Download - 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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2011
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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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2011
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Congressional Basics #1
“Term”• Term of a member of the Senate (6 years)
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2011
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Congressional Basics #1
“Term”• Term of a President (4 years)
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2011
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ObamaBushBush
Congressional Basics #1
“Term”
2012
2011
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ObamaBushBush
Election
Congressional Basics #1
“Term”
2012
2011
2010
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2001
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ObamaBushBush
“Off-year” Election
Congressional Basics #1
“Term”
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
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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
