1. 14 Slides After this! And they are LONG!
Legislative Branch

2. Two House Congress Bicameral Legislature (two-house)
1. Checks and Balances built into the legislative branch. Shared responsibility means less laws will be passed too quickly or not needed.
*2. Settled a dispute between large and small states for equal representation (Great Compromise)

3. House of Representatives
*435 members
Called Representatives
*Based on population – regardless of population, each state has at least 1 representative

4. Representatives Elected
Originally, 1 Rep for every 30,000.
1789 there were 65 representatives
To prevent the house from becoming too large, Congress limited the size of the house to 435 members in 1929
Today each member represents more than 500,000 people.

5. Membership Divided
Census every 10 years determines how the 435 seats are apportioned
*Apportioned = distributed
Michigan = 14 Representatives (lost one last census)
State legislatures draw Congressional Boundaries – population sizes should be nearly equal
*States sometimes draw lines in favor of particular party = gerrymandering.
Gives oddly shaped districts

6. Michigan

7. Representative Terms
Elections held November of each even-numbered year.
*Elected to a 2-year term
If there is a vacancy, the governor must call a special election to fill the seat.

8. Representative Qualifications
Be at least 25 years old
Been a US citizens at least 7 years
Be a legal resident of the state he or she represents

9. Senate *100 total Called Senators
*Each state, regardless of size must have 2 Senators
First Senate had 26 Senators

10. Senate Terms and Elections
Senator’s term is 6 years
Elections held in November of each even-numbered year
*Only 1/3 of Senates membership comes up for reelection at a time
2/3 of the Senate will always be experienced
*Term Limits (number of times one can hold office) were deemed unconstitutional
The Governor appoints someone if the seat becomes vacant
*Senator who has served the longest is the states Senior Senator

11. Senator Qualifications
At least 30 Years old
US citizen at least 9 years
Legal resident of the state he/she represents

12. Other Congressional Qualifications
Usually have previous political experience
Active members of the community and volunteer organizations
Many members are lawyers, businesspeople, bankers, and educators
Representatives tend to be younger (below 50), Senators tend to be older (over 50)

13. Pay and Benefits Annual Salary of $174,000 Free trips to home state
Allowance for local district offices
*Franking Privilege – Right to mail official letters free of charge
Cannot be sued for anything they say while speaking in Congress
Cannot be arrested going to and from meetings unless committed serious crime
*Immunity = legal protection

14. Code of Conduct Held to a high degree of conduct
New members can be held from their seat until an investigation is held
Limit on how much outside income can be made
Campaign funds can not be used for personal business
Full disclosure of financial holdings
2/3 vote of both houses can lead to expulsion for serious offenses
*Less serious lead to censure – formal disapproval of a member’s actions

15. Average Congress members
Over ½ are millionaires
1 in 5 are calculated to be worth more that $10 million.
Does this really represent America?
How do they become so wealthy?

16. Current Members of Congress
Representative – Tim Walberg (R)
First elected 2007
Before last election was Representative – John Dingell (D)
Restructured district lines – why would they do this?
Born in 1926 – How old is he?
First elected 1955 – How long has he been in office?
Senators – Carl Levin (D)
First elected 1978
Debbie Stabenow (D)
First elected 2006
Which is our Senior Senator?