5.1 Congress
Do Now:
Why do we like to be liked?
3.1 Congress
3.1 Congress
Congress:
“the act of coming together; an
encounter; a meeting”
3.1 Congress
Congress is the Legislative Branch of the
United States Government. It is
Bicameral, or consisting of two houses.
The two houses are…
3.1 Congress
The Senate
The Senate consists of 100 senators (2 from
each state) who serve 6 year terms.
Senators must be 30 years old, a US
citizen for at least nine years, and a
resident of the state which they serve.
The 17th Amendment
Until 1913 Senators were elected by the House of
Representatives. Popular opinion shifted as
citizens believed that there was too much of a
risk of corruption and a lack of representation in
this system.
The 17th Amendment changed this system to the
current popular election system that we now
have.
The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives consists of 435
members, apportioned equally by population to
the states. Each member represents a specific
congressional district.
Representatives serve 2 years terms and must:
•Be at least 25 years old
•Have been a citizen for at least 7 years
•Be an inhabitant of the state they represent
Congressional Leadership
Other than the Speaker of the House, leadership in both houses is
based on seniority and popularity and exists only within the party.
Speaker of the House: Party leader, administrative functions
Majority Leader: Sets floor agenda, oversees chairmen
Republican/Democratic Leader: Party leader
Majority Whip: Ensures party loyalty, counts votes
Republican/Democratic Whip: Ensures party loyalty, counts votes
Reapportionment
Congressional Districts are reapportioned,
or redistributed, every ten years after the
census. Each member represents
approximately 650,000 people.
District Power
Some areas of each state (especially large
cities) are quite diverse in political views.
The ways in which districts are redrawn is
critical to the power that they wield.
Class Exercise
Use your yarn to draw outlines around
desks that neighbor each other. You must
include all desks and each group must
have an equal number of desks. Use tape
to hold down your yarn on the floor.
Reflection Questions
1. Where does the decision making
power in this exercise come from?
2. How can that power be controlled?
3. If politics are important wouldn’t
people try to do this in real life?
4. How can you stop it?
Gerrymandering
-To manipulate an electoral area,
usually by altering its boundaries,
in order to gain an unfair political
advantage in an election
Gerrymandering
C.G.P. Grey on Gerrymandering
3.1 Congress
Who is my Representative?
Inner Loop Representatives:
2-
Ted Poe (R)
7-
John Culberson (R)
9-
Al Green (R)
18-
Sheila Jackson Lee (D)
29-
Gene Green (D)
Who are my Senators?
Two State Senators serve the entire state
John Cornyn (R)
Ted Cruz (R)
Compensation
•Senators and Representatives make
$174,000/year.
•Special Tax Deductions
•Generous Travel Allowances
•Excellent and Cheap Healthcare
•Pension (can be close to $200,000/yr)
•Funds to set up local and D.C. offices
Compensation, Cont’d
•Franking Privilege-Being able to use your
signature rather than postage stamps
•Free printing and video copying
•Congressional Gyms and Restaurants
•Free Parking
•Freedom from Arrest and Trial (except for a few
charges)
•Members of Congress have the power to set
their own pay, only the President’s Veto power
stands in the way
Other (illegal) Benefits
•Meals, trips, merchandise from lobbyists
•Special privileges, or kickbacks, from businesses
whom the Member of Congress helps out
3.1 Congress
There are four types of Congressional Politicians,
separated by ideology:
•Trustee- These politicians believe that they must use their
judgment to make the best decision in each vote.
•Delegate- See themselves as the agents of those who
elected them (a majority, hopefully, of their constituents)
•Partisans- (Majority of Politicians) Partisans see
themselves as, first and foremost, loyal to party.
•Politicos- Politicians who try to balance the previous three
views.
5.1 Assignment
Why do members of congress get into politics?
Money? Power? Create Change? Fame?
Write an essay explaining which of these four (as few or as
many as you like) are the most influential in encouraging
most candidates to run for office.
Then outline a plan that will ensure that politicians will
always have The Country’s best interests in mind.