Ch. 10 - CongressCh. 10 - Congress

““Suppose you were an idiot, Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were and suppose you were

elected to Congress… but I elected to Congress… but I repeat myself.”repeat myself.”

-Mark Twain-Mark Twain

Back to Chapter 1 for a Back to Chapter 1 for a sec…sec…

What kind of democracy do What kind of democracy do we live in?we live in?

So the people rule, but they So the people rule, but they don’t make public policydon’t make public policy

Who does make it?Who does make it?

Bicameral CongressBicameral Congress Our Congress is Our Congress is bicameralbicameral, ,

meaning it has meaning it has two housestwo houses The larger house, which is The larger house, which is

supposedly the “supposedly the “common man’s common man’s househouse,” is the House of ,” is the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

The smaller house, which is for The smaller house, which is for ““the elitethe elite” of America is the ” of America is the SenateSenate

Members of the House of Members of the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

Official title is “Representative Official title is “Representative So and So…”So and So…”

Also called “congressman or Also called “congressman or congresswoman”congresswoman”

There are There are 435435 congressmen congressmen Congressmen are elected to a Congressmen are elected to a

term of term of 2 years2 years

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

Members of the SenateMembers of the Senate

Official title is “Senator So Official title is “Senator So and So”and So”

There are 100 Senators (2 There are 100 Senators (2 from each state)from each state)

Senators are elected to a Senators are elected to a term of 6 yearsterm of 6 years

The SenateThe Senate

The SenateThe Senate

Basic InformationBasic Information

Since you get new congressmen Since you get new congressmen every 2 years, we call each 2 every 2 years, we call each 2 year period a “term” of Congressyear period a “term” of Congress

The terms are numbered The terms are numbered consecutively… the one that consecutively… the one that ended Dec. 2010 was the 112ended Dec. 2010 was the 112thth CongressCongress

The one that is in session now is The one that is in session now is called the 112called the 112thth Congress Congress

Basic InformationBasic Information A session of Congress is all A session of Congress is all

the time it takes to finish the time it takes to finish their their business for the yearbusiness for the year

So how many So how many sessionssessions are are there in a term of Congress?there in a term of Congress?

Seats in the HouseSeats in the House Seats are apportioned (given Seats are apportioned (given

out) to each state based on out) to each state based on populationpopulation

Every 10 years seats are Every 10 years seats are reapportioned after the census, reapportioned after the census, when a new count of the when a new count of the population is takenpopulation is taken

Ever since 1929, the number has Ever since 1929, the number has been 435 (Reapportionment Act)been 435 (Reapportionment Act)

Seats in the HouseSeats in the House Every state divides itself into Every state divides itself into

districts based on the number districts based on the number of seats apportioned to the of seats apportioned to the statestate

For example, Arizona is given For example, Arizona is given 8 seats based on our 8 seats based on our population. Upon the next population. Upon the next apportionment, it will be 9…apportionment, it will be 9…

What Does it Take to be in the What Does it Take to be in the House?House?

25 years old25 years old U.S. citizen for U.S. citizen for

at least 7 at least 7 yearsyears

Must live in Must live in the state you the state you are elected inare elected in

I am in the house, and the

things like that.

1 Year from now…1 Year from now…

“Mr. Toro”

Congress 2012“Pointing to a

brighter tomorrow”

Off-Year ElectionsOff-Year Elections In the election In the election

years where years where there is no there is no presidential presidential election (2002, election (2002, 2006), the 2006), the president’s party president’s party usually loses usually loses seats in Congressseats in Congress

That really stinks, yo.

Seats in the SenateSeats in the Senate

There will There will alwaysalways be 2 seats be 2 seats per state in the Senateper state in the Senate

50 States = 100 Senators50 States = 100 Senators

What Does it Take to be in the What Does it Take to be in the Senate?Senate?

30 Years Old30 Years Old U.S. Citizen for U.S. Citizen for

9 Years9 Years Must live in the Must live in the

state you are state you are elected inelected in

5 Years from now…5 Years from now…

“Mr. Toro”

Senate 2016

A “Slam-Dunk” for our State!

Foreign PerspectivesForeign Perspectives

Questions for President Bush from a Venezuelan JournalistQuestions for President Bush from a Venezuelan Journalist

Are artificial sweetners safe?Are artificial sweetners safe?Are you sure there are WMDs in Iraq?Are you sure there are WMDs in Iraq?

Did Anna Nicole marry for love?Did Anna Nicole marry for love?

Comparing the House and the Comparing the House and the SenateSenate

Originally, congressmen were elected Originally, congressmen were elected by the public, and Senators were by the public, and Senators were elected by the state legislatureselected by the state legislatures Founding Fathers did not trust the Founding Fathers did not trust the

public with all powerpublic with all power 1717thth Amendment Amendment has since changed has since changed

Senate elections to a public voteSenate elections to a public vote

Comparing the House and the Comparing the House and the SenateSenate

Senators have a much longer termSenators have a much longer term Entire House is elected at once, Entire House is elected at once,

while while only 1/3 of Senate is chosen only 1/3 of Senate is chosen at a timeat a time

House members appeal to one small House members appeal to one small district, Senators appeal to entire district, Senators appeal to entire statestate

The Big Question?The Big Question?

Founding Fathers’ IntentFounding Fathers’ Intent The Founding Fathers wanted to The Founding Fathers wanted to

have one house that would have one house that would quickly respond to the desires of quickly respond to the desires of the the publicpublic ( (House of Reps)House of Reps)

And one house that would be And one house that would be moderate, and stop any crazy moderate, and stop any crazy nonsense the House would try nonsense the House would try (Senate)(Senate)

Demographics of CongressDemographics of Congress

Congress is Congress is notnot at all at all demographically demographically representative of the U.S. representative of the U.S. populationpopulationFor example…For example…

Demographics of CongressDemographics of Congress

U.S.U.S.Males – 49%Males – 49%Females – Females – 51% 51%

CongressCongressMales – 86%Males – 86%Females – Females – 14%14%

Demographics of CongressDemographics of Congress U.S.U.S.

White – 75%White – 75% Black – 12%Black – 12% Hispanic – 13%Hispanic – 13% Asian – 4%Asian – 4% Native – 1%Native – 1%*Many people *Many people qualify as more qualify as more than 1 race than 1 race

CongressCongress White – 87%White – 87% Black – 7%Black – 7% Hispanic – 4%Hispanic – 4% Asian – 1%Asian – 1% Native – 0.6%Native – 0.6%

Demographics of CongressDemographics of Congress

U.S.U.S.Millionaires – Millionaires – 0.7%0.7%

Non-Non-Millionaires – Millionaires – 99.3% 99.3%

CongressCongressMillionaires – Millionaires – 29%29%

Non-Non-Millionaires – Millionaires – 71%71%