Chapter 10 Congress
Dec 17, 2015
Chapter 10
Congress
Section 1
The National Legislature
ObjectivesHow is the lawmaking
function central to democracy
Major Function
•To make laws
Bicameralism
•Legislature made of 2 houses
•Each state represented equally in the senate
•Each state represented in house by population
Terms
•Each term of Congress lasts 2 years
•Numbered consecutively (108th)
•Each term starts Jan. 3, at noon following the congressional elections
Sessions
•2 sessions to each term•1 each year•Adjourned when congress
sees fit, in session most of the year
•Neither house may adjourn w/o the consent of the other
Special Sessions
•Called by the President to deal with pressing issues
•Last special session was in 1948
Section 2
House of Representatives
Representative John Shimkus
Size
•435 members, set by Congress
•Seats apportioned among the states on basis of population
•Each state guaranteed at least 1 seat in the House, regardless of population
•American territories each send a delegate to represent them, but are not members of the House
Terms
•2 years•No limit on number of
terms they can serve
Reapportionment
•Redistribution of seats following the census
•At first House had 65 seats, grew to 435 by 1920
•1929 Congress set number of seats at 435 permanently
•Census Bureau determines how many seats each state has
•Each seat in the House today represents about 620,000 people
Elections
•Congressional elections held on same day in every state
•Party in power typically looses seats in off-year elections
•Members elected either by:–Single-member districts (one representative per district)
–At-large (from state as a whole)
•States responsible for drawing of congressional districts provided that district is:–Contiguous–Compact –Equal in population
•Historically most states have been divided on rural vs. urban basis, rural being over-represented
•Supreme Court decisions ended this practice
•Westbury vs. Sanders –Population differences unconstitutional
•Reynolds vs. Sims–One person, one vote–All congressional districts should be equal
Qualifications
•Members of House must be;–25 years old–Citizen of U.S. for 7 years
– Inhabitant of state elected to
•House judges election returns and qualifications of members
•May punish members for disorderly behavior
•May expel members with 2/3 vote
Section 3
The Senate
Dick Durbin
Roland Burris
Election
•2 senators from each state•Originally chosen by state
legislatures•17th Amendment (1913)
called for direct election of senators by the voters
Terms
•6 year terms, no term limits•Staggered – 1/3 elected each
congressional election•Called a continuous body,
because all seats never up for reelection at one time
•6 year term intended to make senators less subject to public pressure
•Senators are supposed to focus on national interests
•Senators are seen as more powerful than House members
Qualifications
•30 years old•Citizen for 9 years• Inhabitant of state elected
to•Senate may judge
qualifications and exclude a member-elect
•May punish members for disorderly conduct
•May expel members by 2/3 vote
Major DifferencesHouse Senate
•435 members•2 year term•Elected from
districts•25 years old
to qualify•Less prestige
•100 members•6 year term•Elected from
entire state•30 years old
to qualify•More prestige
Section 4
Members
Backgrounds
•Not an accurate cross-section of Americans
Most members of Congress are:
•White•Male•Married•Protestant•Upper-
middle class•College
grads
•Born in the state they represent
•Have considerable political experience
Duties of the Job
•Legislator–Makes laws
•Committee member–Screens bills–Oversees executive branch enforcement of laws
•Constituent Representative–Votes as constituents want
•Constituent Servant–Does favors for citizens
•Politician–Keeps in touch with party leaders and constituents back home
Voting Options
•Trustee–Looks at merit of bill;–Votes based on judgment and conscience
•Delegate–Votes based on how the people back home would vote
•Partisan–Votes with loyalty toward party
•Politico–Balances several factors
Compensation
•Salary–As of Jan. 2002, each member of Congress gets a base pay of $150,000
–Leadership positions get extra compensation
•Non-salary (fringe benefits)–Tax deduction to help keep 2 houses
–Travel allowance–Life and health insurance–Generous pension
–Medical care at military hospital
–Allowances for staff–Franking privilege–Free parking–Restaurant, health club
Privileges
•Congressional immunity –Cannot be arrested while attending Congress, unless for treason, felony, or breach of the peace
–Protects them from arrest for non-criminal offenses
•Speech and Debate Clause–Protects members from being sued for what they say during Congressional business
–Protects freedom of legislative debate