The Legislative Branch Congress BICAMERALISMHOUSE AND SENATE Congress

The Legislative Branch. Congress BICAMERALISM-HOUSE AND SENATE

Congress �Begins at noon on January 3 rd �Ends at noon on January 3 rd Example: We vote in November 2006 (Jan 3, 07 to Jan 3 09) November 2008 will replace on Jan 3, 2009 �Article I, Section 1 -Bicameralism �The Terms in office Two years for the House and Six for the Senate

Sessions and Special Sessions �Special Sessions � 20 th Amendment, Section �The President calls 2 �Two sessions per term Congress back together �It does not happen very often now since they are together longer � 1948, welfare and antiinflation Use to be 4 -5 months, now most of the year

House of Representatives

House of Representatives � 435 members set by Congress Elected every second year, for two year terms Apportioned based on respective population � Article I, Section 2, Clause 3: Each state receives at least 1 seat � Article I, Section 2, Clause 1: No limit, there have been attempts to limit congressional Seats to 12 years Reapportionment � Article I-Every 10 years based on Census � Reapportionment Act 0 f 1929: set permanently house size to 435, Census bureau sets seats per house, President approves it and sends it to Congress

House Elections and Qualifications �Off Year Elections Single member Districts At Large Gerrymandering �Qualifications 25 years old U. S. Citizen for seven years and live where they represent Live in the district you represent (suggested) �May be excused for disorderly conduct by 2/3 vote

Senate Elections and Qualifications �Election First formally chosen by state legislatures 17 th Amendment- popular vote of the people Continuous Body- Elections at different times so seats are never open at the same time �Qualifications 30 years old U. S. citizen for 9 years Must inhabit the state they represent

Congressional Duties, Voting and Pay �Duties 1 make laws 2 serve on committees 3 represent their constituents �Voting Trustee, Delegates, Partisans, Politicos �Pay Article I- 141, 400 27 th Amendment, pay increases take effect after the congressional election

Who are ours �US House Representatives for the State of Nevada US Representative Shelley Berkley (D) US Representative Dean Heller (R) US Representative Dina Titus(D) �Nevada's US Senators US Senator Harry Reid (D) US Senator John Ensign (R)