C H A P T E R 10 Congress SECTION 1 The National Legislature
SECTION 2 The House of Representatives SECTION 3 The Senate SECTION
4 The Members of Congress
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Quotes of the Day There are two things you dont want to see
being madesausage and legislation -- Attributed to Otto von Bismark
(1815-1898), Germanys chancellor from 1871-1890. Suppose you were
an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat
myself. Mark Twain, 1891
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S E C T I O N 1 The National Legislature Why does the
Constitution divide power between the two houses of Congress? What
is a term of Congress? How have sessions of Congress changed over
time?
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First Branch of the National Government James Madison called
Congress the first branch of the National Government. He and the
other framers thought it so important that Article one is the first
and longest of the Constitution.
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The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature for three
reasons: Two Houses of Congress Historical: The British Parliament
consisted of two houses since the 1300s, and many colonial
assemblies were similar in form. Practical: A bicameral legislature
was necessary to compromise the Virginia and New Jersey plans of
representation. Theoretical: The Framers favored a bicameral
Congress in order that one house might act as a check on the
other.
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Equal Representation Debate For more than 200 years, some
people have argued that equal representation of the States in the
Senate is undemocratic and be eliminated. Arguments Against
Equality: California has 66 times as many people, and an equal
number of senators as Wyoming. Arguments For Equality: Those who
object to State equality in the Senate ignore the fact that the
Senate was created as a body in which the States would be
represented as coequal members and partners in the Union. If the
States hadnt been represented equally, there might never have been
a Constitution. States will never lose equal representation. Would
need the States consent to give up its equal suffrage as stated in
Article V.
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Terms You know, 535 of you people in Congress meet every two
years. There are some of us who think that it would be much better
if just two of you met every 535 years. -Female Constituent The
government has never followed that woman's advice. Every year since
1789, they have met for two-year terms. A term is the length of
time that officials serve after an election. New terms begin
January 3 rd of odd numbered years. 1-3-13 Representatives: 2 years
Senate: 6 years
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Sessions of Congress A session is the regular period of time
during which Congress conducts business. There are two sessions per
term one per year. Congress adjourns, or suspends until the next
session, each regular session as it sees fit. If necessary, the
President has the power to prorogue, or adjourn, a session, but
only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment.
Article II, Section III Only the President may call Congress into a
special sessiona meeting to deal with some emergency situation.
Truman last to do so. Today, Congress is in session for most of the
year so it makes special sessions less likely.
Section 1 Review 1. The practical reason behind establishing a
bicameral legislature was (a) the necessity to find compromise
between the New Jersey and Virginia plans. (b) the need to mimic
existing British institutions. (c) a desire to break from all
tradition. (d) requirements set by the British monarchy. 2. Special
sessions of Congress (a) are called by the President to deal with
some emergency situation. (b) are called whenever a senator
filibusters. (c) are never called. (d) are used to handle the
everyday business of Congress.
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S E C T I O N 2 The House of Representatives What are the size
and terms of the House of Representatives? How are House seats
reapportioned among the States after each census? How can we
describe a typical congressional election and congressional
district? What are the formal and informal qualifications for
serving in the House?
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Size and Terms The exact size of the House of Representatives,
currently at 435 members, is determined by Congress (NOT
Constitution). The Constitution provides that the total number of
seats in the House shall be apportioned (distributed) among the
States on the basis of their respective populations. Members of the
House of Representatives serve two- year terms. Although there have
been recent movements to limit terms, there are no limits set on
the number of terms a representative may serve.
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Reapportionment Article I of the Constitution directs Congress
to reapportionredistributethe seats in the House after each census
(10 years, 2010). The size of the House of Representation rests at
435 members. Today each member represents 710,000. Michigan has
lost reps in recent years. Other States have gained reps (TX)
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Current Apportionment Chapter 10, Section 2
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Winners and Losers
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Michigans Congressional Districts
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Michigans 6 th District
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Congressional Elections Congressional elections are held on the
Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each
even-numbered year (2014 is next). Off-year elections are those
congressional elections held between presidential elections
(2014).
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Districts and Gerrymandering Under the single- member district
arrangement, the voters in each district elect one of the States
representatives (6 th District Fred Upton) Districts that have
unusual shapes or even defy description have sometimes been
gerrymandered. Gerrymandering refers to the act of drawing
congressional districts to the advantage of the political party
that controls the State legislature.
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Gerrymandering Video for Review
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Michigans State Legislature The State Version of the U.S.
Congress (NOT to be Confused with the National Legislature!)
Senate: 38 House of Representatives: 110 Single-member election
districts Senate Republican: 59 Democrat: 50 Independent: 1
Single-member election districts House of Reps Above data as of
2013 We will discuss State legislatures in depth later in the
semester. The Legislature meets in the Capitol building in Lansing,
Michigan.Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan.
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Example of Gerrymandering
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Another Example of Gerrymandering In this example, the more
even distribution is on the left and the gerrymandering is on the
right.
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Michigans Federal Congressional Districts Before 2010
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Can you gerrymander? Copy the map above three times. This state
should have 4 districts. 1)Gerrymander for Reps. 2)Gerrymander for
Dems. 3)Redistrict fairly
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Can You Gerrymander Key
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Results of Gerrymandering Reelection rates for members of
Congress hover around 90 percent. Gerrymandering is just one of the
reasons for reelection success. Other reasons are that incumbents
tend to get all of the donations from PACs because donors expect
the incumbent to win. Some have proposed to outlaw
gerrymandering.
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Qualifications for House Members The Constitution says that a
member of the House (1) must be at least 25 years of age (2) must
have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years,
and (3) must have been an inhabitant of the State from which he or
she is elected. The realities of politics also require some
informal qualifications, such as party identification, name
familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, and political
experience.
