1. How Congress is Organized
Congress is a bicameral legislature as a result of the Great Compromise.

2. The House of Representatives
Three qualifications:
1. Must be at least 25 years old
2. Must be a US citizen for at least 7 years
3. Must live in the represented state
Most are successful lawyers or businessmen and had experience in government

3. Elected for 2 year terms (all begin and end at the same time)
Recent elections- 70 to 80% of current Representatives are reelected
No term limit (Congress is considering term limits)
435 (fixed) representatives in Congress

4. Constitution guarantees at least 1 representative from each state
Number from each state based on the state’s population
Census Bureau studies population changes in the states every 10 years to see if adjustments need to be made
States are divided into Congressional Districts, 1 representative per district

5. Gerrymandering- the division of a state into odd shaped districts
for political reasons (if all the representatives are republican, dividing to favor the republican vote over the democratic)
Louisiana has 6 representatives in Congress

6. Senate Qualifications: 1. Must be at least 30 years old
2. Must be a US citizen for at least
9 years
3. Resident of the represented
state
Serve 6 year terms (do not all begin at the same time- 1/3 of senators run for reelection every 2 years)

7. No term limit (Congress considering setting a two term limit)
Two senators representing the entire state
100 Senators in Congress

8. Salary, Benefits, and Privileges of Congress
Salary $174,000 per year (leaders: $193,400; Speaker of the House: $223,500)
Free office space, parking, and trips to the home state
Budgets to pay for assistants, office staff, and supplies
Discounts on many services (medical care, video production, etc.)

9. Franking privilege- sending of job related mail without postage
Granted immunity while on the job and traveling to and from their home unless the crime is very serious
Can not be sued for anything they say or write while performing their job
May face expulsion or censure for wrongdoing

10. Congressional Sessions
Congress is given a number to identify the two year term of the House- 113th Congress (First Session)
Sessions begin on January 3 and continue through the year
Special Sessions- called by the President to deal with pressing problems
Joint Sessions- meeting of both houses together- little work accomplished, mostly ceremonial (State of the Union Address)