1. The United States Congress
Chapter 10
US Government
Mr. LeHew

2. Meeting Place
Arial view of the Western Front of the United States Capitol Building and Capitol Grounds

3. A Bicameral Congress Historical reasons Parliament had two houses
Practical reasons
A solution/compromise between NJ and VA plans during Constitutional Convention
Theoretical reasons
Framers wanted one house to act as a check on the other
A way to diffuse the power of Congress

4. Terms of Congress Each term lasts 2 years
Beginning at 12:00P.M. January 3rd on odd numbers years
First term began in 1789 and ended in 1791
Two Sessions per term
Each session lasts one year

5. Terms of Congress Adjournment
Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other
May recess for short periods of time
President can adjourn (prorogue) if the two houses cannot agree on an adjournment date

6. Special Secessions Called by the President for special circumstances
Only been 27 called
Can call both houses together or either house separately
Because they meet year round, less likely to happen

7. The Unites States House of Representatives
The “Lower” house of the Unites States Congress

8. Meeting Place
United States Capitol Building, House Chamber
House Seats for the 112th Congress in proportion to Political Party

9. House of Representatives
Size
Fixed at 435 members
Seats are apportioned (distributed) on basis of population
Every state has at least one seat
Seven states have only one seat: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming
DC, Guam, Virgin Is., Samoa, and Puerto Rico each have a delegate but they aren’t members of the House and cannot vote on bills

10. House of Representatives
Terms
Each representative serves a 2 year term
No limit on terms
Makes House more responsive to the people
Reapportionment
Seats reapportioned after census
Reapportionment Act of 1929 set size at 435
Census Bureau decides how many seats per state
Plan then sent to Congress
Becomes effective in 60 days if neither house rejects it

11. House of Representatives
Elections
Date - Tuesday following first Monday in November of each even numbered year
Off year elections - held between presidential elections - usually party in power loses seats
Gerrymandering - drawing district lines to favor one political party over the other - purpose is to create “safe” districts

12. Gerrymandering Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964
Districts redrawn to produce districts of approximately equal population
One man, one vote
Does not prevent gerrymandering
In this example, the more even distribution is on the left and the gerrymandering is on the right.

13. Qualifications Formal qualifications 25 years old 7 years a citizen
Live in state they represent
Custom to live in district as well (informal)
House may refuse to seat a member (majority vote)
May censure (punish) a member (majority vote)
May expel a member (2/3 vote)

14. Informal Qualifications
Have to do with vote-getting ability
Includes things like:
Party identification
Name familiarity
Gender
Ethnic characteristics
Political experience
Incumbency
Fundraising ability

15. The Unites States Senate
The “Upper” house of the Unites States Congress

16. Meeting Place
Official Photo, US Senate, 112th Congress
Senate Chamber, United States Capitol Building
Senate Seats of the 112th Congress proportionate to Political Party

17. US Senator’s Desk Senate Chamber
Underside of Desk Drawer traditionally used by Democratic Leadership in US Senate

18. US Senate Size 100 members - 2 from each state Election
Used to be chosen by state legislatures
17th Amendment (1913) calls for direct election of Senators
Only one senate seat from each state up for election at one time

19. Terms and Qualifications
6 Year Terms
No limit on terms
1/3 expire every 2 years
Formal qualifications
30 years old
9 year citizen
Live in state
Informal qualifications
Same as for House of Representatives

20. Refusal and Censure Powers
Senate may also refuse to seat a member (majority vote), censure a member (majority vote), or expel a member (2/3 vote)

21. Members of Congress and their Jobs
Profile
White
Middle aged
Male
Most are married
Most are Protestant
Most are lawyers
Most went to college
Most were born in state they represent
Most have considerable political experience

22. The Job
What Congress Does on a Daily Basis and other Assorted Bits of Information

23. The Job Legislator Trustees - each question decided on its own merits
Delegate - believe they should vote the way the people back home want them to
Partisans - believe they should follow party guidelines
Politicos - attempt to combine all three

24. The Job Serve/represent constituents Committee members
Screen proposals
Oversee executive agencies - called oversight function
Serve/represent constituents
Reflect the interests of the people back home
Help them solve problems they may have with bureaucracy

25. Compensation and Perks
Pay
House/Senate -- $174,000
Speaker -- $223,500
Minority/Majority Leaders -- $193,400
President Pro Tempore -- $193,400

26. Compensation and Perks
Tax deduction for keeping two homes
Travel allowance to go back to home district
Medical care at low/no cost
Office space in DC and allowance for office space back home
Staff allowance
Free parking at the Capitol and major airports

27. Compensation and Perks
Perks Continued
Free printing
Free mail (franking privilege)
Research help through the Library of Congress
Exercise facilities
Retirement plan based on years service

28. Privileges (Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1)
Freedom from arrest during sessions
(Except treason, serious felony)
Free speech/debate clause
Protects from libel/slander for remarks made during debate in session or in conducting official business