Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Chapter 10Chapter 10

Congress’ Effect on YOUCongress’ Effect on YOU What are some specific examples of Congress’ What are some specific examples of Congress’

effect on you? effect on you?

Sets the minimum wageSets the minimum wage All public high schools must allow student religious All public high schools must allow student religious

groups to meet in the school, on the same terms that groups to meet in the school, on the same terms that other student groups may do soother student groups may do so

Health Care LawHealth Care Law National Debt/SpendingNational Debt/Spending Education laws – NCLB (2002) – testsEducation laws – NCLB (2002) – tests Much, much moreMuch, much more

The National LegislatureThe National Legislature

A Bicameral congressA Bicameral congressHistoricalHistorical

Based on the British ParliamentBased on the British Parliament

PracticalPracticalSettle the conflict between the Virginia Plan and Settle the conflict between the Virginia Plan and

the New Jersey Planthe New Jersey Plan

TheoreticalTheoreticalAct as a check on each otherAct as a check on each other

A Conversation with Thomas A Conversation with Thomas Jefferson and George WashingtonJefferson and George Washington

A breakfast-table conversation between Thomas Jefferson and A breakfast-table conversation between Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Jefferson, told Washington that he was George Washington. Jefferson, told Washington that he was opposed two two-chambered legislature. As he made his point, he opposed two two-chambered legislature. As he made his point, he poured his coffee into his saucer, and Washington asked him why poured his coffee into his saucer, and Washington asked him why he did so. “To cool it,” replied Jefferson. Washington replied, “we he did so. “To cool it,” replied Jefferson. Washington replied, “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.”pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.”

Terms of CongressTerms of Congress

Term:Term:Each term of Congress lasts for two yearsEach term of Congress lasts for two years

Session:Session:Period of time during which, each year, Period of time during which, each year,

Congress assembles and conducts business. Congress assembles and conducts business. There are two sessions to each term of There are two sessions to each term of CongressCongress

Special Session: a meeting to deal with Special Session: a meeting to deal with some emergency situation. Only 26 times.some emergency situation. Only 26 times.

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ds/h1122.html - Congress’ schedule

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Size and Terms:Size and Terms:435 – Set by Congress (not by 435 – Set by Congress (not by

Constitution)Constitution)Apportioned (distributed) among the Apportioned (distributed) among the

States on the basis of their States on the basis of their populationspopulations..Each State is guaranteed at least one seat Each State is guaranteed at least one seat

in the Housein the House

ReapportionmentReapportionment

Article I of the Constitution directs Article I of the Constitution directs Congress to reapportion the seats in the Congress to reapportion the seats in the House after each census. House after each census.

The original House had 65 seats. The original House had 65 seats. Current number was set in 1912.Current number was set in 1912.

Today each of the 435 seats in the House Today each of the 435 seats in the House represents an average of 700,000 represents an average of 700,000 persons. (Kansas 715,000)persons. (Kansas 715,000)

Reapportionment exampleReapportionment example

2004 election

Kansas Redistricting 2000 & Kansas Redistricting 2000 & 20102010

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Congressional elections are held on the Congressional elections are held on the same day in every Statesame day in every State

Tuesday following the first Monday in Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.November of each even-numbered year.

Off Year Elections:Off Year Elections:Those congressional elections that occur in Those congressional elections that occur in

the non-presidential years.the non-presidential years.Party in power usually loses seatsParty in power usually loses seats

Midterm Election Lack of Midterm Election Lack of TurnoutTurnout

DistrictsDistricts

P. 268P. 2687 States now have only one seat in the 7 States now have only one seat in the

house of Representatives-AK, MT, VT, house of Representatives-AK, MT, VT, WY, DE, ND, & SDWY, DE, ND, & SD

Single member district – voters in each Single member district – voters in each district elect one of the States candidatesdistrict elect one of the States candidates

At-Large district elections – elected from At-Large district elections – elected from the state as a whole; no longer usedthe state as a whole; no longer used

Congressional ReapportionmentCongressional Reapportionment

RedistrictingRedistricting GerrymanderingGerrymandering

Drawing district lines Drawing district lines to advantage of one to advantage of one partyparty

History of the term gerrymander – pg. 271

“He who draws the lines determines the winners.”

