How Congress is Organized. Congress is a Bicameral- a 2 house legislature. Senate- The upper house. House of Representatives is called the lower House.

How Congress is Organized.

Congress is a Bicameral- a 2 house legislature.

Senate- The upper house.

House of Representatives is called the lower House.

House of Representatives

Three Qualifications

Must be 25 years old Be a United States Citizen for 7 years Live in the State you Represent.

Unwritten Qualifications for the House of Representatives.

Successful Careers in Law or Business.

Experience in local government, or state government.

The House

2 year terms

Possible to have all new members.

No limit to the terms you can serve.

The House of Representatives

A state’s population determines its representation.

The House

The number of representatives is fixed at 435.

Each state gets at least 0ne representative. (Wyoming, Vermont,) California has 52

California

Wyoming

Census Bureau- counts the population every ten years.

A states representation in the House of Representatives can be adjusted if it’s population increases or decreases. (you can gain or lose)

After the 1990 census Florida, Texas, California gained representatives.

Gerrymandering-

dividing a state into odd shaped districts for political reasons.

Each state district should have approximately the same number of people.

Constituents- people in a senators or representatives district.

Nebraska’s Representatives

1st District Representative

Jeff Fortenberry

District # 1

Lee Terry 2nd district

District # 2- Lee Terry

3rd District Tom Osborne

3rd district Adrian Smith Smith was born in

Gering, Nebraska, which is also where he currently lives. After graduating from Gering High School in 1989, Smith attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln midway through his second year of college, graduating in 1993.[1] While a student in Nebraska, he interned in the Nebraska Governor’s Office and, later, served as a legislative page in the Nebraska Unicameral. He returned home to Gering after college, and, in 1994, he began serving as a member of the Gering City Council.

District # 3– Adrian Smith

Senate has stricter requirements.

Must be least 30 years old and be a United States citizen for at least 9 years.

Be a resident of the state that you are running from.

Senators serve 6 year terms.

Every two years 1/3 of the senate is up for reelection.

2 senators per state.

The entire state votes for each senator.

There are a 100 Senators total

Senate Pay

$174,000It was $133,600

Senator Ben Nelson

Senator-Mike Johanns

Former Mayor of Lincoln and Secretary of Agriculture

Members of Congress receive many benefits

They get free office space, parking, and free trips to their home state.

Members of Congress receive many benefits

They have budgets for supplies and office staffs. They receive discounts for medical care and even haircuts.

Members of Congress get Immunity.

Immunity- legal protection in certain situations.

Members may not be arrestee while doing their job. If they get a speeding ticket they don’t have to pay it.

Immunity

It allows members of Congress to say and do what they want without the fear of being sued.

Franking Privilege

Sending Job related mail free of charge.

Expulsion

A member of Congress who acts dishonestly may be forced to leave Congress. Expulsion requires a 2/3 in either house.

Expulsion- means your are kicked out of Congress.

Censure- formal disapproval of a member of Congress.

Congress chews out a member for messing up.