big picture: representative democracy

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Big Picture:

Representative Democracy

Congressional Basics #1

Congress = the Legislative Branch

What does Congress do?

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

What does Congress do?

“Translate the public will into public policy in the form of law.”

Congressional Basics #1

What does Congress do?

Congress decides what the (federal) government will do.

Congressional Basics #1

What does Congress look like? How is Congress

structured and organized?

Congressional Basics #1

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Bicameral Legislature

Congressional Basics #1

U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate

233 Republicans – 200 Democrats - 2 Vacant 46 Reps – 52 Dems- 2 Ind

Congressional Basics #1

Why bicameral?• Historical

Parliament Colonial legislatures

• Practical: Connecticut Compromise• Checks and balances

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1

Indiana’s Congressional

Delegation

Congressional Basics #1

Indiana’s Congressional

Delegation

Congressional Basics #1

Indiana’s Congressional

Delegation

Congressional Basics #1

Indiana’s Congressional

Delegation

Senior Senator Dan Coats

Junior Senator Joe Donnelly

Congressional Basics #1

“Term”• Term of Congress (2 years)

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SessionSession

Congressional Basics #1

“Term”• Term of Congress (2 years)• Term of a member of the House (2 years)

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Congressional Basics #1

“Term”• Term of a member of the Senate (6 years)

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Congressional Basics #1

“Term”• Term of a President (4 years)

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ObamaBushBush

Congressional Basics #1

“Term”

2012

2011

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Election

Congressional Basics #1

“Term”

2012

2011

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ObamaBushBush

“Off-year” Election

Congressional Basics #1

“Term”

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

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2003

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ObamaBushBush

Election

Congressional Basics #1Reapportionment (House)

• 1st Congress: 65 members (1:37,000)• Census every 10 years; ratio maintained• House grows to 435 in 1910• 1920 – no reapportionment• Reapportionment Act of 1929

“permanent” size of 435 Seats rearranged based on population 1:700,000

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1Districts (House)

Congressional Basics #1

Congressional Basics #1Districts (House)

• Required since 1842

Congressional Basics #1

Candidates run in each

district

Congressional Basics #1Districts (House)

• Required since 1842• Contiguous

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term

Members

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years

Members

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years

Members

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years

Members

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years 9 years

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years 9 years"natural

born"

Political Disposition

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years 9 years"natural

born"

Political Disposition

Responsive to changing

will

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years 9 years"natural

born"

Political Disposition

Responsive to changing

willStabilizing

force

Congressional Basics #1House Senate President

Supreme Court

Apportionment Population By state

Term 2 years 6 years 4 years Life

Members 435 100 1 9

Age 25 30 35

Citizenship 7 years 9 years"natural

born"

Political Disposition

Responsive to changing

willStabilizing

force Politically insulated

Congressional Basics #1

CompensationA. Salary: $174,000

1. Speaker: $223,5002. Party leaders: $193,400

B. Health and retirement benefitsC. StaffD. Travel expenses