CONGRESS
Overview of Congress
I.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Terms and Sessions
Terms last 2 years
Begins January 3 of every odd-numbered year
Numbered Consecutively (11-13= 112th)
Adjournment = end of term (both houses must
agree)
Two sessions per term/ periodic recesses
Overview of Congress
Bicameralism = Two houses
House of Reps = closer to people
II.
A.
•
•
•
•
•
Elected by the people
Smaller districts (Michael C. Burgess)
2 year term
Entire body elected every 2 years
Revenue bills must originate in the house
Overview of Congress
Bicameralism = Two houses
Senate designed to be removed from the
people
II.
B.
•
•
•
•
Originally elected by state legislatures
Elected on an at large basis
6 year terms
1/3 up for election every 2 years = more
continuity and stability
Overview of Congress
House of Representatives
A. Size
III.
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•
•
Determined by congress (435 since 1911)
Elected by districts
Population of state determines # of Reps
(increase in Sun Belts decrease in Frost Belt)
Overview of Congress
House of Representatives
B. Fixed terms
III.
•
•
Two years/ entire body up for re-election
Term limits ruled unconstitutional in US Term
Limits v. Thornton (added a qualification)
Qualifications
C.
•
25 years old, citizen for 7 years, residency in
state
Overview of Congress
IV.
A.
B.
C.
Senate
Size: 100 members
Term: 6 years
Qualifications: 30 years old, citizen for 9
years, resident of state
Overview of Congress
V.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Compensation
Members set own salary (27th amendment =
raise takes effect next term)
Perks: travel allowance, staff, office space,
franking privilege, insurance
Legislative immunity
Cannot be arrested or detained while going to
or from a session of Congress
Evolution of Congress
I.
Founders Intentions
A.
Feared excessive power in single institution
Fear of Mob rule
Concern about manner of representation
Belief that Congress would be dominant
branch of government
B.
C.
D.
Evolution of Congress
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
CENTRALIZATION
Strong central leadership
Restrictions on debate
Few opportunities to stall
Minimal committee
interference
Streamlined legislative
process
Minimal public scrutiny

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
DECENTRALIZATION
Weak leadership
Few restrictions on
debate
Stalling tactics
Powerful committees
Complicated legislative
process
Close public scrutiny
Evolution of Congress
II. Conflict over Distribution of
Power
A.
1889-1910 Strong
Centralization in the House
1.
Speaker Thomas Reed had
strong powers including:
-
-
2.
making committee
assignments
Appointing committee chairs
Chairing the Rules
committee
Joseph “Uncle Joe” Cannon
continued Reed’s
centralization
Evolution of Congress
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
B.
Decentralization in the House
1.
1910 Revolt against Joe:
-
2.
Speaker could no longer make committee assignments
Speaker could no longer appoint chairs
Speaker lost position on Rules Committee
Move towards decentralization
-
Individuals voted without fear of Speaker
Rules committee gained more power
Committee Chairmen gained power
Evolution of Congress
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
B.
Decentralization in the House
3.
Decentralization in the 1970s (Class of 74)
- Individual members gained more power
- More subcommittees
- Power of subcommittee chairs rose (committee chair
power declined)
- More staff members
- Reduction in the seniority system
Evolution of Congress
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
C.
Developments in the Senate
More naturally decentralized
- Fewer members
- no Speaker
- lack a strong Rules Committee
2. Democratization of the Senate with passage of 17th
amendment (1913)
3. Concern over length of floor debates
- Use of filibuster
- Cloture vote (3/5 of senators can move to end debate)
1.
Incumbency
Reelection rate in House 90%
 Reelection rate in Senate 80%
 Relatively few seats are seriously
contested
 “Permanent Congress”
 But… retirements open up a lot of seats
each year

Incumbency
Specific Advantages
 Franking privilege
 Staffers
 Patronage
 Name recognition
 Money, esp. from PACs
Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering
1. Reapportionment: Redistribution of 435 seats
in the House on the basis of changes in the state
populations.
a.
Reps per state determined by pop.
b.
Census conducted every 10 yrs.
c.
Census shows populations changes and
seats are allotted based upon new
numbers
Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering
2. Redistricting: When seats change,
district boundaries must change.
a. Party controlling state legislature
redraws district boundaries.
b. Gerrymandering = redrawing
boundaries to favor party in power
Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering
Origins of term:
19th century Governor Elbridge Gerry redrew
lines himself with some having such strange
shapes, they looked like salamanders.
Party in Power keeps power by:
 “Packing”- concentrate opposition population in
few districts
 “Cracking”- Disperse opp. Party throughout state
to dilute their impact
Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering
Effects of Gerrymandering
1. Party in power, STAYS in power
2. Safe seats are created
3. Odd-shaped districts
4. “Majority-Minority” districts created by
racial gerrymandering
Incumbency
Redistricting Requirements:
1.
Districts must be as near equal in population as possible
a.
b.
2.
3.
Baker v. Carr, 1962 “one man, one vote” principle applied to
state leg districts to correct overrepresentation of rural areas.
Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 applied principle to House districts
District lines must be contiguous
Racial gerrymandering is prohibited (Shaw v. Reno,
1993). Race may not be the primary factor in drawing
district lines (Miller v. Johnson, 1995)
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
GERRYMANDERING
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http://www.gothamgazette.com/votegame/
Leadership in Congress- House
Speaker of the HousePresides over House
1.
Appoints select and
conference committees
2.
Appoints Rules
Committee members and
Chair
3.
Assigns Bills to
committees
4.
Second in line for
Presidency
Leadership in Congress- House
Majority LeaderPartisan Positionchosen by party
members
1. Floor leader/
legislative strategist
2. Minority leader-
Leadership in Congress- House
Majority Whip1.
Assistant floor leader
2.
Inform leaders on mood
of the House
3.
Keep count on important
votes
4.
Persuade party members
to vote with party
5.
Minority whip
Leadership in Congress- Senate
VP- President of the
Senate
1. Presides over Senate
2. Votes in case of a tie
3. Ceremonial Job
Leadership in Congress- Senate
President Pro Tempore1. Ceremonial Job
2. Presides in Absence
of the VP
3. Third in line for the
presidency
Leadership in Congress- Senate
Majority Leader1.
True leader in Senate
2.
Recognized first for all
debates
3.
Leads majority party
4.
Influences committee
assignments
5.
Influences agenda with
Minority leader
Leadership in Congress- Senate
Minority Leader and
party whips function
the same as they do in
the House
Committees

Standing committees are the permanent
committees of Congress. They have both
legislative and oversight powers.

House Standing:
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Rules (most powerful of all)
Ways and means (deals with tax bills)
Appropriations (spending)
Budget
Armed Services
Committees

Standing committees are the permanent
committees of Congress. They have both
legislative and oversight powers.

Senate Standing:



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
Finance (tax bills)
Appropriations (spending)
Budget
Foreign Relations (prestigious) Treaty and ambassador
work
Judiciary: screen judicial nominees
Committees

Conference committees:




Temporary committees comprised of members of both
houses
Develop compromise language for a bill when versions
differ
After conference committee sends bill back - no
amendments are allowed and bill is generally passed
“Third House of Congress”
Other Committees
 Select: temporary purpose in House
 Joint: Both houses for temporary purpose