CONGRESSCH. 10

CONGRESS = NATIONAL LEGISLATURECongress is

bicameral.

HOUSE OF REPS

# of reps per state depends on population as counted

every 10 years in the National Census and then

reapportioned.

435 Reps in total

2 year terms(but no limit on # of terms)

Elected by district

SENATE

2 Senators per state

100 Senators in total

6 year terms(but no limit on # of terms)

Elected by entire state

SENATE At least 30 yrs. Old Citizens for 9+ years More prestige More Media Coverage

Our Senators:

Each state has 2 senators, no matter size

Some represent very few;some represent a great many

HOUSE OF REPS At least 25 yrs. old Citizens for 7+ years Less Prestige Less Media Coverage

OUR Representatives:

State with MOST Reps:

State with LEAST Reps:

Rep = 650,000 citizens

GERRYMANDERINGState legislatures draw boundaries of districts but, since 1964, gerrymandering has been illegal.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS (HOUSE OR SENATE) REALLY HAVE SEVERAL JOBS:

1. Legislator: make laws2. Committee Member:

Screen bills to see if House/Senate should discuss Check to see if the executive is properly

enforcing laws (Oversight Function)

3. Constituent Representative: Represent/vote as “folk back home” would

4. Constituent Servant: Do favors for constituents

5. Politician: Stay in touch with party leaders & fellow

candidates

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TEND TO VIEW THEMSELVES AS EITHER:

Use own judgment, regardless of voter opinion

Trustee:

Vote based on views of “folks back home”Delegate:OR

Vote along party linesPartisan:OR

Balance of all three of the abovePolitico:OR

TERMS Term = length of time that officials

serve after an election, as in a two- or six-year term

Start (per 20th Amendment) at “noon of the 3d day of January” of every odd-numbered year.

CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS

The SENATE is a Continuous Body:

The entire Senate is NOT up for election at any one time.

Instead, 1/3 is up every two years, for a total 6 year term each.

Every two years,all Representatives and 1/3 of Senateare up for election.

SESSIONS OF CONGRESS

Session = regular period of time during which Congress conducts business.

Congress adjourns, or suspends until the next session, each regular session as it sees fit.

If necessary, the President has the power to prorogue, or adjourn, a session, but only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment.

Only the President may call Congress into a special session—a meeting to deal with some emergency situation.

COMPENSATION

Senators/Representatives salary: $174,000 a year.(Leaders are paid more)

The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage.

The Constitution says that Congress fixes its own “compensation.” Therefore, the only real limits to congressional pay are the President’s veto and fear of voter backlash against a pay increase.

MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES

Can’t be arrested for noncriminal offenses from their official conduct.

Can’t be sued for libel or slander arising from their official conduct.