Congress Chapter 10 What is Congress Congress is

Congress Chapter 10

What is Congress? • Congress is the legislative branch of government. • Transforms the public will into public policy in the form of law. • Has the most basic governmental function in a democratic society.

Bicameral Legislature • Made up of two houses. Two = bi. • Three reasons for this: – Historical – British had a bicameral system. – Practical – A reflection of federalism. – Theoretical – Framers felt one house would act as a check on the other.

Terms and Sessions • Each term (sessions of meetings) of Congress lasts for two years. Starts on January 3 and ends on January 3. • There is one session each term. Starts in January and ends when Congress sees fit. • Neither house can end without the consent of the other. • Prorogue – Means to end a session.

Special Sessions • Congress may be called by the President into special session to deal with a special situation or an emergency situation.

The House of Representatives • Congress sets the size of the House Representatives. • There are 435 members today … distributed to the states depending on their population. • Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming have only one representative apiece. • Washington D. C. chooses a delegate who is not a full-fledged Representative.

House of Representatives • Representatives are elected for two year terms. • One third of the House is elected every two years. • The seats in the House are reapportioned or redistributed after the census every 10 years.

Breaking down the House • • • There are 53 representatives from California. Texas has 36 New York and Florida have 27 Illinois has 18 Missouri has 8 Iowa has 4

Illinois’ U. S. Representatives • 18 th district … Darin La. Hood – Dunlap (outside Peoria) • 15 th district … John Shimkus – Collinsville

Apportionment/Reapportionment • The House of Representatives will be apportioned according to each states’ population. • After the census every 10 years, the House of Representatives will be reapportioned depending on the changes in the states’ population.

The Reapportionment Act of 1929 • Fixed the size of the House of Representatives at 435. It has stayed at that size. • The Census Bureau will determine how many House seats each state should have. • That number is sent to Congress.

Congressional elections • Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. • Off-year elections are held between the Presidential elections (for example, 2010, 2014, 2018, etc. )

Gerrymandering • Political district lines are drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the state’s legislature. • Typically happens in major metropolitan areas (New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. ) or in very politically active areas.

Qualifications for House Members • Formal qualifications: – Must be at least 25 years of age – Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years – Must be an inhabitant, or resident, of the state from which he or she is elected.

Qualifications for House Members • Informal qualifications: – Party identification – Name familiarity – Gender – Ethnic considerations – Political experience

The Senate • There are 100 members in the U. S. Senate … two from each state, regardless of size or population. • The Senate has grown as the number of states has increased. • Each senator is selected from the state atlarge.

Terms of a Senator • Senators serve six-year terms. • Strom Thurmond from South Carolina was elected to the Senate nine times, serving from 1954 to 2003. • A third of the Senate is elected every two years. This provides for a continuous body.

Benefits of a six-year term • Gives senators a greater degree of job security. • Insulates them from day-to-day politics • Makes them less subject to the pressure of public opinion. • Being elected at-large means senators are less susceptible to regional politics.

Qualifications for Senators • Must be at least 30 years of age • Must have been a United States citizen for at least nine years. • Must be an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected.

Demographics of Congress • Male vs. Female House – 80. 6 percent male, 19. 4 percent female Senate – 80 percent male, 20 percent femae

Demographics of Congress • Racial composition of Congress – House – 79. 8 percent white, 10. 1 percent black, 7. 8 percent Hispanic, 2. 3 percent Asian -- Senate – 94 percent white, 2 percent black, 3 Hispanic, 1 percent Asian

Five major roles of Congress • • • Legislators Representatives of their constituents Committee members Servants of their constituents Politicos

Trustees • Believe each question they face must be decided on its merits. • Call the issues as they see them.

Delegates • See themselves as the agents of those who elected tehm. • They feel they should vote as the people back home would vote. • They are all about their constituents.

Partisans • They are allegiant to their political party. • They feel the duty to vote as other members of their party do.

Politicos • Combine the basic elements of trustee, delegates and partisan roles. • They try to balance their roles.

Committee Members • Must screen proposals presented to them and their governing bodies. • Oversight function – Process which Congress checks to see that various executive branch agencies are working effectively.

Compensation • They don’t make much … $175, 000 a year is salary for senators and representatives. • Nonsalary compensation – Generous travel allowances – Allowances for homes and offices – Franking privilege – Allows them to mail letters and other materials postage free.