Unit Two: Chapter Five

The Organization of Congress

Bicameralism

• Congress is made up of two houses.– The Senate and the House of Representatives.

• Senate + House of Reps = Congress

– Has roots from Great Britain.

• Compromise from NJ and VA Plans.• The two houses check & balance each other.• Each term of Congress consists of two

sessions, one during each year of a term.

House of Representatives

• Size – 435 members– Not fixed by Constitution, set by Congress– One seat is about 620,000 people

• Apportionment– Constitution says seats will be apportioned

(distributed) among states on basis of their respective population.

• Look on page 125

Qualifications

• Must be 25 years old.• Must be a citizen for 7

years.• Must live in the state

where you are chosen.• Tradition – must live

in the district where you are chosen.

• Can punish their own.• Can expel their own

with a 2/3 vote.

Everyone gets a say…

• Every state is guaranteed one seat in the House of Representatives.

• The following states only have one representative:– Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North and South Dakota,

Vermont, and Wyoming

• District of Colombia, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa– All have a delegate to represent them in the house

• Puerto Rico chooses a resident commissioner• None of these are considered H.O.R. members.

It’s a short life

• Representatives are chosen every 2 years for 2 year terms.– Next election is always near, so they tend to

think more about the folks back home

• No constitutional limit on the number of terms representatives may serve.

• Terms: 2 years, no limit!

Keeping it fair!

• Article One of the Constitution says…

• Congress must reapportion (redistribute) seats after the decennial census!– So… we had apportionment done in 2011, after

the 2010 census, and it will became effective in 2012 elections.

Reapportionment Act of 1929

• 1 – Permanent size of House of Reps is 435• 2 – After the census, the Census Bureau will

determine how many seats each state should have.

• 3 – The President sends the Bureau’s completed report to Congress.

• 4 – If within 60 days of receiving it, no state disapproves, it becomes effective.

Congressional Elections

• Have been held on the same day of Presidential elections ever since 1872.– 1st Tues, after 1st Mon, in Nov, every 4 yrs.

• Off-year Elections– Congressional elections that occur years other

than a Presidential election.– Usually the party in power loses seats in an off-

year election.

Congressional Terms and Sessions

• Terms begin:– As per 20th amendment, the “lame duck

amendment”– January 3rd of odd numbered years at noon– Last for two years, each year is one session

• Current congress:– 114th – Jan 3rd 2015 – Jan 3rd 2017

Districts

• There are 435 districts.• Single Member

District – One person is chosen

for that district

– H.O.R.

• General ticket system– Senate’s seats are filled

at large (from the state as a whole).

– Everyone votes on everyone

The Senate, aka: “Upper House”

• Composed of 2 senators from each state.

• Went from 22 members in 1789 to 100 now.

• Senators are picked by voters in each state at regular November elections.

• Each Senator is elected from the state at large.– General Ticket System

Senators, continued.

• Serve 6 year terms.– They feel less public pressure and can vote

more how they feel, than their constituents.– Are supposed to be focused on the big picture.

• There is no limit to how often they can be re-elected.

• Is a continuous body – all seats are never up for re-election at the same time.

Smaller body, more power?

• Senators have more power in their State organizations, than H.O.R.’s.

• They have easier access to media, and have larger staffs than H.O.R.’s.

• They are also the primary source to Presidential Candidate Nominations.– More senators are up for the Presidency than

H.O.R.’s.

Qualifications

• Need to be at least 30.• Must be a citizen for 9

years.• Must be an inhabitant

of the state where they were elected.

• May exclude a member-elect by a majority vote.– 2/3 vote

• Can punish their own members.

• 15 members have been expelled.

Gerrymandering

• When the political party controlling the state gov’t draws a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in elections.

• Elbridge Gerry• Hillgrove example

Who’s Who Among

Congress

Men & Women

The Firsts…

• 1st African American – Hiram Rhodes Revels

– 1870-1871

– Republican, Mississippi.

• 1st Woman – Jeannette Rankin

– 1916

– Republican, Montana

• 1st Chinese American– David Wu

– 1998

– Democrat, Oregon

• 1st Native American– Ben Nighthorse

Campell

– 1992

– Republican, Colorado

Other statistics…

• 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats, and 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats.

• 55% are Protestant.

• A little more than 1/2 are lawyers.

• Almost all are upper/middle class.

• Almost all are married.

• Nearly all have a college degree.

• Many depend on their salaries for their income.

• Most serve in House for 4 terms, and Senate for 2.

Duties of the Job

• Their major job is to make law.

• They are members of Congress, but also:– Committee Members– Representatives of their constituents– Servants of their constituents– Politicians

Additional Duties…

• Trustees– Holders of public trust,

who decide issues on merit alone (not opinions of groups/constituents).

• Delegates – Agents of those who

elected them, should suppress their own views in favor of electorates.

• Partisans– Bound to vote on

issues according to party platform and party leaders.

• Politicos– Many members

attempt to balance the roles of trustee, delegate, and partisan.

Compensation

• Senators and Representatives receive salaries averaging $174,000

• Nonsalary Compensation – Congressional Members receive fringe benefits

• Low cost medical care

• Free printing and distribution of speeches, newsletter, and other materials

• Congress sets their own benefits

Any Privileges?

• Members cannot be arrested for misdemeanors while Congress is in session.

• Members are immune from court action because of any speech they may make in Congress.

• Myth – Congressional Members do not pay taxes from their pay check…– YES THEY DO!!!!!