Question

Write down 5 facts (or more!) you know about the legislative branch at the Federal level.

Legislative Branch

I can…

• I can analyze the process of how seats in the House of Representatives are reallocated.

• I can report requirements necessary for election to Congress.

Terms and Sessions

•Congress meets for a 2 year term

•Term starts - Jan 3rd @ noon of odd-numbered years

•Session – two per term

Current: 114th Congress, 1st session

House Membership

• 435 members

• At least 1 per state

• Territories have non-voting reps

• 2 year term length - no limit

• Elections even numbered years

Qualifications for House

• Formal:• 25 years old

• Resident of state elected from

• US citizen 7 years prior

• Informal:• Live in district representing

House Districts

• 435 single-member districts - one person to represent one district

• At-Large district - states with 1 rep

Dividing the House Seats

1. census - population count

2. reapportionment - pop. determines how many reps each state gets

o one district approx. 700,000 people

• Reapportionment Act of 1929 caps it at 435

Dividing the House Seats

3. Redistricting - state legislatures draw district lineso must be one piece (contiguous)o equal pop.

114th 112th

4. Gerrymandering

The political party controlling state leg. draws district boundaries to favor their party

- “packing” and “cracking” methods

Gerrymandering Illinois

Senate Membership

• 6 year term, no term limit

• Continuous body - ⅓ elected every 2 years

• 100 members, 2 from every state

Senate Qualifications

• Senators must be:

• 30 years old

• Resident of state

• Citizen for 9 years

• Election - even years

• Term starts Jan 3rd at noon the following year

Question

What is the main difference between the constituents for a member of the House and a Senator?

Membership in Congress

• Salary• $174k/yr

• Leadership makes more

• $150k/yr pension

• Approve Congressional pay raises, not effective until next term

• Benefitso tax reduction - 2

residencieso gym, medical clinic

• Privilegeso Franking privilege -

free postage

Conduct

• Bribery, treason - can be expelled

• Censure - formal disapproval from other members

Review Question

1. Explain how these terms are related: census, reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering.

2. When does a new term of Congress start?

3. Who is responsible for redistricting?

4. What are the requirements to be in the House and Senate?

Congressional Leadership - House

Majority Leader (Kevin McCarthy)

Majority Whip (Steve Scalise)

House Leadership

•Speaker of the House – presiding officer, decides points of order, refers bills to appropriate committees, schedules legislation, assigns members to committees

House Leadership

Majority/Minority Leaders – shape and direct legislation (work w/committee chairpersons)

•Majority and Minority Whips – help implement party’s legislative program, influence votes, get members present to vote

Senate Leadership

Orrin Hatch

Mitch McConnellHarry Reid

John Cornyn Dick Durbin

Senate Leadership

•Vice President – Presides over Senate – may not participate in debates or vote (only in case of ties)

•President Pro Tempore – presides when VP is not present; senior member of Senate

Senate Leadership

Temporary Presiding Officer – presides when VP or President Pro Tempore is not present

•Majority/minority leaders

•Majority/minority whips

Review

1. What are the responsibilities of the whips?

2. Why does the Vice President not participate in debate in Congress? Why does he only vote if there is a tie?

Review Questions

1. When does a new term of Congress start?

2. Who is responsible for redistricting?

3. What are the requirements to be a member

of the House of Representatives? A

Senator?

4. List your Representative, Senators, and their

party affiliations.

I can…

I can explain the purpose and different types of committees in Congress.

Committees

•Purposes

– Divides work

– Select bills for further consideration (sub-committees)

– Allows reps to specialize in issues important to

constituents

Types of Committees

• Standing – permanent committees

• Subcommittees – specialize in an area of the standing committee

• Select – study specific issue and report to House or Senate

• Joint – made up of members of both houses

• Conference – temporary committee to iron out differences b/w two versions of the same bill

Committee

�Committee Chairmen – heads of committees

◦Chosen by seniority rule – most important positions go to longest tenured

◦Decide which bills are considered when and for

how long

Pg. 143 in book

Make three lists:

1. House-only committees

2. Senate-only committees

3. House and Senate committees

Question

1. Why do you think there are more standing committees in the House than in the Senate?

Legislative Powers

•Taxing and Spending Power

–Revenue bills (House only) – raising money

- Ways and Means committee

- www.waysandmeans.house.gov

–Appropriations bills – spending money