1. © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc. American Government C H A P T E R 10 CONGRESS

2. S E C T I O N 1 The National Legislature

3. The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature for three reasons: Two Houses of Congress Historical: British Parliament was 2 houses since 1300s, & many colonial assemblies were similar. Practical: Bicameral legislature necessary to compromise Virginia & New Jersey plans. Theoretical: Framers favored bicameral Congress so 1 house checks the other. Chapter 10, Section 1

4. Terms A term - length of time officials serve, as in a 2- or 6-year term. Chapter 10, Section 1 Date for start of each new term set by the Twentieth Amendment (1933) as “noon of the 3rd day of January” of every odd-#d year.

5. Sessions of Congress Chapter 10, Section 1 Session - the period of time Congress conducts business. Congress adjourns (suspends until next session) each regular session as it sees fit. President has power to prorogue (adjourn) a session, only when 2 houses can’t agree on date for adjournment. Only President may call Congress into special session—meeting to deal with emergency situation.

6. S E C T I O N 2 The House of Representatives

7. Chapter 10, Section 2 Size and Terms House of Representatives, currently at 435 members, is determined by Congress. Constitution provides that total # of seats in House apportioned (distributed) among States on basis of populations. Members serve 2- year terms. There are no limits set on # of terms a representative serves.

8. Reapportionment Article I of the Constitution directs Congress to reapportion— redistribute—the seats in the House after each decennial census. Chapter 10, Section 2 As U.S. grew in population, # of reps in House also grew. Reapportionment Act of 1929 set “permanent” size of House at 435 members, & provided for “automatic reapportionment.”

9. Current Apportionment Chapter 10, Section 2

10. Congressional Elections Congressional elections held on Tuesday following 1st Monday in November each even-#d year. Off-year elections are congressional elections between presidential elections. Chapter 10, Section 2

11. Districts and Gerrymandering Districts that have unusual shapes have sometimes been gerrymandered. Gerrymandering - act of drawing congressional districts to advantage of political party that controls State legislature. Under single-member district arrangement, voters in each district elect 1 of State’s reps. Chapter 10, Section 2

12. Qualifications for House Members Constitution says a member of the House (1) at least 25 y/o, (2) citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years (3) inhabitant of State he/she is elected from. Realities of politics require informal qualifications: party identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnicity, & political experience. Chapter 10, Section 2

13. S E C T I O N 3 The Senate

14. Chapter 10, Section 3 Size, Election, and Terms Constitution says Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each State.” Today’s Senate - 100 Senators. Constitution provided senators chosen by State legislatures. 1912 Seventeenth Amendment passed & called for popular election of senators. Senators serve 6-year terms. Senate is a continuous body- all of its seats are never up for election at same time.

15. Chapter 10, Section 3 Qualifications for Senators Requirements for U.S. Senate are higher than House of Representatives. Constitution says a Senator (1) at least 30 y/o, (2) citizen of the U.S. at least 9 years, and (3) inhabitant of the State he/she elected from.

16. S E C T I O N 4 The Members of Congress

17. Representatives of the People Chapter 10, Section 4 Senators and representatives are elected to represent people. As legislators, they have four voting options:

18. Committee Membership and Public Servants As committee members, senators & representatives screen proposed laws before they are voted on. Another part of committee work involves oversight function. Oversight is process by which Congress, checks to see that agencies of executive branch are working effectively. Members of House & Senate act as servants of their constituents. Members of Congress listen to many requests from voters. Ignoring constituencies would not go well next election. Chapter 10, Section 4

19. Compensation Senators & Reps paid salary of $158,100 a year. Certain members, such as Speaker of the House & Senate’s president pro tem, paid more. Franking privilege- allows members of Congress to mail letters & other materials postage-free by substituting signature (frank) for postage. Constitution says Congress fixes own “compensation.” Only real limits to congressional pay are President’s veto & fear of voters. Chapter 10, Section 4

20. Membership Privileges Members of Congress immune from arrest for noncriminal offenses while engaged in congressional business (in Congress). Speech and Debate Clause (Article I, Section 6, Clause 1) protects reps & senators from suits for libel/slander from official conduct. Chapter 10, Section 4