Section 1: Congressional
Membership
 “the
First Branch of this Government”
 Article I of the Constitution
 Set up
• Bicameral legislature- two houses
 Senate
 House of Representatives
 Purpose
• Representation
• Formulating national policies
• Initiating and approving laws
 Terms
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Begin January 3rd, odd-numbered years
2 sessions (session=1 yr)
20th Amendment (1933)
Congress opens each session with a prayer (official
rules)
• Congress remains in session until members vote to
adjourn
• POTUS may call Congress back for a special
session
 435
members
 Qualifications
• Set by the Constitution:
 At least 25 years old
 Citizen of U.S. for at least 7 years
 Legal resident of the state that elects them
 Term
of Office
• 2 year terms
• November elections, even-numbered years
• House reorganizes every two years
• 90% of representatives are re-elected
 Representation
• Census Bureau
 Census
• reapportionment- reassigning representation based on
population.
 States may lose or gain representation
• Reapportionment Act of 1929
 Limited House to 435 members
 Each census determines how these seats will be divided.
 Congressional
Redistricting
• Each state sets up congressional districts
• Redistricting- the process of setting up new district
lines after reapportionment.
 Most state legislatures draw district line
 Some abuse this power
• Redistrict Cases:
 Baker v. Carr
 Wesberry v. Sanders
 Districts have about 650,000 people
 1:
Jo Bonner
 2: Martha Roby
 3: Mike Rogers
 4: Robert Aderholt
 5: Mo Brooks
 6: Spencer Bachus
 7: Terri Sewell

Means that the political party controlling the state government
draws a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in elections.
• Packing- putting as many of the opposing party’s voters as
possible into certain districts
• Cracking- dividing the opposition into other districts
 100
members, 2 from each state
 Qualifications (set by Constitution)
• At least 30 years old
• Citizens of U.S. for 9 years
• Legal resident of state they represent
 Term
of Office
• Elections are at-large
• 6 year term
• 1/3 of senators run for re-election every two years
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Both houses set their own salaries….
• 27th Amendment
Allowances to pay office staff & assistants, trips
home, etc.
Income tax deductions & pensions
Franking privileges- other benefits and resources
including stationary and postage for official business.
Free from arrest while attending Congress or on the
way to Congress
• Except in case of treason, felony, or breach of peace
•
May be censure (vote of formal disapproval)
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Characteristics
• Nearly half of all members are lawyers
• Business, banking, and education
• Typically white, middle-aged males (CT pg. 129)
Reelection
• “All members of Congress have one primary interest—to be
reelected.”
• Incumbents- members already in office
 Easier to raise campaign funds
 Gerrymandered districts
 Better known