Ch. 10Congress

•Consists of 2 houses:–House of Representatives (lower house)–The Senate (upper house)

•Known as bicameral legislature- two house legislative body.•Total amount of members= 535

–435 representatives–100 senators

Ch. 10• Qualifications for a Representative

– At least 25yrs old– A citizen of the US for at least 7 yrs.– A legal resident of the state they represent

• Terms of office– Elected for 2 year terms– If office vacant, governor appoints a temporary

representative until a special election can be called to fill the vacancy

• The number of representatives a state receives depends on the population of the state. Every ten years, when a census (counting of US citizens) is taken, the seats are reapportioned according to population of each state and district.

Ch. 10Redistricting and Gerrymandering

Redistricting is the process of setting up new district lines after reapportionment has been completed.

Unfortunately, some state legislatures have abused that power and drew district lines in an unfair manner. Drawing the lines in specific ways, to either hurt or help a certain district or representative is called Gerrymandering. Term comes from Eldridge Gerry, a governor in Mass. who drew irregular shaped lines for districts to help strengthen democrat representatives in Congress.

Ch. 10• Qualifications to become a Senator:

– At least 30 yrs of age– A US citizen for at least 9 yrs

• Terms of Office– 6 yr terms– Only 1/3 of senators run for reelection every two

years.– If office is vacant, no election is held. The

governor of state appoints an individual to serve out the remainder of the term left from the previous senator who left his office, through death or resignation.

Chapter 10• Other facts and info about Congressmen.

– Enjoy a $150, 000 pension for life after serving in public office.

– Cannot be arrested for anything other than felony, treason, and breach of the peace.

– Nearly half of all members of Congress are lawyers.

– Most senators and representatives are incumbents- ones already in office-who win reelection.

Chapter 10House of Representatives

Example: Congressman Pete Olson

• In the House of Representatives, committees do most of the work of Congress. It is easier to work and get more things done in small groups.

• Constituents- are the people in the districts being represented by the congressmen.

Chapter 10Party affiliation is an important matter in both

houses.

Democrats sit on the left.

Republicans sit on the right.

One of these two parties will have a majority of seats in the house. So, when you hear the words “majority party”, that is what it means.

Chapter 10• Organized leadership serves these 6

purposes:

1. Organizing and unifying party members2. Scheduling the work of the house3. Making sure lawmakers are present for key

floor votes4. Distributing and collecting information5. Keeping the House in touch with the

President6. Influencing lawmakers to support the

policies of their political party.

Chapter 10• The Speaker of the House

– Right now it is: JOHN BOEHNER– 2nd in line of succession to the president– The presiding officer of the House of Representatives;

the most powerful leader.– Appoints members of committees, schedules bills for

action, and refers bills to the proper House committee

• The House Floor Leaders– Majority party leader

• Assistant to Speaker

– Minority party leader• Same as majority, except no power over scheduling work in

the house.

Chapter 10• The House Rules Committee

– “Traffic Officer” in the house, helping to direct the flow of major legislation

– When another committee (example-agriculture committee) approves a bill, it goes to the Rules Committee.

– Here it can be moved ahead of other bills, held back, or be stopped completely.

– Major function of Rules Committee is to move ahead very important legislation.

– Rules Committee settles disputes between other committees and can delay or block bills before they can even be voted on.

Chapter 10The Senate

•Very more informal atmosphere than the House.•Senate leadership follows closely to how the House works.•Vice president is president of the Senate

–Can only recognize members and put questions to a vote–He can only cast a vote in a situation when there is a tie.

Ch. 10

• President pro tempore– Or president pro tem- means president “for

the time being”– An elected leader, usually from the majority

party and its most senior member.

– PATRICK LEAHY is the current president pro tempore

Chapter 10

Our current senators from Texas are:

Ted Cruz

John Cornyn

Chapter 10• How Senate Bills are scheduled;

– Don’t use committees that much– Bills end up on one of two calendars:

1. The Calendar of General Orders• Lists all bills the senate will consider

2. The Executive Calendar• Schedules treaties and nominations

• The Senate brings bills to the floor by unanimous consent of all members present

Chapter 10

• The Filibuster– Because the senate allows unlimited debate on a bill,

one way to defeat a bill they oppose is to filibuster against it.

– Means to keep talking until a majority of the Senate either abandons the bill or agrees to modify its most controversial provisions.

– Senators must continue to stand and talk about the subject on the bill for at least the first 3 hours

– After that, they can talk about anything they want (from a phonebook, bible, etc.)

– Senator Strom Thurmond holds the record for talking for 24 hrs 18 minutes on the Civil Rights Act 1957

Chapter 10Committees

• Committees help ease the workload and help to effectively consider the thousands of bills proposed each session.

1. It allows members of Congress to divide work into smaller groups.

2. With the large amount of bills introduced, committees select those that receive further consideration.

3. By holding public hearings, it keeps the public informed.

Chapter 10• 4 basic types of committees

1. Standing Committee- continue from one Congress to the next

2. Select Committee- temporary committee created to study one specific issue and report findings.

3. Joint Committee- made up of members from both the House and Senate; usually study groups

4. Conference Committee- resolving differences in a bill passed by both houses, but are different in some ways.

Chapter 10• Key Committees in the House:

– Rules Committee– Ways and Means Committee– Appropriations Committee

• Key Committees in the Senate:– Foreign Relations Committee– Finance Committee– Appropriations Committee

Chapter 10Support Agencies

1. Library of Congress- Created in 1800. One of the largest libraries in the world. Over 100 million items (books, journals, magazines, films, music, photographs, maps). Receives 2 copies of every copyrighted work in the US free each year.

2. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)- 1974; coordinates budget-making work of Congress, studies presidential budget proposals, make cost projections of proposed programs. Also calculate how decisions made by Congress affect the nation’s economy.

Chapter 10Support Agencies Cont.3. General Accounting Office (GAO)- 1921; this

agency is the nation’s watchdog over the spending of funds. Includes a comptroller general who is appointed to a 15yr term. Directs a staff of 5,100 to review financial management of gov. programs, collection of gov debt, and provide legal service.

4. Government Printing Office (GPO)- Largest multi-purpose printing plant in the world. Does the printing for the entire federal government. Also keeps records on past census, government finances, elections, and etc.