1. Chapter 10
Congress

2. Section One

3. Bicameral Congress Article I Two houses
Reasons for bicameral legislature
Historical (used to it)
Practical (small and large states happy)
Theoretical (check each other, spread power)
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4. Terms of Congress Time congress meets
Two years in length, numbered consecutively
113th beginning in January
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5. Sessions of Congress Time Congress meets in each year Two per term
Adjourn (suspend)
Ends session
Both houses must agree to time
Now meets almost year-round
Prorogue
When can’t agree, President can end the session
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6. Special Session For emergencies Called by President
Threatened more than actually used
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7. Section Two

8. House of Representatives
Size
435 members
Determined by Congress
Terms
Two years, no term limit
Apportionment
Based on population, each state has at least 1
Washington DC, Guam, Virgin Islands, Samoa each have delegates that cannot vote
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9. Reapportionment Every ten years, after census Last census in 2010
Today each represents approx. 650,000
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10. Elections
The first Tuesday following the first Monday of each even-numbered year
Off-year elections
Years in between Presidential elections
Fewer voters
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11. Districts Not mentioned in Constitution Single-member districts
State legislatures draw the districts
Equal number of inhabitants
Compact territory
Sometimes disregarded
Gerrymandering (Wesberry v Sanders)
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12. Qualifications Formal Informal 25 years old US citizen for 7 years
Resident of state
Informal
Live in district
Vote-getting abilities
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13. Leadership Speaker of the House Chosen by majority party caucus
Current Speaker : John Boehner
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14. Section Three

15. The Senate Size Term 100 members 2 per state Chosen by popular vote
17th amendment changed election by state legislatures
Term
Six years, no limit
Continuous body, 1/3 expire every 2 years
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16. Qualifications 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of state
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17. Leadership Vice President of the United States Joe Biden
President Pro Tempore
Sen. Patrick Leahy
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18. Section Four

19. Make some predictions
How do you think we will describe the average member of Congress in terms of
-gender?
-race?
-age?
-religious background?
-education level?
-occupation?
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20. The Members of Congress
Characteristics
Average member
White male
Mid-50s
Married with 2 children
60% protestant, 25% Catholic, 8 % Jewish
Mostly attorneys
Nearly all have college degrees
Political experience
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21. Five Major Jobs Legislators Representatives of their constituents
Servants of their constituents
Committee members
Politicians
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22. Compensation Salary Why not more? Non-salary (major perks) Privileges
$174,000
More for leaders
Why not more?
Possible veto
Voter backlash
Non-salary (major perks)
Privileges
Free from arrest (some exceptions)
Legislative immunity
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