Size, Qualifications, The Job and Pay
Members – 435 Set by Reapportionment Act of 1929 Apportion – Distribute Reapportion – Redistribute (Every 10 years after the Census)
Tuesday after the first Monday of even numbered years. Therefore, A House term is two years. Elections outside of presidential years are called “off year elections.”
Districts been drawn to the benefit of the party that controls the legislature. A) To pack opposition B) To spread opposition too thin
Wesberry v. Sanders – Near Equal Population Race – Can not be the controlling factor, but can be part of a mix of factors Only works for Single Member Districts At Large Districts eliminate the problem
25 Years Old Citizen for at least 7 years Inhabitant of the state from which they are elected Compare to the Senate
Party Identification Name familiarity Gender Ethnicity Experience Incumbency Fundraising ability
100 Members 2 (per state) x 50 (states) = 100 members Represent Entire State
Originally chosen by State Legislatures 17 th Amendment – Direct Election of Senators (1913) Only one Senator per state in any election
Senators serve for 6 years Continuous Body – all of its seats are never up at the same time (1/3 in three consecutive elections)
Due to size, Senators are more likely to be seen as national leaders and are more likely to garner attention from the media in their states. The Senate is the primary source of contenders from the presidency from both parties.
30 Years Old Citizen for at least 9 years Inhabitant of the State from which they are elected Compare to the House
Legislators – Make Laws Representatives – Represent Constituents Committee Members – Screen proposals and decide if they get floor consideration Servants of Constituents – Casework Politicians – Win elections
1. Delegate – Agents of the people who vote the way the “folks back home” want them to. 2. Trustee – Vote their conscience only 3. Partisans – Owe allegiance to their party 4. Politicos – Attempt to combine the basic elements of the other three roles
Salary - $174,000 Floor Leaders - $ 193, 400 Speaker - $223,500 Tax deduction for multiple residences Travel allowances Healthcare Retirement/Pension Plan
Offices in D.C. and at home Staff members Franking Privilege – Free mail Free Printing Gym Membership Legislative Immunity – No arrest going to or from session or while in session; Can not be taken to court over things said on official duty.