1. Legislative Branch

2. Congress Bicameral Congress – 2 House Legislature
Historical Reason: England had a bicameral congress, House of Lords and House of Commons
Practical Reason: Settled the dispute between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans for government (regarding representation large states vs. small states)
Theoretical Reason: One house would check the power of the other house

3. Congress
House of Lords – consisted of the Aristocracy, more prestigious = U.S. Senate
House of Commons – consisted of the common people = U.S. House of Representatives
535 Members
100 in the Senate
435 in the House

4. Congress
General Election – Held the Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November of even numbered years.

5. House of Representatives
435 Members
Fixed by the Constitution
Membership based upon population, more people that live in a state the more representation they may have in the House.
2 Year term of office – entire House comes up for re-election every 2 years.
Elected from Single Member Districts i.e. Congressional Districts. 1 District for each representative = 435 Single Member Districts in the United States.

6. House of Representatives
Qualifications
Formal Qualifications
25 Years Old
7 year U.S. Citizen
Live in the State in which you are elected
Informal Qualifications
Experience
College Degree
Live in the District that you represent
Successful professional life – business etc…usually law

7. Senate
Equal representation – 2 per state as stipulated by our constitution for a total of 100 members in the Senate
Elected in at large elections (State Wide)
Serve a 6 year staggered term – 1/3 of the senate comes up for re-election every 2 years. Senate has a Continuous Body because 2/3 of the Senate is always intact.

8. Senate Qualifications Formal Qualifications Informal Qualifications
30 Years Old
US Citizen for 9 years
Live in the State Elected
Informal Qualifications
Experience
College Education
Successful professional life – business etc…usually law