Congress What do you know about Congress What

Congress What do you know about Congress? What do you want to know about Congress?

Congress l We have a state and a federal legislative branch. l Both are Bicameral= 2 houses l Why do we have 2 houses in our legislative branch? l Upper house is the Senate- equal rep. l Lower house is the House of Representatives-rep. based on pop.

Terms and Sessions of Congress l l l Term- each term of congress lasts for 2 years. Starts and ends on January 3 of odd numbered years. Session- period of time during which, each year, congress assembles and conducts business. There are 2 sessions for each term of congress Today, congress stays in session throughout most of the year.

House of Representatives l 435 members of the house are chosen by the voters in 435 separate congressional districts across the country. l Page 270 - Why was it deemed unfair to fill house seats with an at-large election, rather than using the single member district arrangement?

House of Representatives l 435 members l 2 year terms l The house seats are reapportioned throughout the states every 10 years according to a census l Each seat in the house represents roughly 650, 000 people on average.

Every 10 Years US Pop. = 295, 000 435 Each Represents Approx. 687, 000 People

States that Added Congressional Seats after 2010 Census State Before 2010 census After 2010 census[5] States that Lost Congressional Seats after 2010 Census State Before 2010 census After 2010 census[6] Illinois 19 18 (-1) Iowa 5 4 (-1) Arizona 8 9 (+1) Florida 25 27 (+2) Louisiana 7 6 (-1) Georgia 13 14 (+1) Massachusetts 10 9 (-1) Nevada 3 4 (+1) Michigan 15 14 (-1) Missouri 9 8 (-1) New Jersey 13 12 (-1) New York 29 27 (-2) Ohio 18 16 (-2) Pennsylvania 19 18 (-1) South Carolina 6 7 (+1) Texas 32 36 (+4) Utah 3 4 (+1) Washington 9 10 (+1)

How districts are drawn l Districts are drawn by the state legislatures. l In the past districts were not drawn with equal numbers of people. l This allowed the congress to be dominated by rural areas. l Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 - Page 271 What is meant by “one person, one vote”?

Why would they shape districts like This?

"In gerrymandered election districts, the voters don't choose their politicians - the politicians choose their voters!" The State Legislature redraws Congressional Districts in order to gain an advantage for a certain political party in the elections

Gerrymandering l l l 1. 2. District lines are drawn by state legislatures Gerrymandering- redrawing of district lines to gain political advantage. Lines are drawn to either Concentrate the oppositions voters in one or a few districts. To spread the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts.

ISD 196

CRACKING PACKING

Gerrymandering l Go to pg 274 and answer questions 1 -3 on the bottom right hand corner l Once finished partner with 2 -3 people and discuss your answers.

House of Representatives qualifications l Must be at least 25 years of age l Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years l Must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected. l Traditionally lives within the district.

The Senate 2 from each state l 6 year terms l Terms are staggered (only 1/3 of them expire every 2 years) l Senators represent entire states so they tend to represent larger, more diverse populations l

Differences between House and Senate l “It is indispensable that besides the House of Representatives which runs on popular sentiment, we should have a body like the Senate which may refuse to run with it all when it seems to be wrong. A body which has time and security enough to keep its head, if only now and then and but for a little while, till other people have had time to think” Woodrow Wilson

Why would Woodrow Wilson say that the House of Representatives runs on popular sentiment? l Why might he claim that the Senate can choose to not “run with it” if they so choose” l

Qualifications for Senators l Must be 30 yrs of age l Must have been a citizen for 9 yrs l Must be an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected

Cross Section of Congress 2006 l House- 367 men 68 women l Senate- 86 men 14 women Page- 280

Personal and Political Background l Nearly all are married. A few are divorced. l 1/3 of house and ½ the senate are lawyers l House members vary more in political philosophy and background, where as members of the Senate are usually more moderate l Why might this be the case?

Personal and Political Backgrounds l 535 members of congress are not an accurate cross section of the American People. l Why not?

Roles of a Congress Person l Law Maker l Representative of their constituents l Committee members-proposed laws are referred to committees in each chamber l Servants of their constituents l politicians

On what basis do representatives cast their votes? l Trustee- trusts their own conscience/judgment l Delegate- votes as the “folks back home” would like. l Partisan- votes according to party l Politico- combines basic elements of all three

The Scope of Congressional Power l Types of Congressional power Expressed Powers- explicitly written in the constitution. l Implied Powers- reasonable deduction from the expressed powers. l Non-legislative powers- powers that do not deal with creating legislation. l

Strict vs. Liberal Construction l Strict Constructionists- believed congress had expressed powers and implied powers absolutely necessary to carry out those expressed powers. l They wanted the states to keep as much power as possible. l l Believed states were best able to meet their own interests, not a far off national govt. Understood the need for national defense and interstate trade.

Liberal Constructionists l Favored a broad interpretation of the Constitution. l They believed we “need an energetic government”. l Which group won this argument? l Which interpretation of the constitution do you favor?

Vocabulary l Constituency Strict Constructionist l Incumbent Liberal Constructionist l Reapportionment Expressed powers l Gerrymandering Implied Powers l Trustee l Partisans l Politicos l Delegates