The House of
Representatives
Chapter 10 section 2
The Big Idea
Member of the House, who serve an
unlimited number of two-year
terms, represent districts of
roughly equal populations
Basics
• 435 members: Congress fixed the number because it
was getting too big
• Each state is guaranteed at least 1 seat
• 7 states
• Representatives are elected every 2 years
• Why do you think this is???
• No term limit
• Same time as Federal elections
• Off year elections: non presidential years
Powers reserved to the House
• To vote on Charges of impeachment
• To initiate bills involving
• The raising of revenue
• Tax bills
• Annual appropriations bills (federal budget)
Getting elected to the House
• The Constitution (article 1) guarantees each state at least one representative
• Members are chosen from districts within each state
• Apportionment:
• distribution among the states based on the population of each of the states
• Reapportionment:
• the redistribution of Congressional seats after the census determines changes in
population
• Census is every 10 years
• Congressional districting:
• the drawing by state legislatures of congressional districts for those states with more
than one representative
Gerrymandering
• Districts that have been drawn to the advantage of the
political party that controls the state legislature
• Remember election laws are set by whom???
• Widespread
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To concentrate the opposition voters in one or two districts
so the rest are yours
Spread the opposition voters so thin they can never win
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Speaker of the House
• Paul Ryan (R)
• Chosen by majority party
• Chief presiding officer
(constitutionally) of the
House
• Decides whom to recognize
to speak on the floor
• Schedules bills for action
• Appoints members of special
and select committees
House Majority
• Leader: Kevin McCarthy
(R)
• Chosen by majority party
• Assists Speaker
• Plans party’s legislative
program
• Steers important bills
through the House
• Party leader
• Whip: Steve Scalise (R)
• Party floor leader
• Keeps close watch on how
majority members intend to
vote
• Attempts to influence voting
House Minority
• Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D)
• Party leader
• Performs similar tasks to
House Majority Leader
• Has no power over scheduling
work in the House
• Whip: Steny Hoyer (D)
• Assists party minority leader
• Keeps close watch on how
majority members intend to vote
• Attempts to influence voting
10th District House Representative
• Barbara
Comstock