1. The Legislative Branch
Who Makes Up Congress?

2. The Legislative Branch
Bicameral = 2 houses
Why?
Created by the Great Compromise to satisfy both large states and small states
Most other governments were set up this way
The houses can provide a check on each other
113th Congress – began January 3, 2013
Session: the period of time each year when Congress meets
Term: assigned period of time for elected official to serve

3. Senators & Representatives
Every state gets two Senators
Total = 100 (50 x 2)
Each Senator represents the entire state
REPRESENTATIVES
Each state’s number of representatives is based on its population
Total = 435 (fixed by law)
Each Representative represents a congressional district

4. Apportionment in the House of Representatives
Members of the House of Representatives are apportioned; meaning they are distributed differently
The number of members each state has can change after a census is taken
A census is an official count of the population taken every ten years.

5. Rhode Island’s Congressional Districts
Redrawing the Districts

6. Congressional Districts
When districts need to be redrawn, they need to have similar populations.
Some states still draw boundaries to favor one party or group over another – this practice is called “gerrymandering”
Gerrymandering is done to help one party elect a large number of representatives.

7. Terms When elected, Senators serve a 6 year term (no term limit)
The terms are staggered so that only 1/3rd of the Senators are up for reelection at the same time
When elected, Representatives serve a 2 year term (no term limit)
All Representatives are up for reelection at the same time.

8. Why aren’t they all elected at the same time?
Think – Share - Pair
Why do you think the members of Congress serve different term lengths?
Why aren’t they all elected at the same time?

9. Qualifications for Senator
Must be 30 years or older
Must be a United States citizen for at least 9 years
Must live in the state they wish to represent

10. Qualifications for Representatives
Must be 25 years or older
Must be a United States citizen for at least 7 years
Must live in the state you wish to represent

11. Salary & Benefits All members of Congress get:
$174,900/year plus pension/health benefits
Offices & staff salaries paid by government
Free business related travel
Franking privilege: postage paid for responses to constituents
Constituent: the people an elected official represents

12. Rhode Island’s Senators
JACK REED
(Democrat)
sheldon whitehouse (DEMOCRAT)

13. Rhode Island’s Representatives
DAVID CICILLINE (District 1)
(DEMOCRAT)
JAMES LANGEVIN (DISTRICT 2)
(DEMOCRAT)

14. Who Makes Up Congress?

15. Exit Slip
Write a tweet (140 characters or less) that advertises for the position of Senator or Representative. Make sure you include requirements and salary. You can actually tweet it to Please begin your tweet with #HW – Abbreviate and be creative.

16. Think-Pair-Share
What do you think a member of Congress should consider or think about before voting on a bill?

17. Voting Options
Delegate: to vote based upon the views of your constituents
Trustee: to vote based upon your own personal opinion
Partisan: to vote along your party line
Politico: to vote by trying to balance being a delegate, trustee, and partisan