1. Congress
Kernell and Jacobson

2. Congress and the Constitution
Congress in the Constitution Product of Great Compromise Bicameralism: (two houses) Upper House (Senate): each state two members, selected by state legs (until 17 th amendment, 1913), three classes, (one third of the Senate is chosen every two years). Lower House (House of Rep): based on population, selected by the people

3. Upper and Lower House
House 435 Members Each serve for two years Elected directly by the people Need to be 25 Citizen for seven years Must live in the State where they are elected Senate (more seasoned branch, will watch over House) 100 Members Members elected for six years Elected by state legislatures Need to be 30 Citizen for nine years Madison: Federalist 62: Senate will calm passions of lower house.

4. Powers of Congress
Powers of Congress Congress has broad powers: (Article I, Section 8) Examples: Power to tax, declare war, coin and borrow money Also, necessary and proper clause (elastic clause).

5. Congress and the Constitution
Congress and the Constitution Article I, Section 8: Congressional Powers The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;

6. Congress and the Constitution
Congress and the Constitution Article I, Section 8: Congressional Powers To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

7. Congress and the Constitution
Congress and the Constitution Article I, Section 8: Congressional Powers To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause: To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers…

8. Distinct Powers: House and Senate
Levy Taxes (Art I, Sect 7, Origination Clause)
Spending Bills (Money Bills)
Ratify Treaties
Confirm Cabinet Positions
Confirm Supreme Court Justices

9. Senate Floor Procedures: Right of First Recognition
To bring legislation to the floor, the majority leader can either:
1) Move that a bill be taken off the calendar and considered
2) Ask for a Unanimous Consent Agreement (UCA) …

10. Senate Filibuster and Cloture Vote
Consideration of a bill is subject to extended debate, which can only be stopped by a cloture vote, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes. Such an action, which mostly destroys the legislation under consideration is a filibuster.

11. Congressional Districts
Congressional Districts 1) Single member districts (first past the post, winner-take- all) 2) State Congressional Delegations: determined every ten years by census.

12. Congressional Districts
Congressional Districts: Shifting from East to West as Population Shifts
Mass:
1950: 14
2000: 10 -4
Penn:
1950: 30
2000: 19
-11
Texas:
1950: 22
2000: 32
+10
Arizona:
1950: 2
2000: 8 +6