1. THE US CONGRESS Chapters 10 & 12

2. T he primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills. The north wing (left) houses the Senate, while the south wing (right) houses the House of Representatives. US Congress- What is the purpose of Congress? What does Bicameral mean?

3. Historic & practical reasons for bicameral Congress. British Parliament; idea from Britain. Constitution Convention- Compromise

4. 113 Congress; as of 2012 Election Which party controls the House & Senate?

5. Congress & Sessions  Sessions- when congress assembles and conducts business of making laws. (One Year)  Convenes – when they begin work in a session  Adjourns – suspends work during a session  Recess – short breaks during a session  Special Session – called by President – emergency  27 in history – Truman’s in 1948 last one

6. Congress & Sessions & Terms Recess when Congress takes a break! Congressmen can be elected over and over again…..

8. 10.2 - House of Representatives

9. Requirements for a Senator

10. Elections Every 2 years- Even years All 435 House members; election every 2 years Elections fall on even years!

11. Congressional Elections Must use a voting booth 1 st Tuesday after the first Monday in November

12. Every 2 years; 1/3 of Senate seats up for election

13. There are many districts in the U.S., states with high populations have more districts. Every 2 years all 435 House Members are up for election!

14. Single Member District; each of the 18 districts elects/votes for one representative. Media, PA is in the 7 th District. In PA, All 18 Districts have one representative, each one is up for re-election every two years.

15. Media, PA- One Rep & Two Senators Single- Member District Rep. Patrick Meehan Republican Two Senator: Bob Casey & Pat Tomey

16. Compensation- Senators & Representatives  Salary - $174,000 year  Speaker - $223,500; VP – $227,300; floor leaders - $193,400  “fringe benefits” – special tax deduction for 2 residences  Travel allowances, life & health insurances, pension plan plus Social Security & Medicare  Offices – given one in DC, allowance for ones at home  Franking privilege – signature in place of stamps  Restaurants & gym, parking in DC & at airport

17. Several ways congressional districts change Re-appropriation after a census Gerrymandering How can Congressional districts change over time?

18. US Census & Re-Apportionment of House Members- 2010 Census

19. Reapportionment Act of 1929 – set 435 as permanent number of Reps!

20. Gerrymandering- 2 main reasons!  Gerrymandering – drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the state legislature.  1 – concentrate the opposition in as few districts as possible – “packing”  2 – spread the opposition as thinly as possible – “cracking” Sometimes “kidnapping” – redraw lines to move an incumbent into a district less likely to be reelected

21. 10.4 - Personal & Political Background  Most are white men in their 50s  Growing #s of women, minorities  Most are married with kids and have a religious affiliation  Most are lawyers &/or have advanced degrees  Most are born in the states they represent  Most have political experience  Most are upper-middle class  **is NOT an accurate cross section of American society

22. Voting decisions by Congressmen are usually classified as…

23. How can Congressmen vote…  Lawmakers can represent the people as they vote… 1. Delegates – discover “what the folks back home” think and votes the way the people in their district would want 2. Trustees – call issues as they see it using/merits of the issue- their own judgment – can ignore constituents 3. Partisans – votes the way their party votes, even if against will of people in their district 4. Politicos – try to combine all three when deciding how to vote.