Ch 5 U.S. GovernmentDemocracy in Action
Organization of Congress
From the Library of Congress
• Organization of Congress & Legislative Process - An Overview
Congressional Membership
• Bicameral• Patterned after English Parliament• Has more power than any other branch
Congressional Sessions
• A term of Congress is for two years• Each term - begins January 3 of odd numbered
years– Ex: The 107th Term of Congress began • January 3, 2001
Extra Credit: What Term is Congress currently serving?
Congressional Sessions
• Terms end in November/December (depends on workload)
• Each term has two sessions (each 1 year)
Congressional Sessions
• Congress is in session until members vote to adjourn
• Neither “house” can “rest” or adjourn for more than 3 days w/o other house’s approval
• Congress can be called back for a special session by the President
House of RepresentativesMembership
• Seats per State - varies with population• More Populated States = More
Representatives• Each state entitled to 1 seat minimum
Extra Credit: How many Representatives are there currently?
House of RepresentativesMembership Qualifications
• Set by the Constitution• Q: What Article? What Section?
• Must be at least 25 years old• U.S. Citizens – at least 7 years• Must be Legal Residents of State electing them• Usually claim Primary Residence in District
they represent
Term of Office
• Elected for two-year terms• Elections – November of even numbered years– Ex: November 2008, November 2010
• Members begin serving January 3rd following the November election
Term of Office – The House
• The whole House of Representatives is up for election every two years in even numbered years
• Most are reelected (90%) = Continuity
Term of Office – The House of Reps
• Governors appoint temporary replacement if a member is no longer serving the term until a Special Election is held. Note: Former Governor Blajovich of Illinois is no longer governor because he was accused of putting up Senator Obama’s seat up for sale when Obama became President.
House Membership
• Number of Seats capped at 435 Representatives. (Territories & Washington, DC add 6 more – but they do not vote on bills).– Q: What Act set that limit?– A: The Reapportionment Act of 1929
• The Census count determines how the 435 seats are divided among the 50 states.– Q: What is the name of that process?– A: reapportionment
Redistricting
• The process of setting up new district lines after reapportionment
Redistricting Controversy #1
– Districts can be unequal in size (large district has only 1 rep while a smaller one has 1 rep). So the larger district is really underrepresented while the smaller district has more political voice.
Redistricting Controversy #2
• Gerrymandering-Drawing districts to favor a political party’s power in Congress via • “packing”
Ex: Draw the boundary lines to include constituents (voters) of mostly one party
• “cracking” (pg 125-126)Ex: Draw the boundary lines to bust up a party’s dominance.
U.S. Supreme Court on Redistricting
• The district must be:– Compact (not too large)– Contiguous (no parts separated – all parts’
boundaries/lines must touch)– Pg 127
The Senate Membership Qualifications
• Must be:– At least 30 years old– A U.S. resident for at least 9 years
• Elected by ALL THE VOTERS IN THAT STATE not by a district
The SenateTerm of Office
• Serve 6-year terms• Elections held every 2 years in November• BUT unlike the House,
ONLY 1/3 OF THE SENATE IS UP FOR ELECTION AT ONE TIME
• Term begins January 3rd after the November election
• If a Senator ties during term, the governor appoints a replacement til next election.
Salary & Benefits
• Set by Congress BUT– Congress cannot give itself a pay raise
(27th Amendment – 1992)although it was proposed in 1789 by James Madison
– The PAY RAISE GOES INTO EFFECT after the NEXT ELECTIONQ: How effective is the 27th Amendment when most
incumbents (politicians already in office) get reelected?
Salary & Benefits
• They get an automatic COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) added to pay to offset inflation
• Medical insurance and Medical Clinic• A gym• Free Postage (Franking Privilege) for official
business & Free Stationery
Salary & Benefits
• Large Allowances (money to spend on):– Staff– Assistants– Trips Home– Telephones/Telegrams– Newsletters
• An Income Tax Allowance for BOTH Homes• Eligible to receive Pensions of $150,000 +
Privileges of Members
• Free from Arrest “in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace”– While in Congress, – on the way to/from Congress
• Cannot be sued for anything they say on the floor of The House or The Senate– DOES NOT EXTEND to what is said OUTSIDE
CONGRESS (Hutchinson v Proxmire, 1979)
Privileges
• Power of Exclusion– The Senate & The House judge a member’s
qualifications & whether to seat them by a majority vote
– Defined by Supreme Court• Powell v McCormack
• Censure – Majority Vote of Disapproval of actions
• Expel – for serious offenses (treason, bribery) by 2/3 vote (Member is no longer in Congress).
Members of Congress
• Senate – 100 Senators• House of Representatives – 435 Representatives
PLUS NON-VOTING MEMBERS– 1 – Washington, DC– 1 - Guam– 1 – America Samoa– 1 – Virgin Islands– 1 – Puerto Rico resident commissioner– THEY CAN INTRODUCE BILLS, DEBATE, ATTEND
SESSIONS & VOTE IN COMMITTEES
Characteristics
• Almost ½ = Lawyers• Many from banking, business, education• Typically white, middle-aged males over 50
Reelection to Congress
• About 90% are reelected (incumbents are already in office)
• Q: Why?– The public is more aware of incumbents than newbies– PAC (Political Action Committees) fundraise to reelect
them– Gerrymandering– Incumbents use their staff & office to solve problems
for voters (creates voter loyalty)• Since 1990s, easier to unseat incumbents
Congress Today
• What is the makeup of Congress today?– Ethnicity– Age– Gender
• Which political party is the majority in:– The Senate– The House of Representatives– TIP: Go online, look at Congressional Quarterly
