1. FACTS about Congress

2. “Here, sir, the people govern.”
Congress
“Here, sir, the people govern.”
- Alexander Hamilton

3. Congress passes laws about
The food we eat
The cars we drive
Our workplaces
National parks
Clean water
Medicine safety
National security… and many other topics

4. House of Representatives Senate
Congress
Divided into:
House of Representatives
To be more responsive to the people
Senate
To be more deliberative and thoughtful

5. Congress Representative: Senator:
must be 25 and a U.S. citizen for 7 years
Senator:
must be 30 and a U.S. citizen for 9 years

6. Congress Representative: Senator:
Represents a specific district in a state
Minnesota has 8 districts
Senator:
Each senator represents the interests of the whole state

7. Congress House: Constitution says no more than 1 per 30,000
First Congress had 65
By 1910, had grown to 435
1920 Crisis – Can’t grow (losing effectiveness), but must reapportion
1929 Law made reapportionment automatic
Senate:
Constitution says 2 per state, hasn’t changed

8. District Map

9. Congress Representative: Senator: Serves for 2 years

10. Congress Representative: Senator: Has a staff of about 17

11. Congress
In 1789, when the first Congress convened, each House member represented 30,000 people.
Now, each represents around 650,000.

12. Congress
The 535 members of Congress are NOT representative of the population.
The typical member? A white male n his early 50s.
In 2007, there were 86 women, 44 African-Americans, 29 Hispanics, 7 Asian-Americans, 1 Native American and 1 Native Hawaiian serving.

13. Congress Most common professions: Lawyer Businessperson Banker
Local politician
Educator
Farmer
Real estate agent
Journalist

14. Congress A typical day: 8 a.m. Breakfast with the governor
8:50 a.m. Staff meeting
9 a.m. Party caucus meeting
10 am. Subcommittee oversight hearing
10:20 a.m. Meet farm leaders from district
10:45 a.m. Testify before transporation committee
11 a.m. Education committee looks at student assistance bill
12 p.m. House convenes for vote
1 p.m. Address veterans delegation
1:45 p.m. Floor debate on budget
3:30 p.m. Talk to visiting high school students
4 p.m. Conference call with district staff
4:30 p.m. Office time
5:45 p.m. TV interview
6 p.m. Reception for prime minister

15. Congress The roles of a Congressperson: Legislator Committee member
Servant of constituents
Politician
Representative of constituents

16. Congress Representative of their constituents Trustee Delegate
Partisan
Politico

17. Congress
Fun facts
Only 1 in 3 Americans can name their members of Congress.
Only 1 in 3 adult Americans has visited, written, ed or phoned a member of Congress.
Only 35-40% of Americans vote in congressional races in off-year elections.

18. Do you know these faces?