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Section 2 Review 1. Members of the House of Representatives are
elected for (a) two-year terms. (b) six-year terms. (c) four-year
terms. (d) five-year terms. 2. The Constitution requires a member
of Congress to be (a) an inhabitant of the State from which he or
she is elected. (b) a property-owning male. (c) a natural-born
citizen. (d) at least 40 years of age.
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Chapter 10, Section 3 - The Senate How does the size of the
Senate differ from the size of the House? How have States elected
senators in the past and present? How and why does a senators term
differ from a representatives term? What are the qualifications for
serving in the Senate?
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A More Prestigious House Which of these two colleges is
probably more prestigious: a large college thats fairly easy to get
into or a small college with higher entrance entrance
standards?
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The Senate A More Prestigious House The upper-house of the
bicameral legislature is considered more prestigious. 1/3 of the
Senate had previously served in the House. The founders hoped that
the Senate would be a more enlightened and responsible body than
the house. Framers reinforced this by giving the Senate longer
terms, and making requirements a cut above the House.
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It is indispensable that besides the House of Representatives
which runs on all fours with popular sentiment, we should have a
body like the Senate which may refuse to run with it at all when it
seems to be wrong - a body which has time and security enough to
keep its head, if only now and then and but for a little while,
till other people have had time to think. -Woodrow Wilson
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Size, Election, and Terms The Constitution says that the Senate
shall be composed of two Senators from each State. Todays Senate
consists of 100 Senators (50 States). In 1912 the Seventeenth
Amendment was passed and called for the popular election of
senators in November (originally chosen by State Legislatures).
Only 1 Senator is elected from each State in any given election,
except upon a vacancy. Senators serve for six-year terms (no term
limit). The Senate is a continuous body, meaning that all of its
seats are never up for election at the same time. Only 1/3 expire
every 2 years.
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Why Six Year Terms? More job security (prestige) Less subject
to the pressures of public opinion and less susceptible to the
pleas of special interests than are House members. The larger size
of their constituencies the people and interests the senators
represent allows them to focus less on interests of specific small
localities and more on the big picture of national interest ex:
healthcare, social security.
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Michigans 2 Senators Carl Levin will retire in 2014 Debbie
Stabenow not up for reelection until 2018
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Spotlight More Likely than House Past and present Senators have
usually been more in the spotlight than the House members.
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Qualifications for Senators The requirements for the U.S.
Senate are higher than for the House of Representatives. The
Constitution says that a Senator (1) must be at least 30 years of
age, (2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least
nine years, and (3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which
he or she is elected.
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Exclusions and Punishments Like the House, the Senate judges
the qualifications of its members, and may exclude a member by
majority vote. The Senate may also punish its members for
disorderly behavior by majority vote and expel a member by two
thirds vote. 15 members have been expelled (2/3 vote). 14 during
the Civil War, all of which supported secession. The other in 1797
for conspiring to lead Native American tribes in an attack against
Florida. Bob Packwood was last to resign for bad behavior in
1991
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Section 3 Review 1. Senators are elected for (a) two-year
terms. (b) eight-year terms. (c) four-year terms. (d) six-year
terms. 2. The Senate is a continuous body, meaning that (a)
Senators must continually reside in Washington, D.C. (b) all of its
seats are always up for election every six years. (c) it never
adjourns. (d) all of its seats are never up for election at one
time.
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S E C T I O N 4 The Members of Congress What are the personal
and political backgrounds of the current members of Congress? What
are the duties of the job of serving in Congress? How are members
of Congress compensated, and what privileges do they have?
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Who Are They? The average is a white male in his early 50s
There are 98 women in Congress most ever 60% are Protestant, 30%
Catholic, 7% Jewish Well over half are lawyers NOT a significant
cross section of the nations population. Rather, it is made up of
upper-middle class Americans, who are, on the whole, quite able and
hard-working people.
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Profile of the 107th Congress
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Profile of the 113 th Congress - 2013 53 Democrats 45
Republicans 2 Independents 231 Republicans 200 Democrats 4
vacant
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Longest Serving Member of Congress John Dingell, Democrat, of
Michigans 12 th District, U.S. House of Representatives Has served
for 57 years and is the longest serving member of Congress in
history.
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Representatives of the People Senators and representatives are
elected to represent people. As legislators, they have four voting
options:
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Committee Membership and Public Servants As committee members,
senators and representatives screen proposed laws before they are
voted on. Members of the House and the Senate also act as servants
of their constituents. Requests from voters vary widely, and
members of Congress take heed to many of them. Ignoring their
constituencies would not bode well in the next election.
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Franking Privilege Each member is given funds for hiring staff
for operation costs related to running those offices. The franking
privilege is a well- known benefit that allows them to mail letter
and other materials postage free by substituting their signature
(frank) for the postage. So they can communicate freely with
constituents
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Pay Today, senators and representatives are paid a salary of
$174,000 or more a year. The Constitution says that Congress fixes
its own compensation. Therefore, the only real limits to
congressional pay are the Presidents veto and fear of voter
backlash against a pay increase (27 th Amendment stated that
Congress could set pay for next term, not current term).
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Membership Privileges The Speech and Debate Clause (Article I,
Section 6, Clause 1) protects representatives and senators from
suits for libel or slander arising from their official conduct
(they can say what they want about each other). The Senators and
Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to
be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United
States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach
of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at
the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and
returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either
House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
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Membership Privileges Members of Congress are immune from
arrest for noncriminal offenses while engaged in congressional
business. Originally put in Constitution to keep members of
Congress from arrest for unpopular political views.
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Section 4 Review 1. Which of the following is a major role of
members of Congress? (a) law enforcement (b) servant of their
constituents (c) serving in the military (d) researching court
cases