned Apportioned : to be distributed, as in the seats in the House of Representatives  States decreasing in population may lose seats, states increasing in population may gain seats  Elections for the House of Representatives are held in November every other year ( even number years: 2014, 2016, 2018, etc.)

The House of Representatives (pgs )  All representatives are elected for 2-year terms  State governors must perform a special election if a representative dies or resigns during their term  Representatives are elect by congressional districts voting  States are responsible for dividing the state into as many congressional districts as it has members in the house  Oddly shaped congressional district boundaries are due to gerrymandering Gerrymandering : the process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party  Larger states have more control in this legislative house

The Senate (pgs )  The Senate has 100 seats  Each state is represented equally  2 Senators for each state (50 states)  Senators serve 6-year terms  1/3rd of the Senate’s seats are elected every 2 years  This ensures 2/3rds of Senate members have prior experience  Most state governors appoint a person to fill their state’s senate seats if one of their senators dies or resigns while elected Why does the Constitution specify different ways to determine the number of members for the House and for the Senate?

Members of Congress (pgs )  There are requirements to be a congress member and they must agree to a code of conduct. Salaries and benefits are set. Qualifications for Members of Congress House of Representatives 1) 25 years or older 2) A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years 3) A legal resident of the state they represent Senate 1) 30 years or older 2) A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years 3) A legal resident of the state they represent

Salary and Benefits (pg. 138)  Every congress member yearly salary is $165,200  Benefits include an office in the Capitol Building, allowance to pay staff members, free trips to their home state, allowance for local district offices, no postal fees, and a stationary allowance  Members of Congress also have the benefit of immunity so they can not be arrested while traveling to and from a meeting in Congress. This ensures that members aren’t unnecessarily kept from performing their duties Immunity : legal protection

Rules of Conduct (pg. 139)  The Constitution allows both houses to discipline its members  Both houses have the right to question members qualifications and can remove members from Congress  Congress has refused to seat members, but very seldomy. Expulsion of a member is more rare. Expulsion : the removal of a person from an institution, such as Congress, for serious misconduct.  Expulsion requires 2/3rds vote of approval from the house’s members  5 members of the House (last 2002) and 15 members from the Senate (last 1862) have been expelled  Less serious offenses can cause a member to be censure Censure : the formal disapproval of the actions of a member of Congress by the other members  22 members of the House and 9 members of the Senate (last 1990) have been censured

Rules of Conduct (pg. 139)  The Supreme Court can review Congress rulings regarding members seats  Members must follow rules of conduct for personal finances too. Both houses limit how much members can earn outside of Congress. Also, members of both houses must fully disclose all of their personal financial holdings What are the qualifications for senators? For representatives?