1. Chapter 10 Congress

2. Section 1—The National Legislature
Objectives:
Explain why the Constitution provides for a bicameral Congress.
Describe a term of Congress.
Summarize how sessions of Congress have changed over time.

3. Section 1—The National Legislature
Why It Matters:
The Framers of the Constitution created a Congress with two bodies: a small Senate and a much larger House of Representatives. Each Congress since 1789 has met for a term of two years; those terms are now divided into two one-year sessions.

4. Section 1—The National Legislature
Political Dictionary:
Term
Session
Adjourn
Prorogue
Special Session

5. Section 1—The National Legislature
“Representative”
Madison: “The first branch.”
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.”—Article I, section 1

6. Section 1—The National Legislature
A Bicameral Congress
Historical
British had two houses
Most Colonies had two houses
Practical
Dispute between Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

7. Section 1—The National Legislature
A Bicameral Congress (cont.)
Theoretical
“To cool it.”
There would be no Constitution without the bicameralism.

8. Section 1—The National Legislature
Terms and Sessions
Two year terms.
Terms of Congress
Noon of the 3rd day of January of every odd numbered year.
Sessions
Two sessions
Adjourns
“sine die”
“prorogue”—never used.

9. Section 1—The National Legislature
Terms and Sessions (cont.)
Special Sessions
Only used occasionally.

10. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Objectives:
Describe the size and the elective terms of the members of the House.
Explain how House seats are reapportioned among the States after each census.
Describe a typical congressional election and congressional district.
Analyze the formal and informal qualifications for election to the House.

11. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Why It Matters:
The 435 members of the House of Representatives represent districts of roughly equal populations but very different characteristics. House members can serve an unlimited number of two-year terms.

12. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Political Dictionary:
Apportionment
Reapportion
Off-year election
Single-member district
At-large
Gerrymander

13. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Size and Terms
Size is set by Congress-435 since 1910
Minimum of one representative per State.
“Unofficial” representatives.
Unlimited terms

14. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Reapportionment
1st Congress was 65
Raised to 106 in 1792
A Growing Nation
Raised to 142 in 1800
Raised to 186 in 1810
435 by 1912 (Arizona and New Mexico were added)
No reapportionment in 1920

15. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Reapportionment (cont.)
The Reapportionment Act of 1929
Every ten years
Permanent size of 435
Represent about 650,000 citizens
State Legislatures determine boundaries.

16. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Congressional Elections
Date—Since 1872, “first Tuesday, following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.”
Voting devices vary widely and some are controversial.

17. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Congressional Elections (cont.)
Off-Year Elections
Non-presidential election years.
Party of the president “usually” loses ground.

18. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Congressional Elections (cont.)
Districts
7 States with one representative
428 divided among the rest.
Single-member districts are the norm.
At-Large has occurred at times.
Questions:
Equal population
Equal size.
Compactness.
Contiguous—one piece

19. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Congressional Elections (cont.)
Gerrymandering
Can concentrate opposition in one or a few districts.
Spread the opposition to make all districts open.
Aims to create “safe” districts.

20. Section 2—The House of Representatives

21. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Congressional Elections (cont.)
Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964
Established principle of equal representation.
Later: One person---one vote principle.
Race cannot be the primary determinant in districting, but can be one factor.

22. Section 2—The House of Representatives
Qualifications for House Members.
25 years of age.
A U.S. citizen for 7 years.
A inhabitant of the state from which they are elected.
Informally of the district from which they are elected.

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24. Section 3—The Senate Objectives:
Compare the size of the Senate to the size of the House of Representatives.
Describe how States have elected senators in the past and present.
Explain how and why a senator’s term differs from a representative’s term.
Identify the qualifications for serving in the Senate.

25. Section 3—The Senate Why It Matters:
Each State has two seats in the Senate, the smaller and more prestigious house of Congress. Senators are generally older and more experienced than representatives, and their longer terms offer some protection against political pressures.

26. Section 3—The Senate Political Dictionary: Continuous body
Constituency

27. Section 3—The Senate Size, Election, and Terms Size Election
1789—22 members
1791—26 members
“Dispassionate.”
Represent entire states.
Election
Until 1913—chosen by State legislatures.
17th Amendment.
Now elected statewide.

28. Section 3—The Senate Size, Election, and Terms (cont.) Term 6 years
Strom Thurmond-48 year record.
Senator Robert Byrd—48 years in 2007
Terms are staggered 33 or 34 each 2 year election.
Continuous body.
Larger constituencies---bigger picture.

29. Section 3—The Senate Qualification for Senators 30 years of age.
Citizen of the U.S. for 9 years.
An inhabitant of the State from which they are elected.
Senate judges its own members.
15 have been expelled—14 during the Civil War.
Many simply resign
Many do not seek reelection.

30. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Objectives:
Identify the personal and political backgrounds of the current members of Congress.
Describe the duties performed by those who serve in Congress.
Describe the compensation and privileges of members of Congress.

31. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Why It Matters:
Members of Congress must fill several roles as lawmakers, politicians, and servants of their constituents. For their work, they receive fairly generous pay and benefits.

32. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Political Dictionary:
Trustee
Partisan
Politico
Oversight function
Franking privilege

33. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Personal and Political Backgrounds
Not representative
Median age of House is 55, Senate 60
Mostly male. 68 women in House, 14 women in the Senate.
42 African Americans, 24 Hispanics, 5 Asians, and 1 Native American in the House.
1 African American, 2 Hispanics, 1 Asian, 1 Hawaiian sit in Senate.

34. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Personal and Political Backgrounds (cont.)
Most are married and average 2 children.
60% are Protestant, 30% Catholic, 6% Jewish.
1/3 of House and 1/2 of Senate are lawyers
Nearly all have a college degree and many advanced degrees.

35. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Personal and Political Backgrounds (cont.)
Most have political experience
Senators average in second term
House members 4 terms
Former governors
Cabinet seats

36. Section 4—The Members of Congress
The Job
Legislators
Representatives of constituents
Committee members
Servants of constituents
Politicians

37. Section 4—The Members of Congress
The Job (cont.)
Representatives of the people
Trustees—independent judgment
Partisans
Politicos—balancing act
Committee Members
Oversight function
Servants

38. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Compensation
Salary
$158,000
Speaker=$193,600
Senate president pro tem=$172,900
Nonsalary Compensation
Fringe benefits
Travel
Franking privilege
Free printing

39. Section 4—The Members of Congress
Compensation (cont.)
The politics of pay
Controversial
Membership Privileges
Legislative Immunity
To protect free speech

40. Section 4—The Members of Congress