Congressional Membership Chapter 5 Section 1 1 Basic

Congressional Membership Chapter 5, Section 1 1

Basic Facts • Bicameral Legislature – House of Representatives – Senate • Session = Length of meeting each year • Begins in January • Ends usually in November or early December

Basic Facts House of Representatives • 435 members (435 districts) • Reapportioned every 10 years. • Every state has at least 1 representative, no matter how small.

• Reapportionment is based upon the census of the U. S. population taken every 10 years. • Gerrymandering A popular method to try to gain or maintain control of your party in the House of Representatives. This involves drawing unusually irregular district lines to increase your party’s ability to win. Often involve race/minorities. Court has final say on redistricting if it is challenged.

Gerrymandering Example Diagram Left: Four districts of even “Red” and “Green” party voters, 8 from each party. Right: Redrawing the balanced electoral districts in this example creates only one packed district of 14 green voters. The remaining 18 green voters are cracked across the 3 other districts. The result is a 3 -to-1 advantage for the “Red” party.

Gerrymandering Example: Texas’s 25 th congressional district • U

Control of Congress has swung back and forth through history.

The House of Reps The Senate

Qualifications • 25 years old • Citizen for at least 7 years. • Legal resident of state that elects them • 30 years old • Citizen for at least 9 years • Legal resident of state that elects them

Term of Office 2 years Terms are short so that House will be responsive to the people. 6 years Terms are long to provide stability and experience to government. Elections in November of even numbered years

Salary and Benefits • • • $174, 000 per year (currently) Stationery & postage for official business Medical clinic Medical insurance Gymnasium Dining Room Allowances for staff, trips, office, etc. Special tax deduction for two homes Pension

Characteristics

th 113 Congressional Gender

Average for members of Congress is usually over 50. For Senators, average is usually a bit older than members of the House.

Getting Elected What do you think is necessary to be elected to Congress? How would you go about getting elected to Congress?

You Won!!! You will start out your term as a “freshman” in Congress. But if you decide to run for reelection, then you will be an “incumbent. ”