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What are some of the qualifications to What are some of the qualifications to become a senator?become a senator?

o 30 years of age30 years of ageo A citizen of U.S. for at least 9 yearsA citizen of U.S. for at least 9 yearso A resident of the state in which you are A resident of the state in which you are

elected.elected.

The Senate and the House The Senate and the House of Representatives of Representatives

Unit 3Unit 3

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch

Make laws Make laws Article 1 of the ConstitutionArticle 1 of the Constitution Congress (bicameral- 2 houses)Congress (bicameral- 2 houses)

Senate Senate House of Representatives House of Representatives

House of Representatives House of Representatives

435 members 435 members Based on state’s population Based on state’s population Each state is entitled to at least 1 rep.Each state is entitled to at least 1 rep. Washington D.C. , Guam, Virgin Islands, Washington D.C. , Guam, Virgin Islands,

and other U.S. territories each have one and other U.S. territories each have one non-voting delegate in the House non-voting delegate in the House

House of Representatives: House of Representatives: How Membership is DividedHow Membership is Divided

Every 10 yearsEvery 10 years, after the , after the censuscensus Congress Congress determines how seats the House of Repdetermines how seats the House of Rep. . are to be apportioned or distributed are to be apportioned or distributed

According to each state’s populationAccording to each state’s population Each state is responsible dividing the state Each state is responsible dividing the state

into congressional districts into congressional districts Gerrymanding- process of drawing Gerrymanding- process of drawing

congressional districts lines to favor a congressional districts lines to favor a political party political party

The SenateThe Senate

100 members 100 members Equal representationEqual representation Each senator represents his or her entire Each senator represents his or her entire

statestate

The Senate: The Senate: Quick FactsQuick Facts

Senior senator-The senator with the most Senior senator-The senator with the most experience (Saxby Chambliss)experience (Saxby Chambliss)

If the senator dies or resigns the governor If the senator dies or resigns the governor appoints someone to fill the vacancy until appoints someone to fill the vacancy until the regular election or until a special state the regular election or until a special state election is heldelection is held

House of RepresentativesHouse of RepresentativesQualificationsQualifications

At least 25 years old At least 25 years old U.S. citizen for at least 7 yearsU.S. citizen for at least 7 years Length of Term: 2 yearsLength of Term: 2 years Legal resident of state that he or she Legal resident of state that he or she

representsrepresents (usually the rep. lives in the (usually the rep. lives in the district from which he or she is elected, but district from which he or she is elected, but it is not required by the Constitution) it is not required by the Constitution)

Entire house elected every 2 yearsEntire house elected every 2 years

Senator QualificationsSenator Qualifications

At least 30 years old At least 30 years old U.S. citizen for at least 9 yearsU.S. citizen for at least 9 years Length of Term- 6 years Length of Term- 6 years Legal resident of state where electedLegal resident of state where elected One third of Senate elected every 2 One third of Senate elected every 2

yearsyears

Salary and Benefits Salary and Benefits Yearly salary- $154,700Yearly salary- $154,700 2727thth Amendment- Congress cannot raise their Amendment- Congress cannot raise their

own salaries without voters consentown salaries without voters consent Franking privilege- the right to mail letters or Franking privilege- the right to mail letters or

packages free of charge packages free of charge Immunity-Immunity- cannot be arrested in or their way to or cannot be arrested in or their way to or

from a meeting in Congress (from a meeting in Congress (legal protection) legal protection) Can’t be sued for anything they say while they are Can’t be sued for anything they say while they are

speaking in Congress speaking in Congress

Rules of ConductRules of Conduct

Right to question qualifications Right to question qualifications Can’t use campaign $ for personal useCan’t use campaign $ for personal use Expulsion- the removal from office for Expulsion- the removal from office for

serious misconduct serious misconduct Censure- formal disapproval of Censure- formal disapproval of

member’s actions (less serious member’s actions (less serious offenses) offenses)

What is a Want Ad? What is a Want Ad? is an announcement or notice in a newspaper. is an announcement or notice in a newspaper. AdAd is short for advertisement. is short for advertisement. the part of the newspaper called the the part of the newspaper called the

classifiedsclassifieds.. There are different types of want ads. For There are different types of want ads. For

example, you can look in the want ads if you example, you can look in the want ads if you want to buy a car, find out about garage sales, want to buy a car, find out about garage sales, find someone to repair your television, or learn find someone to repair your television, or learn about computer training programs near you. about computer training programs near you. When you want to find a job, look in the Help When you want to find a job, look in the Help Wanted or Employment section of the Wanted or Employment section of the classifieds.classifieds.

WANTED AD DIRECTIONSWANTED AD DIRECTIONS

Create a help wanted ad for the position of Create a help wanted ad for the position of Congress Congress

Include job requirements and qualifications for Include job requirements and qualifications for the positions the positions

For both houses of CongressFor both houses of Congress Need to have a visual Need to have a visual BE CREATIVE in your attempt to attract BE CREATIVE in your attempt to attract

people to work in Congress people to work in Congress Remember your audience! Remember your audience!

Exit TicketExit Ticket

Now that you know the true qualifications Now that you know the true qualifications to become a senator. What would you to become a senator. What would you change about them?change about them?