The document provides an overview of the United States Congress, which is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It discusses the size, terms, elections, and roles of members of both chambers. Key points include that the House has 435 members with 2-year terms, while the Senate has 2 members from each state with 6-year terms. Members represent constituents and political parties, serve on committees, and make laws as their primary role.

1. The
National
Legislature
CONGRESS The House
The Senate
The
Members

2. THE CAPITOL BUILDING

3. CAPITOL HILL

4. “THE FIRST BRANCH”
 Article I – Longest article
 Why is Congress the branch closest
to “the people”?
 Envisioned as the strongest branch
 Power has shifted to the Executive
Branch
 Primary job:
 Make Laws
 Where the public will becomes
public policy

5. BICAMERAL
History
 Parliament bicameral
 Most Colonial legislatures
bicameral
 Today, only Nebraska has a
unicameral legislature
Practical
 CT Compromise
Theoretical
 “We pour legislation into the
senatorial saucer to cool it.”
 Is the Senate “undemocratic”?

6. TERMS
 2 year terms
 Starts Noon, 3 rd day of January of each odd -numbered year
 113 th US Congress today

7. SESSIONS
 When Congress assembles and does business
 Two sessions per term
 Meets virtually all year
 Adjourns several times for small breaks
Special Sessions
 President only can call
 For emergency situations
 Only 26 – Truman 1948

8. THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES

9. HOUSE: SIZE & TERMS
- Seats in the house are apportioned based on population
 Members of the House :
 Maryland:
 State with most:
 Sate with least:
 DC & other territories have
non-voting representatives

11. REAPPORTIONMENT
 Seats are redistributed after every census
Reapportionment Act of 1929
 House set at 435 members
 Census Bureau determines reapportionment

12. HOUSE ELECTIONS
 All seats up every 2 years
 Positives & Negatives?
 Party in power usually loses
seats in of f-year elections
 Why?
 1998: An exception

13. DISTRICTS
 Voters in each district elect one of the State's representatives
 Single-Member Districts
 Each member represents roughly 650,000 people

15. GERRYMANDERING
- Drawing districts to
provide a political benefit
 Concentrate opposition
voters in 1 or 2 districts
(Packing)
 Spread out the opposition
thinly among several
districts (Cracking)

18. SAFE DISTRICTS: FOR WHOM
 In last 20 years: 103
swing districts to 35
swing districts
 Good thing or bad
thing?
 West Wing – Angel
Maintenance (35 min mark)
 http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=V0CvmK0dVcI

20. WHO CAN BE IN THE HOUSE?
Formal Qualifications
 25 years old
 Citizen of the US for 7 years
 Inhabitant of the state from which elected
 NOT required to live in the district you are running for
Informal Qualifications

21. THE SENATE

22. SENATE: SIZE & TERMS
 Two from each state _______
 Designed to be a check on the
House (c_________)
 6 year terms
 No term limits
 Only 1/3 of Senate up for
election at any 1 time
 How does length of term impact
leadership style?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T38dhk4tr9o
Strom Thurmond (R-SC) served in
the Senate for 48 years.

23. SENATORIAL ELECTIONS
 Originally chosen by State legislatures
 “Millionaires’ Club”
 Which amendment called for direct election?
 At-large elections
 Represent entire states – How does this impact the way they
lead?

24. WHO CAN BE IN THE SENATE?
Formal Qualifications
 30 years old
 Citizen for 9 years
 Inhabitant of the state from which elected
 Informal Qualifications
 http:// www.youtube.c om/watc h?v=0yld3EUItOo

25. PARTISAN MAKE-UP OF 113 TH CONGRESS

27. THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Most are…
 White
 Male
 50s or 60s
 Lawyers
 Not a cross section of the nation’s population
 Average Senator serving a 2 nd term
 Average Representative has served 4 terms

30.  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013 -01-10/the-
113th-congress-by-the-numbers

31. THE JOB: 5 ROLES
1. Lawmakers
2. Representatives of their constituents
3. Committee Members
4. Servants of their constituents
5. Politicians

32. REPRESENTIN’
Trustees
 Use their own judgment to make decisions
Delegates
 Do what “the folks back home” want
Partisans
 Vote in-line with the party leadership
 Which one is best?
Politicos
 Seek a balance between the other 3
“Your representative owes you, not his industry
only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead
of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your
opinion” -- Edmund Burke
English Politician (1729-1797)

33. COMMITTEE MEMBERS
 Each member sits on several committees
 Where most of the work is done
 Most bills die here

34. SERVANTS
 Solve problems constituents have with the bureaucracy
 Dedicated staf f to handle these requests
 How much time should members of Congress spend on this?

35. COMPENSATION
 $174,000 per year (more
for leadership)
 Is this too much?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOPWbanYd
3g

36. WHAT ELSE DO WE GET?
 P__________
 Travel allowance
 Franking privilege
 More important or less important today?
 Health benefits & pension
 Library of Congress
 Free Parking
 Immunity from libel or slander charges – Why?