1. The House of Representatives Pages 267-273

2. Size and Terms 435 members in the House of Representatives, set by Congress. Seats are apportioned (distributed) among the States based on the population of each state. Each state guaranteed at least one seat.

6. AffiliationMembers Delegates / Resident Commissioner (non-voting) States with majority of Members Democratic Party255633 Republican Party178016 Vacancy20 Total4356 Majority77

7. Size and Terms DDistrict of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa each elect a delegate to represent them in the House an Puerto Rico choses a resident commissioner. TThose officials are not full-fledged members of the House of Representatives.

8. Two-year terms for each member and no limit on the number of terms any member of Congress may serve.

9. Reapportionment Reapportion-redistribute seats in Congress Done every census to determine which states gain or lose seats

10. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 Created because the 1910 census got the House to 435 members and in 1920 the House could not get anything done.

11. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 Provides 4 steps: 1. “Permanent” size is 435, although Congress may change it. 2. Census Bureau determines how many seats per state. Done after each census. 3. When Bureau’s plan is ready, President must send it to Congress. 4. If no one rejects the plan within 60 days, it becomes effective.

12. Congressional Elections Date: Held on same day in every state (Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November in each even-numbered year).

13. Off-Year Elections Definition- congressional election that occur in nonpresidential years Party in power-party that holds presidency- usually loses seats.

14. Districts 435 separate congressional districts Single-member district- voters in each district elect one of the State’s representatives from among a field of candidates running for a seat in the House from that district.

15. Districts Under the general ticket system, all of the State’s seats are filled at-large- elected from the State as a whole, rather than from a particular district. General ticket system was taken away in 1842 because minority parties had no chance to win seats.

16. Districts 1842 law made each State responsible to draw the congressional districts for each State. Districts must be “contiguous territory” or all in one piece. 1872- each district must be equal in number of inhabitants.

17. Districts 1901- must be compact, which means a smallest area possible to equal population size. 1932- Supreme Court ruled it to be enforced by Congress

18. Gerrymandering Gerrymandered-drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s legislature. Takes one of two forms: 1. Drawn to concentrate the opposition’s voters in one or a few districts (dominate party safe for control). 2. To spread opposition as thinly as possible among several districts (less chance to win for the opposition).

19. Gerrymandering Most states were drawn by rural vs urban as well as partisan basis. State legislature would be dominated by the less populated (and over-represented) rural areas of the State.

21. Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 case that made rural overrepresentation in the House came to an end. Supreme Court said that districts be drawn on equal representation. Called “one person, one vote” decision Gerrymandering can still happen

22. Qualifications for House Members 1. Must be at least 25 years old 2. Must have been a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years 3. Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he/she is elected

23. Informal Qualifications 1. Representative must be from the district he/she represents. 2. Deal with vote-getting abilities: party identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, and political experience.

24. Random Facts Representatives make $174,000 per year. House can expel a member with a two-thirds vote.

25. For Homework/Tomorrow Research on a key issue that faces Bowling Green, NW Ohio, Ohio, or the U.S. You are a newly elected Representative and will be asked to make a 2-3 minute floor speech on the issue of your choice. Provide detailed information on your topic.

26. For Tomorrow The Senate