chapter 10. congress makes laws bicameral – made up of two houses, the house of representatives...
TRANSCRIPT
CongressChapter 10
Congress makes laws Bicameral – made up of two houses, the
House of Representatives and the Senate Gives fair representation to both large and
small states
The National Government
Terms of Congress – length of time official serve
Begins on Jan 3 of every odd-numbered year and last for two years
Term
Congress’s Meeting period – one session each year
Therefore, each term has two sessions Congress adjourns its session when it
finishes its business for the year Today, Congress meets almost year-round
with several recesses
Session
435 members elected every two years Congress apportions, or distributes, the
House seats among the states according to their population
Reapportioned every 10 years with the census
Numbers for each state may change
Sec 2 – The House of Representatives
After reapportionment, new state congressional district line are drawn
Gerrymandering, drawing districts in a way that is advantageous to the state legislature’s controlling party is illegal
Allows the voters of each congressional district to choose one representative from a pool of candidates associated with that district
Single-member districts
25 years old Citizen of the US for 7 years Live in the state that he or she wishes to
represent Elected for a 2-year term and may be
elected an unlimited number of time Elections held in November of even-
numbered years Off-year election – one which is held
between presidential elections
Qualification for representative
Has 100 members Called the “Upper House”
Sec 3 – The Senate
More strict and serve longer 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Serve 6 year terms Staggered by 1/3 Represent large size and geographic
diversity of constituencies Have more power and prestige More likely to be seen as national political
leaders
Qualifications
White, upper-middle class, and male More women and more minorities in recent
years Most have political experience
Sec 4 – The Members of Congress
Trustees –consider each bill’s merits, regardless of the views of constituents
Delegates - base their votes on the wishes of the “folks back home,” their constituents.
Partisans - vote in line with their political party.
Politicos - consider all of these factors when they vote.
Voting roles
As members, screen proposed bills and decide which should be acted on
Exercise the oversight function - checking that the executive branch is working effectively and in line with the policies that Congress has set.
Committees
Help those they represent solve problems with the National Government
Servants of their constituents
Act as legislators Representatives of their constituents Committee members Servants of their constituents politicians
5 Key duties
Salary Franking privileges – sending mail postage-
free
Benefits