1. Legislative Branch

2. Why Bicameral Historical – British Parliament had consisted of 2 houses since the 1300’s Historical – British Parliament had consisted of 2 houses since the 1300’s Nebraska only unicameral state legislature Nebraska only unicameral state legislature Practical – Settle conflict between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan Practical – Settle conflict between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan Theoretical – Framers favored bicameral so one house could check the other Theoretical – Framers favored bicameral so one house could check the other

3. Legislative Bodies United States United States Bicameral (two houses) Bicameral (two houses) House of Representatives House of Representatives 435 members 435 members Direct Popular vote Direct Popular vote 2 year terms 2 year terms Senate Senate 100 members 100 members First appointed, now Direct Popular vote (17 th ) First appointed, now Direct Popular vote (17 th ) 6 year terms 6 year terms

4. Other Similar Legislative Bodies France France National Assembly National Assembly 577 members 577 members Direct Popular vote Direct Popular vote 5 year terms 5 year terms Senate Senate 321 members 321 members Local Electoral College Local Electoral College 9 year terms 9 year terms Japan Japan House of Concillors 252 Members Direct popular vote 6 years House of Representatives 512 members Direct Popular Vote 4 year terms

5. Terms and Sessions Each term of Congress lasts for two years Each term of Congress lasts for two years First term began on March 4, 1789 and ended March 4, 1791 First term began on March 4, 1789 and ended March 4, 1791 20 th Amendment changed start of each new term to noon on the 3 rd day of January of every odd-numbered year 20 th Amendment changed start of each new term to noon on the 3 rd day of January of every odd-numbered year What term are we on now? What term are we on now? What term will we have on Jan 3. 2016? What term will we have on Jan 3. 2016?

6. Two sessions for each term 1 each year 1 each year Before WWII a typical session lasted 4 to 5 months Before WWII a typical session lasted 4 to 5 months Today Congress remains in session for most of the year, both have short recesses throughout the year Today Congress remains in session for most of the year, both have short recesses throughout the year In order to adjourn from session, each house has to have approval from the other house In order to adjourn from session, each house has to have approval from the other house Special sessions may be called, by President on a pressing issue Special sessions may be called, by President on a pressing issue 26 special sessions have been called 26 special sessions have been called

7. House of Representatives Exact size of house set by congress not Constitution, WHY? Exact size of house set by congress not Constitution, WHY? Constitution provides the total number of seats shall be apportioned Constitution provides the total number of seats shall be apportioned Distributed among the States based on each states population Distributed among the States based on each states population Each state is guaranteed at least one seat Each state is guaranteed at least one seat Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming

8. What about U.S. Territories District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa each elect a delegate to represent them in the House District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa each elect a delegate to represent them in the House Puerto Rico chooses a resident commissioner Puerto Rico chooses a resident commissioner All of these are NOT House of Representatives All of these are NOT House of Representatives

9. Reapportionment Redistribute the seats in the House after each decennial census Redistribute the seats in the House after each decennial census First house 65 seats First house 65 seats Moved up to 435 in 1910 Moved up to 435 in 1910 Halted there, too tough for effective floor action Halted there, too tough for effective floor action Congress passed the Reapportionment Act of 1929 Congress passed the Reapportionment Act of 1929

10. Reapportionment Act of 1929 Permanent size of the House will be 435 members Permanent size of the House will be 435 members Following census, Census Bureau is to determine the number of seats each State should have Following census, Census Bureau is to determine the number of seats each State should have When plan is ready, President must send it to Congress When plan is ready, President must send it to Congress 60 days to reject plan, if not rejected it becomes effective 60 days to reject plan, if not rejected it becomes effective

11. Act has worked quite well since passed Act has worked quite well since passed Congress still has the constitutional responsibility to reapportion the House Congress still has the constitutional responsibility to reapportion the House Census Bureau takes all the heat from each state Census Bureau takes all the heat from each state Each seat today represents about 710,000 people Each seat today represents about 710,000 people

12. Congressional Elections Since 1872 Elections for Congress Members are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year Since 1872 Elections for Congress Members are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year Off-Year Elections Off-Year Elections Elections not held during presidential elections Elections not held during presidential elections 2006 was an off-year election 2006 was an off-year election Usually the party in power (holds the office of the president) loses seats Usually the party in power (holds the office of the president) loses seats

