Chapter 8 Notes
What are the Requirements for election to Congress?
House of Representatives
Serve two years
25 years or older
Must have been a citizen for at least 7 years
Must be a resident of the state in which you are elected (usually also live in the district you represent)
Senate
Serve 6 years (provides stability)
30 years or older
Must have been a citizen for at least 9 years
Must be a resident of the state you represent
Used to be elected by the state legislatures, but the 17th amendment made it so the people now elect
them
If a senate seat is left open (resignation or death), the governor appoints the new Senator, in the house
a Special Election is called to fill the void.
Why do we have two houses of Congress?
Practical Reasons (of the past)
Unicameral didn’t work
It was considered essential to the checks and balance system
The Connecticut Compromise created both and fixed the large state / small state issue
Practical Reasons (of today)
Serves as a brake
Unlikely that hastily written legislation will be passed because it must make it through both
houses
Prevents sectional legislation
A bill that favors a certain part of the country over another will likely die
Provides different viewpoints
The House members must respond to immediate need, Senate to delayed issues
Gives time for review
Gives people time to study and criticize a bill before it becomes law
Arguments against…
It’s slow.
What is the term of Congress?
The time in which Congress remains in session between elections
Each one is numbered, has lifespan of 2 years
This Congress is the 112th, began in January of 2011
Used to be “in session” for less than 6 months, after WWII they went to almost a year
Can be recalled by the President for a special session
They often miss important votes because they are campaigning at home
Should senators and representatives be allowed to vote away from the office?
How are congressional seats apportioned?
Congress contains 535 members today (HoR:435 + S:100 = 535)
Originally only had 65 members
Realized if they kept increasing population, it would not work very well
1929 Reapportionment Act (fixed the house at 435 members)
Each representative is responsible for an average of over 500K citizens
All states are guaranteed at least 1 representative
D.C. gets one representative, but they don’t get to vote
Who is our district representative? (Larry Buschon)
Reapportionment
Every 10 years the census mixes things up
People move to different states, and as such those states get more representation
Where has the population of the U.S. grown?
Gerrymander
Creating oddly shaped districts to ensure your party wins a seat in that state (democrat or republican)
because most people are registered to one party
To guard against this today, state must be
Of a reasonably compact shape
Each district needs to contain roughly the same number of people
How does Congress organize itself?
Speaker of the House (leader of the majority party)
Powers
Recognize members of the House to allow them to speak
Interpret House rules
Refer bills to favorable committees
Appoint committee members
Delay or speed up passage of legislation
Serves 2 years and must be re-elected when Congress convenes
Can vote on issues, but usually only to tie-break
Becomes president if POTUS and VPOTUS die at the same time
President of the Senate
VPOTUS
Can’t debate, but votes in case of a tie
President Pro-Tempore (temporary president of the senate) for when the VPOTUS is away
Party Leaders
HoR and Senate each have a majority and minority party leader
Head steering committees
Jobs
Manage debate
Coordinate work of Congressional Committees
Choose speakers to debate bills
Work with Rule Committee to move bills to the floor
Unify party members for a vote on a bill
Whips
Act as assistant floor leaders to line up votes for a given bill
Need to be accurate, use all kinds of political techniques to get the votes they need
How is the committee system organized?
Serving on these committees gives legislators a chance to concentrate on an area they are specifically interested
This is where much of their time is spent
Three types of committees
Standing Committee
Study new bills that fall under the committee’s jurisdiction, also investigate problems
Permanent
Special Committee
Handle issues that don’t fall under a previous committee
AKA: “Select Committees”- disband after the issue is resolved
Conference Committee
Used to decide a bill’s final form
Must be accepted by both Senate and HoR to become law
Membership
Members on a committee are proportional to the numbers in Congress
Ex: if there are 60 Rep. and 40 Dem. Senators, then the committees will be split 3:2
What your committee says about you
Personal interest
Seniority
What your party thinks about you
You can only lead 1 committee
Chairman of the committee is always from the majority party, usually seniority, pull rank
How is it that Congress even has power?
Delegated Powers (found in the Constitution)
Inherent Powers
Belong to any national government, without cannot rule their people
Ex: protect against invasion, regulate immigration, gain new territory
Expressed Powers
Directly written in the Constitution
AKA: Enumerated powers
Broad powers: taxes, spending money, borrowing money, patents, govern territories
War Powers
Right to declare war
Very controversial
War Powers Resolution 1973- must ask congress for emergency military action
This restricts power to respond quickly
Congress can always withhold money to support troops if they don’t agree
Implied Powers
Congress can make all laws they deem “necessary and proper”
President and Judicial Branch have the power to stop Congress
Limit on Congressional Powers
Reserved powers: fall to the states if not listed
Legislative Tasks of Congress
Investigation
Whether a new law is needed
Scandals
Changes in American life
Seating and Confirmation
Senate must approve appointments
Check on nominee’s: philosophy, personal finances, administrative ability
If the person will be defeated or embarrass the President, often times they are withdrawn
Constitutional Amendment
Must pass both houses with 2/3 majority
Ratified by ¾ of the states (38)
Impeachment
Attempt to remove from office
Sufficient evidence has been found to put the accused on trial, does not mean they are guilty
Non-Legislative Tasks
Elect President and VP if no winner in Electoral College
Approve treaties from the Senate
Admit new states and territories
How has the power of Congress grown?
Power to tax
Money comes from taxes… only way to keep these services in place
Income taxes are the major source of funding (pay checks, investments, stocks)
There’s not enough money to pay for all the wanted programs
President sends budget, Congress trims and adds, and they pass what is left over
Power to regulate interstate commerce
Business conducted between states
Limitations on these powers
Can’t tax organized religions
What does it mean to be a member of Congress?
Serve Constituents
Help their constituents to solve problems
Dilemma
Often times, party loyalty, constituents, and their own conscience are in conflict…
Which is the most important to obey?
Benefits and Privileges
Upward mobility to new position
Can’t be sued for what they say in the halls of Congress
Can’t be arrested while on congressional business
Problems usually consist of strained family relations