Slideshow prepared for a series of lectures on the U.S. Congress for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Fall 2007. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.

1. The Congress Dr. Christopher S. Rice

24. SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

34. Electoral Districts: The House of Representatives

35. Reapportionment The number of seats in the House of Representatives allotted to a state changes every 10 years based on changes in population determined by the Census.

36. The Power and Influence of State Legislatures

37. Sushicircus © 2006 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushicircus/292399888/

38. Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) Supreme Court ruled principle of “one person, one vote” applied to congressional districts.

39. RESULT: congressional districts all now approximately the same size.

40. The Problem of “Mid-Decade” Redistricting

41. Gerrymandering When district boundary lines are drawn to ensure the election of a particular party, group or person.

42. Racial gerrymandering & “Majority Minority” districts

43. Incumbency

44. Today’s U.S. Congress is considered the world’s foremost example of a “professional legislature.”

45. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

46. Fenno’s Paradox Citizens invariably rate their members of Congress far more favorably than they rate the Congress as a whole.

48. +

59. House Leadership

91. Committee Chairs

162. Signing Statements