Unit III, Section 1 Concepts What type of democracy does America have? Indirect Democracy Representative Democracy General public not directly involved Congress fulfills duties of the day-to-day government Translates public will into public policy Creates laws First Branch- Madison Outlined in Article I of the Constitution A Bicameral Congress Two Houses Precedence Historical British Parliament has two houses 1787-All but two states had bicameral houses Nebraska remaining unicameral state Continued Practical Compromise between Virginia & New Jersey Plans Federalist idea Equality in the Senate Popular separation in the House Theoretical Two houses Check each other Prevents Congress from becoming too powerful Terms of Congress Each term lasts 2 years Consecutively numbered 20 th Amendment Changed term start date Formerly in March Now 3 rd day in January at noon Currently, 114 th Congress January 3, 2015-January 3, 2017 Sessions Session-Yearly time when Congress meets and conducts business Two sessions per term Congress typically works most of a year Several short breaks Holiday/Seasonal Breaks Allowances to work in States Adjourns-Suspension until next session Both houses must agree on an adjournment President may prorogue (end) a session Never been used Special Sessions Meeting to deal with an emergency issue Can only be called by the President 26 Special Sessions have been called Most recent 1948, President Truman Senate called 46 times Consider treaties or presidential appointments Not since 1933 House never called alone Year round meetings limit special sessions Limits presidential power Threats used now more than the action Size & Terms 435 Current Membership Set by Congress and NOT by the Constitution Seats should be apportioned among States Population based Each state guaranteed one AK, DE, MT, ND, SD, VT, & WY Other appointments Elected representative- DC, Guam, Virgin Islands, & American Samoa Resident Commissioner- Puerto Rico Not full members Continued Article I, Sec. II, Clause I Elections held every two years Elections always looming The purpose Keep better ear to electorate issues No limit on number of terms Past pushes to place term limits 3 to 4 terms 6 to 8 years Reapportionment Redistribution of the House occurs after every ten year census First Two Congresses ( ) 65 Seats 1790 census 3.9 Million Americans 41 Seats added Total of 106 A Growing Nation As more states were added so too did the number of seats grow 435 seats achieved in census Admission of Arizona & New Mexico Size of the House was proving difficult to manage Congress chose to do nothing No reapportionment after the 1920 census The Reapportionment Act of 1929 Establishes Permanent House size at 435 members Congress may enlarge the House Census Bureau will determine number of seats per state Bureaus plan must be sent to Congress After 60 days with no rejection the plan becomes effective Congress stays Constitutionally correct Pressure placed on Census Bureau Congressional Election Dates Held the same day across the Country First Tuesday after the first Monday of Nov. Even numbered years Alaska once voted in Oct. Ballots must be either written or printed Voting machines approved in 1899 Most modern elections use electronic voting machines Off-Year Elections Occur in nonpresidential election years 2010 & 2014 the most recent Party in power usually loses seats Example 1974 Nixons party did poorly after Watergate 1994 during Clintons first term Exception 1998 Republicans lost seats during Clinton impeachment Limited public support Districts 435 national districts Seven states have 1 43 states hold the remaining 428 Single-Member District Voters chose from a list of State candidates General Ticket System Voters could vote for candidates from each district Seen as unfair Ended in 1842 Continued Rules on the Districts 1842 Law: District must be of contiguous territory State legislatures responsible for district drawing 1872: Districts should have as equal as possible populations 1901: Districts small in area State legislatures did not follow Laws Not expressed in Reapportionment Act of Supreme Court repealed laws Gerrymandering Districts drawn to advantage of political party in power Found across U.S. and in varying levels of government Two forms Concentrate the oppositions voter into one district Spread opposition thinly IL 4 th Con. District Continued Purpose is to create safe districts Has made most Congressional seats safe 40 Congressional districts deemed unsafe Push in power between the Rep. and Dem. the Urban and Rural Can become race based Qualification For House Membership Formal 25 years of age U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Inhabit the State from which they are elected Customs Live in the district of representation Continued House has final say on Representative election issues Refused Brigham Roberts (1900) from Utah due to his religious practices Congress can not, now, prevent someone from taking office House can punish or expel members With majority or 2/3 vote respectively Reasons for past expulsions Support of rebellion, corruption, bribery, fraud, and tax evasion Informal Qualifications Vote-getting abilities Party identification Name familiarity Gender Ethnic characteristics Political experience Game of getting the right combination Mike Bost 12 th Congressional District of Illinois Size 100 Member Senate Equal representation for all states Larger and more broad electorate Has grown as the country has grown Goal Senate would be the more level headed chamber Longer terms Membership qualifications higher Elections Senators originally picked by State legislatures Twice Senate voted down House-passed amendment 1912-Senate finally relented 17 th Amendment (1913) allowed for voter choice 1 Senator up for election at a time Pre-17 th Amendment Senators picked who were popular or most qualified Often product of political/financial gains Senate once known as the Millionaires Club Terms Six year terms No term limit Robert Byrd (D-WV) longest serving Senator Over 51 years of service Staggered Terms 1/3 of Senators up for election at a time Makes the Senate a Continuous House Job Security Less susceptible to public pressure Continued Longer terms means better focus on Big Picture ideas Appeal to a larger Constituency Champion of public policy issues Better access to public media Training ground for presidential candidates Qualifications 30 years of age U.S. citizen for at least 9 years Live in the State from which elected Senator Dick Durbin Senator Mark Kirk Continued Senate judges qualifications of election victors Senate may punish (majority vote) or expel (2/3 vote) members 1797 William Blount expelled Conspiring to invade Florida with British and Native American assistance Senators expelled in the early years of the Civil War Support of rebellion The Job Congressmen and women hold several positions Legislator/Legislative Delegate Representative of Constituents Committee Member Constituent Servant Politician To Represent Trustees Each question set before members must be looked carefully Judge for constituencies Agents of the people Think of the Folks back home MUST suppress own views Continued Partisan First allegiance to political party Duty bound to vote on party lines Leading voting factor Politicos Balance between being a Legislative Delegate Trustee Partisan Continued Committee Member Bill process begins in committee Congressional members hear, amendment, kill proposals Perform an oversight function Leg. check on executive branch agencies Makes sure Congressional policies and laws are being followed Servants Assist constituents through federal bureaucracy Social Security Passport trouble Small business loans Continually swamped with requests Securing government contracts Admittance into a military academy Potential votes are on the line Compensation Salary Annual Congressional members salary $174,000 Between ($6 a day) Speaker of the House $223,500 Leadership (Majority Leader, Whips, etc.) $193,400 Continued Non-salary Compensation Fringe Benefits Special Tax Deductions Travel Allowances Smaller Insurance Payments Low Medical Cost Access to Military Hospitals Retirement Plan Based on years of service Continued Offices in Washington & Home State Operating costs Hiring staff Franking Privilege Postage-free mailing/ signature stamp Free printing/low cost production Restaurants, gyms, pools, etc. access in D.C. Access to Library of Congress Free Parking Capital Washington airports Politics of Pay Only two limits on Congressional pay level Presidential veto Voter backlash Congress skirts compensation issue for voters Hope Pay and benefits may attract the most qualified individuals to public office