CHAPTER 10
CONGRESS
Section 1
A bicameral Congress p. 268
I. Bicameral Congress: 2 houses
WHY???
A. Historical reasons: British parliament had two
house and so did most of colonies.
B. Practical reasons: Only way to get the
Constitution passed was to go along with both
the large states and small states
C. Theoretical reasons: Two houses would diffuse
the power of Congress. (It was suppose to be
the ruling body with the power of governing.
II. Terms and Session
Term: = 2 years
114th Congress
will go until 2017
Session: = l year
2 sessions = 1 term
Each session and
term starts
January 3rd
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Section 2 p. 273
A. SIZE OF HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES: 435 set by
Congress.
Each District = about 700,000 people
MATH?: If Virginia has 11 congressional
districts, what is the population of Virginia
_________________
The Bureau of the Census takes the Census
every ten years and tells each state how
many districts it has. State legislatures draw
the lines
B. GERRYMANDERING
1. Drawing district lines
in a strange shape
to guarantee a party
wins or to prevent a
party from winning
2. This act keeps most
seats as “safe” in
elections
Barney’s 4th District
C. Misc. House Info
1. Wesberry vs. Sanders (1964): important
court case that said all congressional
districts must be equal in population.
Moved control of Congress from rural
America to the cities (urban).
2. Formal and informal qualifications for
Representatives
a. Formal: 25, 7 years citizen, resident of state
b. Informal:
a) Being an incumbent helps (90% of those
seeking re-election succeed.
b) Fundraising abilities: Cost over $1 million
to run
c) Name familiarity
d) Political experience
e) Ethnicity/gender
f) Party identification
or lack thereof
THE SENATE
section 3 p. 281
“a necessary fence” against the “fickleness and passion” of
the House of Representatives – James Madison
A body which has time and security enough to keep its
head. Woodrow Wilson
A. Size, election and terms
1. 100 = 2 from 50 states
2. Each serve 6 years: 1/3rd of Senate is
is elected every 2 years so it is called
a “continuous body” or “rotating” body.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
B. Formal and informal qualifications for
office.
1.Formal: At least 30, 9 years citizen,
resident of state
2. Informal: Same as House
a. Party, b. Name familiarity, c. gender,
d. ethnicity, e. political
experience, f. incumbency
Members of Congress
Sec. 4, p. 285
A. 5 roles of members of Congress
• Legislator
• Representatives of their constituent
• Committee member
• Servants to constituent
• Politicians
1. Committee members
• Proposed legislation must go to committee
• Screen the proposals and decide what
goes to the floor to be considered by the
whole House or Senate
• Oversight function– Check to see that the various agencies in the
executive branch are doing what they are
supposed to and following the laws set out by
Congress
2. Servant to the People
• Help people who have problems with the
government
• Some people believe that members of
congress are there just to do favors for
them
B. Privileges and Benefits
• Pay
– Fixed at $174,000
– Speaker of the House$223,500
– Senate president pro
tem, majority and
minority floor leaders –
$193,400
• Federal tax deduction
• Travel allowances
• Pay little for life and
health insurance
• Funds to hire staff
• Offices provided in one
of the buildings near the
capitol
C. Compensation
• Pay
– Fixed at $174,000
– Speaker of the House$223,500
– Senate president pro
tem, majority and
minority floor leaders –
$193,400
• Federal tax deduction
• Travel allowances
• Pay little for life and
health insurance
• Funds to hire staff
• Offices provided in one
of the buildings near the
capitol
B.PRIVILEGES OF
CONGRESS
1. Free from arrest going to and from Congress
and during a session of Congress. Why?
2. Speech and Debate Clause: Cannot be
sued for anything said in Congress or
committee. Article 1, Section 6, Why?
3. Franking privilege: Means free use of the
mail.
Why?