FACTS about Congress

Congress

“Here, sir, the people govern.”

- Alexander Hamilton

Congress

Congress passes laws about•The food we eat•The cars we drive•Our workplaces•National parks•Clean water•Medicine safety•National security… and many other topics

Congress

Divided into:•House of Representatives

•To be more responsive to the people

•Senate•To be more deliberative and thoughtful

Congress

Representative:•must be 25 and a U.S. citizen for 7 yearsSenator:•must be 30 and a U.S. citizen for 9 years

Congress

Representative:•Represents a specific district in a state•Minnesota has 8 districtsSenator:•Each senator represents the interests of the whole state

Congress

House:•Constitution says no more than 1 per 30,000•First Congress had 65•By 1910, had grown to 435•1920 Crisis – Can’t grow (losing effectiveness), but must reapportion•1929 Law made reapportionment automaticSenate:•Constitution says 2 per state, hasn’t changed

District Map http://www.govtrack.us/congress/fi

ndyourreps.xpd#at

Congress

Representative:•Serves for 2 years

Senator:•Serves for 6 years

Congress

Representative:•Has a staff of about 17

Senator:• Has a staff of about 40

Congress

In 1789, when the first Congress convened, each House member represented 30,000 people.Now, each represents around 650,000.

Congress

•The 535 members of Congress are NOT representative of the population.•The typical member? A white male n his early 50s.•In 2007, there were 86 women, 44 African-Americans, 29 Hispanics, 7 Asian-Americans, 1 Native American and 1 Native Hawaiian serving.

Congress

Most common professions:•Lawyer•Businessperson•Banker•Local politician•Educator•Farmer•Real estate agent•Journalist

Congress

A typical day:8 a.m. Breakfast with the governor8:50 a.m. Staff meeting9 a.m. Party caucus meeting10 am. Subcommittee oversight hearing10:20 a.m. Meet farm leaders from district10:45 a.m. Testify before transporation committee11 a.m. Education committee looks at student assistance bill12 p.m. House convenes for vote1 p.m. Address veterans delegation1:45 p.m. Floor debate on budget3:30 p.m. Talk to visiting high school students4 p.m. Conference call with district staff4:30 p.m. Office time5:45 p.m. TV interview6 p.m. Reception for prime minister

Congress

The roles of a Congressperson:•Legislator•Committee member•Servant of constituents•Politician•Representative of constituents

Congress

Representative of their constituents•Trustee•Delegate•Partisan•Politico

Congress

Fun facts•Only 1 in 3 Americans can name their members of Congress.•Only 1 in 3 adult Americans has visited, written, e-mailed or phoned a member of Congress.•Only 35-40% of Americans vote in congressional races in off-year elections.

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