1. Congress

2. A Bicameral Congress
Bicameral legislature: legislature made up of two houses
Part of it is historical like British parliament
Done practically for both population and for equal state representation
Done theoretically so one house might act as a check on the other

3. Terms and Sessions A congressional term is 2 years
Start of new term is noon onjanuary 3rd
Session: period of time congress assembles and conducts business
Two sessions one for each year
Adjourns until next session
Each session usually goes nearly year round
Recess: short break for several weeks during a session
Special Session: President may call special session to deal with emergency situation

4. House of Representatives
435 members
Seat apportioned among states based on population
Each state guaranteed one
Territories and DC vote a member in but they are not a full voting member
Elected for two year terms
No limit on number of terms they can serve

5. Reapportionment Distribution of seats in the house every ten years
Done after each census
House originally had 65 seats
New congressman every 260,000 but population grew too large
Capped members at 435 seats with reapportion
Today average of 700,000 per representative

6. Congressional elections
Held every two years
Off-year elections: ones where there isn’t a presidential election
Low turnout
States decide district lines

7. Congressional Elections
The Role of Party Identification
Most members represent the majority party in their district.
Defeating Incumbents
Some incumbents face problems after a scandal or other complication in office.
They may face redistricting.
They may become a victim of a major political tidal wave.

8. Congressional Elections
Open Seats
Greater likelihood of competition.
Stability and Change
Incumbents provide stability in Congress.
Change in Congress occurs less frequently through elections.
Are term limits an answer?

9. Gerrymandering
Drawing Districts to the advantage of one party versus the other

11. Qualifications for Office
Formal Qualifications
25yrs old
Citizen of US for 7 yrs
Inhabitant of the state which they are elected
Custom not constitution requires they live in district they represent
House can refuse to seat members if deemed unqualified also can oust members by majority vote

12. Informal Qualifications
Have to do with vote getting ability
Party identity
Name familiarity
Gender
Race
Political experience
Incumbents have advantage
Name recognition
Fundraising ability

13. The Senate 100 members 2 per state 6 year terms
Founders hoped smaller size would encourage more enlightened individuals
Only one senator from a state elected any given election
No term limits
Terms are staggered so only 33 to34 are elected each cycle
Designed to be more picture versus small locality

14. Qualifications for office
30 years old
US citizen for 9 years
Inhabitant of state elected in
Informal qualifications
Incumbency also valuable

15. Members of Congress 535 members of congress
Not representative of American population
Average member is a white male in their 50’s (57 house, 63 Senate)
More women than ever before
More minorities than before as well
Most Christian

16. The Job Five major roles Lawmakers have 4 voting options Legislators
Representatives of their constituents
Committee members
Servants of their constituents
Politicians
Lawmakers have 4 voting options
Delegates- serve people who elected them
Trustees- question they face decide on merits
Partisans- allegiance to party
Politicos- combine basics of the three

17. The Job Committee members Servants of the people
Committees screen bills decide if it should go for floor consideration
Oversight through committees to ensure executive branch enacts policies
Servants of the people
Do things to help folks back home
Responding to requests of constituents

18. Compensation Salary: $174,000 per year for most members
Speaker of the House: $223,500
Vice President: $227,300
Senate floor leader: $193,400

19. Compensation “fringe benefits
Special tax deduction for two residencies
Travel allowances
Fully paid health care
Generous retirement
Provided with offices in Washington and in home state or district
Franking Privilege (mail postage free)
Approves own pay raises to take affect after next election
Protected from libel or slander suit from floor debate