Structure & Powers of Congress
 The
Federalist, No. 51,
page 263 in your book
 Separation of Powers to
make sure legislative
Branch does not get too big
 Article I establishes the
Legislative Branch
Terms and Sessions
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Term lasts for two years
112th Congress Convened on Jan. 3, 2011
Session-period of time Congress meets
during the year
Adjourn- when the Congress stops meeting
and begins a recess
Pro-forma session- what the Senate is in
now
HOUSE
 435 members
 Represent population within
a state
 Two year terms
 Must be 25 years old, US
citizen for 7 years, and live
in state at the time of the
election
Senate
 100
members
 2 from each state
 Six year terms
 Staggered elections every two years (3
different classes)
 Must be 30 years old, US citizen for 9
years, and live in the state at the time of
election
Congressional Elections
 Safe
Seats-USUALLY won by a
particular party
 Swing District-seat is
competitive
 Incumbents usually win (90% in
Senate, 98% in the House)
Drawing District Lines for the
House of Representatives
 Apportioned
 Reapportion-census
every 10
years
 Reapportionment Act of 1929
 435 Members
 District has about 650,000
people
Terms/Cases to know:
 Adjourn
 Wesberry
v. Sanders,
1964
 Off year elections
 Special session
 Continuous body
 Reapportionment
 Constituencies
 Redistricting
 4 ways a member of
 Gerrymandering
Congress can vote
 Franking privileges
 Prorogue
The Job of the Legislator
REPRESENTATIVE Delegates-vote according to what the
constituents want
 Trustees- vote for what is best for the
constituents
 Partisans- vote strictly along party lines
 Politicos- attempt to combine the basic
elements of delegates, trustees, and
partisans