The Legislative Branch

House of Representatives

House of RepresentativesSizeThe total number of seats in the House of Representatives shall be distributed among the states based on each of their total populations

-US Constitution

Each state is guaranteed at least one seat (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota

and Vermont each occupy only one seat)

House of RepresentativesSize

How we determine the number of seats (population) for each state?

House of RepresentativesSize

How we determine the number of seats (population) for each state?

The Census

taken every ten years

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Apportion:

Distribute

Prorrateo:

Distribuir

Seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned based on each state’s population

House of RepresentativesTerms

-Representatives serve two-year terms

-House members can serve an unlimited number of two-year terms

-The next election is always around the corner

House of RepresentativesTerms

This keeps representatives attentive to the needs of his or her state

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Reapportion:

Redistribute

Reasignacion:

Redistribucion

The House of Representatives reapportions its seats every 10 years based on census results

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Reapportion:

Redistribute

Reasignacion:

Redistribucion

The House of Representatives reapportions its seats every 10 years based on census results

House of RepresentativesReapportionment dilemma: Too many people!

The original house had 65 seats

By 1910 there were 435 seats

Census of 1920- the house could no longer add seats and remain effective

House of RepresentativesReapportionment dilemma: Too many

people!

Reapportionment Act of 1929

1. The permanent size of the house is 435 members

2. The census is to determine how seats will be reapportioned

3. The plan is proposed to Congress and, if not rejected within 60 days, it becomes effective

House of RepresentativesCongressional Elections• Held on the same day in every state

-Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even numbered year

Remember that, while the election is on an even numbered year, the term begins the following January, always on an odd numbered year

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Off-year Elections:

Elections that occur in non-presidential years

Eleccion intermedia:

Eleccion del Congreso que occure entre las elecciones presidentiales

Districts Questions/Keywords Notes

Summary

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Single-member Districts: voters in each district elect one of the State’s representatives from a field of candidates in that district

Distrito de un solo miembro: Distrito electoral en donde los votantes eligen, en la papeleta electoral, una sola persona para cada cargo

House of RepresentativesSingle-member districts

435 members of the House = 435 districts across the country

7 states with one seat/district

428 districts are divided among the other 428 states

House of RepresentativesDistricts

Decided by State Legislatures

“Contiguous territory” it must be all one piece

Each district must have as close to an equal number of inhabitants as possible

Must be compact or comparatively small

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

At-large election:

Election of an office holder by the voters of an entire unit (e.g. a state) rather than by districts

Eleccion general:

Eleccion de un funcionario publico por los votantes de una unidad gubernamental completa (por ejemplo, un estado o pais), en vez de por los votantes de un distrito o subdivision

House of RepresentativesAt-large electionsWas allowed as a way of voting for house members until 1842

-States were allowed to decide whether to elect members at-large or on a single-member district basis

At-large elections proved unfair, parties could win all the seats in the house with a slight plurality of voters

States with only one representative are said to have at-large elections

Districts Questions/Keywords Notes

Summary

House of RepresentativesSection Vocab

Gerrymandering:

the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of the party or group

Demarcacion arbitraria:

Establecimiento de los limites de los distritos electorales de modo que den ventaja a un partido

Senate

Size

100 members in the senate, 2 from each state

Much smaller body than the House of Representatives

SenateElection

Originally in the Constitution:

Senate members elected by State legislatures

17th Amendment:

Senators are picked by voters during November elections

The senate had twice defeated this house passed amendment prior to passing

Why?

SenateElection

Easier to gain/buy legislatures votes

In the late 1800’s the senate was called the “Millionaires’ Club”

SenateElection

Only one Senator is elected from a state during any given election

Senators are elected at-large

SenateTerm

Six year terms

May be re-elected an unlimited number of times

Senators terms are staggered

SenateSection Vocab

Continuous Body

All of the seats of the Senate are never up for election at the same time

Constituencies

The people and interests the senators represent

SenateConstituencies

The people and interests the senators represent

Senators are supposed to be less concerned with a small group of peoples needs (districts) and more focused on the “big picture”

SenateQualifications

1. Must be at least 30 years of age

2. Must be a citizen of th eU.S. for at least 9 years

3. Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected

Senate1. Smaller size

2. Longer terms

3. Higher qualifications

- Framers thought the Senate would be more responsible and enlightened than the House