Members of Congress Chapter 10 Section 4

Key Terms Delegate Trustee Partisan Politico Bill Floor Consideration Oversight Function Franking Priviledges

Personal and Political Background 535 members are not the average cross section Average – White male late 50’s – Median age in the House is just over 58 – About 64 in the Senate

111 congress had 78 women in the House and 17 in the Senate Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House (2007) Second in line of succession to the President 42 African Americans 25 Hispanics 7 Asian Americans 1 Native American

1 African American, 1 Hispanic, One Asian, 1 Native Hawaiian in the upper chamber Rolan Burris appointed to fill Barak Obama’s seat is only the sixth African American in the Senate

Over 1/3 of the members of the House and over 1/2 of the members of the Senate are lawyers More than 4 out 5 have a college degree Most have advanced degrees Most Senators and representatives were born in the State they represent Only a handful were born outside the United States

Congress has several millionaires Large number depend on their House salaries The average senator is serving a second term Typical representative has served four terms 1/3 of Senators were House members House includes former State legislatures and prosecuting attorneys

The Job Members of Congress play five major roles – Legislators – Representatives of their constituents – Committee members – Servants of the constituents – politicians

Representatives of the people – Are elected to represent the people – Members of both houses cast hundreds of votes – Many votes are relatively unimportant – So are of far reaching importance – There are four voting options Delegate Trustee A partisan Or a politico

Delegates – See themselves as agents of the people who elected them – What the folks back home want – Suppress own views and party leadership – Do not listen to arguments – Do not pay attention to special interest groups

Trustee – Each question must be decided on its merits – Conscience and judgment are their guides – Reject notion to act like robots – Call issues as they see them – Regardless of their constituents view or by other groups

Partisan – Believe they their first allegiance to the party – Duty bound to cast votes in line with the party – Studies show partisanship is the leading factor influencing lawmakers decisions

Politicos – Combine elements of delegate, trustee, and partisan – Try to balance the conflicting factors – Their own idea what is best for constituents and the country

Committee Members Bills are proposed laws – These are usually referred to a committee – Senators and Representatives must screen bills – Floor consideration-be considered and acted upon by the full membership of the House and Senate

Congress enacts laws and appropriates money Executing the laws left to Executive Branch Oversight function-process by which Congress through its committees checks top see that the executive branch agencies are carrying out its policies Congress has set by laws

Servants of the people – Members of both Houses are servants to their constituents – Their staff tries to help people Get a passport Social security problem – Most members are swamped with constituents requests

No limit to requests – Ask for government contracts – Appointment to a military academy – Free sightseeing tours of D.C. To deny requests means lose of votes

Compensation Constitution says Congress “shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by law…” Salary Senators and Representatives are paid $174,000 per year – Speaker $223,500, Vice President $227,000, Senate pro tem and floor leaders $193,000

Non Salary Compensation – Special tax deduction (two residences) – Travel allowances – Pay little for health benefits – Retirement benefits – Provided an office Franking Privileg letters for free

– Free printing – Low price radio and television tapes – Free restaurants – Free gyms – Free parking

Only limits to congressional pay – President’s veto power – Fear of voter backlash

Constitution states they cannot be arrested except for Treason, Felony, and Breech of the Peace, during attendance at the session of their respective houses.

Speech and Debate Clause – Gives a cloak of immunity and protects them from libel and slander during official conduct – Protection includes work in committees and all other things relating to Congressional business Protects freedom of debate Does not give permission to defame another person in a public speech