13. Districts Districts 435 total districts in the U.S. 435 total districts in the U.S. Congress allowed each state to decide whether they elect by single-member district basis or by a general ticket system Congress allowed each state to decide whether they elect by single-member district basis or by a general ticket system

14. Single-member district Representatives chosen from a group of candidates from that district Representatives chosen from a group of candidates from that district General ticket system All members picked from the at-large pool Unfair to all party not in power Congress ended general ticket system in 1842

15. 1842 each state responsible for drawing up districts 1842 each state responsible for drawing up districts Must be all one piece Must be all one piece Each district must have about the same amount of people in them Each district must have about the same amount of people in them Must cover the smallest possible area Must cover the smallest possible area In some cases Gerrymandering has taken place In some cases Gerrymandering has taken place Boundaries drawn to the advantage/disadvantage of a political party Boundaries drawn to the advantage/disadvantage of a political party

16. Gerrymandering takes one of two forms Gerrymandering takes one of two forms To concentrate the opposition's voters in one or a few districts To concentrate the opposition's voters in one or a few districts Spread the opposition as thin as possible, limiting their ability to win Spread the opposition as thin as possible, limiting their ability to win

17. Qualifications for Representatives 25 years old 25 years old Citizen for 7 years Citizen for 7 years Must reside from the state they are chosen from Must reside from the state they are chosen from Longstanding custom, they live in district they represent (be closer to the people) Longstanding custom, they live in district they represent (be closer to the people) Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its members Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its members

18. May punish own members for disorderly behavior by majority vote May punish own members for disorderly behavior by majority vote 1989 House Speaker Jim Wright resigned after, House Ethics Committee charged him with violations (financial dealings with companies) 1989 House Speaker Jim Wright resigned after, House Ethics Committee charged him with violations (financial dealings with companies) With 2/3 vote can expel a member With 2/3 vote can expel a member In 200 years 5 members have been expelled In 200 years 5 members have been expelled 2002 James Traficant – bribery, fraud, and tax evasion 2002 James Traficant – bribery, fraud, and tax evasion

19. Senate Smaller body than the House Smaller body than the House First Senate had 22 members in 1789 First Senate had 22 members in 1789 Today it has 100 Senators Today it has 100 Senators Until the adoption of the 17 th Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures Until the adoption of the 17 th Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures Legislatures were expected to choose wealthy, distinguished men Legislatures were expected to choose wealthy, distinguished men

20. 1914 to today, Senators have been chosen by the people during regular November elections 1914 to today, Senators have been chosen by the people during regular November elections Each senator is elected from the State at- large Each senator is elected from the State at- large Serve 6 year terms Serve 6 year terms May be reelected to any number of terms May be reelected to any number of terms 1/3 elected every two years, roughly 33 up for reelection 1/3 elected every two years, roughly 33 up for reelection

21. Senate is called a continuous body Senate is called a continuous body All seats are not up for election at same time All seats are not up for election at same time 6-year term is intended to make senators less subject to pressure of public opinion and to the pleas of special interests than their house colleagues. 6-year term is intended to make senators less subject to pressure of public opinion and to the pleas of special interests than their house colleagues. Supposed to be focused on the “Big Picture” not the small local stuff Supposed to be focused on the “Big Picture” not the small local stuff Over past years they have become prime source of contenders for presidency Over past years they have become prime source of contenders for presidency

22. Qualifications Higher level of qualifications than House member Higher level of qualifications than House member 30 years of age 30 years of age Must be US citizen for 9 years Must be US citizen for 9 years Must reside from the state they are elected from Must reside from the state they are elected from Senate judges the qualifications of its members, may exclude them by majority vote Senate judges the qualifications of its members, may exclude them by majority vote

23. May punish members by majority vote May punish members by majority vote 1990, David Durenberger R, MINN 1990, David Durenberger R, MINN Charged with financial misconduct Charged with financial misconduct May expel a member with 2/3 vote May expel a member with 2/3 vote 15 members have been expelled 15 members have been expelled 1 in 1797, 14 during the Civil War 1 in 1797, 14 during the Civil War 1982 Harrison Williams (D, N.J) resigned, but was convicted of bribery 1982 Harrison Williams (D, N.J) resigned, but was convicted of bribery