Lawmakers and Legislatures
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Congressional Membership
Essential Questions:1) What are the formal and informal
qualifications for members of Congress?2) Who is in the 113th Congress? 3) How are representatives apportioned in
Congress?
Most members of Congress start out in local politics
After they gain experience, they may run for either the House or Senate
The people they serve are called Constituents◦ The size of this group increases as they move up
in politics
Legislators and their Constituents
Must be a resident of the state in which elected
House members must be at least 25 years old and must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
Senators must be at least 30 years old and a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
Formal Qualifications for Members of Congress
Members of Congress used to be all white, male, and middle to upper class
This changed starting in 1960s: Now women and minority groups are somewhat included (but it is still mostly old white rich guys)
Most have a college degree, many have advanced degrees
Most have a background in business or law
Informal Qualifications for Members of Congress
Party Composition in House *Republicans: 233 *Democrats: 199
*3 Seats are currently vacant
Gender Composition in Congress *100 women
Some Statistics on the 113th Congress (2013-2015)
Religious Affiliation Largest denomination: Catholic
Racial Composition: 19% of House members are minorities, which
includes:◦ 43 African Americans (10%)◦ 34 Hispanics (8%)◦ 10 Asians (2%)◦ 2 Native Americans (.5%)
Average age of members of the House of Representatives is 57
Average age of members of the Senate is 62
Stats Cont.
Senate=100 seats, 2 for each state House=435 seats, each represents 1
congressional district (approx. 650,000 people)
House seats are assigned by state’s population (each state guaranteed at least 1)◦ This is determined by the census, taken every 10
years. When states gain or lose population, sometimes House seats are reapportioned, and congressional districts change.
◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUCnb5_HZc0
Apportionment
Redistricting – drawing up new district lines after reapportionment
Gerrymandering is the process of re-drawing electoral district boundaries in order to create a political advantage for a particular party by manipulating geographic boundaries.
Named after Elbridge Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts who redrew Massachusetts state election districts to benefit his Democratic-Republican party in 1812.
Gerrymandering was outlawed in 1960 by the court case Gomillion v. Lightfoot.
See: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/gerrymandering-how-drawing-jagged-lines-can-impact-an-election-christina-greer
Congressional Redistricting
Talk to your neighbor:1) What are the formal and
informal qualifications for members of Congress?
2) Who is in the 113th Congress?
3) How are representatives apportioned?
The Organization of Congress
Essential Questions:1) How do the leadership roles in the
Senate and the House work?2) What is the purpose of the
Congressional Committees?
House members run for re-election every 2 years
Senators run every 6 years (1/3 up for re-election every 2 years)
Number of terms is unlimited for both Incumbent=currently in office During elections, incumbents have the
advantages of: ◦ name recognition◦ campaign funds◦ Solve voters issues
Getting Elected
John Dingell: D- Michigan
Organization is based on the 2 major political parties
Party with the most seats controls the agenda Speaker of the House:
◦ presides over the House◦ Schedules bills for action◦ Also, 2nd in line to assume the Presidency in an emergency
John Boehner (R-OH)
Leadership in the House
Majority Leader • Manages legislation on the house floor
• Second in command of their party
Minority Leader •Helps manage legislation on the house floor (no power over agenda)•First in command of their party
Majority Whip •Helps majority leader in house•Persuades reps to vote w/ party•Makes sure people are present to vote
Minority Whip •Has the same duties as the Majority Whip
Leadership in the House
Who currently holds these offices?
House Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (R-Va)
House Minority Leader:Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca)
President of the Senate •Vice President •Official presiding officer
President Pro Tempore •Senior senator of majority party• Fills in when VP isn’t there
Majority Leader •Steers party’s bills through senate•Encourage members to attend•Party support on bills
Minority Leader •Helps shape minority party policy
Majority Whip •Makes sure reps are present to vote•Link between party members and majority leader
Minority Whip •Same as above
Leadership in the Senate
Who currently holds these offices?
President pro temporePatrick Leahy (D-Vermont)
The Vice PresidentJoe Biden (D-Delaware)
Who currently holds these offices?
Senate Majority Leader:Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Minority Leader:Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)
Purpose of Congressional Committees
Ease workload and divide work Select worthy bills
◦ Most bills never make it past committee stage
Help public learn about bills
Types of Congressional Committees Standing- permanent committees that
deal w/ specific policy area Select- temporary committees to
study a specific issue Joint - made up of members of both
chambers, permanent or temporary Conference- temporary committee to
resolve issues over versions of a bill and create a compromised bill
Choosing Committee Members Membership extremely important for
congressmen Each political party assigns members
of Congress to standing committees Committee Chairperson
◦ Decide when the committee will meet◦ How long they will discuss a bill◦ Manage floor debate of bills from
their committee
Congressional Powers expressed powers (enumerated
powers): granted to Congress explicitly in the Constitution.
◦ Article 1 Section 8
Elastic Clause: Constitution authorizes Congress to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper.”◦ Powers beyond those expressed in first 17 clauses◦ Congress can stretch its listed powers to meet the
needs of a growing nation◦ These implied powers must be linked to
specifically assigned powers
Congressional Powers
Denied Powers◦ Limits on Congressional Power: Bill of Rights
Cannot pass Bill of Attainder: laws that punish people w/o allowing them a trial
Ex post Facto laws: laws that make crimes of acts that were legal when committed
Congressional Powers
The Power to choose a President in a tie Impeachment: House can formally accuse a
federal official of wrongdoing, Senate then conducts a trial to decide whether to remove the official from office
Confirmation: Senate approves officials appointed by the President
Ratification: Senate must approve all treaties negotiated by President before become law
Amendment: Both houses of Congress can vote to propose an amendment to the Constitution
Non-Legislative Powers (Powers aside from lawmaking)
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