Sample population distribution. Each symbol represents a voter in a generic state

A fair distributionMajority gerrymandering to ensure complete electoral dominance.

Gerrymandering designed to ensure over-representation for the smaller party.

Mississippi Congressional DistrictsMississippi Congressional Districts

Louisiana Congressional DistrictsLouisiana Congressional Districts

Illinois Congressional DistrictsIllinois Congressional Districts http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://

nationalatlas.gov/congdist/nationalatlas.gov/congdist/Il04_108.gif&imgrefurl=http://Il04_108.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.consensusplan.org/plugin/template/www.consensusplan.org/plugin/template/consensus/consensus/19/144&h=379&w=684&sz=33&tbnid=PSz9GjAhvQ19/144&h=379&w=684&sz=33&tbnid=PSz9GjAhvQoJ:&tbnh=75&tbnw=135&start=3&prev=/imagesoJ:&tbnh=75&tbnw=135&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIllinois%2BCongressional%2Bdistricts%3Fq%3DIllinois%2BCongressional%2Bdistricts%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8

Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)

P. 271P. 271 ““One person one vote”One person one vote” Demands States draw congressional Demands States draw congressional

districts of equal populationsdistricts of equal populations

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

$$$$$$$$$10.5 million average cost of winning a $10.5 million average cost of winning a

Senate Campaign (2012)Senate Campaign (2012)$1.7 million average campaign cost of winning $1.7 million average campaign cost of winning

a House seat (2012)a House seat (2012) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/cost-u-s-senate-seat-10-5-million-article-http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/cost-u-s-senate-seat-10-5-million-article-

1.1285491 1.1285491

The Power of the IncumbencyThe Power of the Incumbency

Qualifications for Membership - Qualifications for Membership - HouseHouse

FormalFormal Must be at least 25 years of ageMust be at least 25 years of age Must have been a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 Must have been a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7

yearsyears Must be an inhabitant of the state from which he or Must be an inhabitant of the state from which he or

she is electedshe is elected Informal p. 273 Informal p. 273

vary from district to district based on the vary from district to district based on the demographics of the district (party identification, demographics of the district (party identification, gender, ethnic characteristics, political experience – gender, ethnic characteristics, political experience – need the “right” combination of these factors)need the “right” combination of these factors)

SenateSenate

SizeSize100 members100 membersTwo Senators from each StateTwo Senators from each State

The Senate provides for “a necessary fence” The Senate provides for “a necessary fence” against the “fickleness and passion” of the Houseagainst the “fickleness and passion” of the House

James James Madison Madison

Election Election Originally chosen by the State LegislaturesOriginally chosen by the State Legislatures1717thth Amendment – 1912 Direct election of Amendment – 1912 Direct election of

SenatorsSenators

SenateSenate

Terms:Terms:Six year termsSix year termsContinuous body – all of its seats are never Continuous body – all of its seats are never

up for election at the same timeup for election at the same timeConstituencies – entire stateConstituencies – entire state

Qualifications:Qualifications:30 years old30 years oldCitizen for at least 9 yearsCitizen for at least 9 yearsResident in the State they representResident in the State they represent

SenatorsSenators

6 year term gives greater job security6 year term gives greater job securitySubject less to pressure of public opinionSubject less to pressure of public opinionNational political leadersNational political leaders

Members of CongressMembers of Congress

Personal and Political BackgroundsPersonal and Political BackgroundsWhatever else they may be, the 535 members Whatever else they may be, the 535 members

of congress are not a representative cross of congress are not a representative cross section of the American people.section of the American people.

Rather the ‘average’ member is a white male Rather the ‘average’ member is a white male in his mid-50’s, married, lawyers. in his mid-50’s, married, lawyers.

SEE PAGE 279 AND CHART ON 280SEE PAGE 279 AND CHART ON 280

The JobThe Job

Five Major Roles (p. 280)Five Major Roles (p. 280)Law makersLaw makersRepresentatives of their constituentsRepresentatives of their constituentsCommittee membersCommittee membersServants of their constituentsServants of their constituentsPoliticiansPoliticians

Representatives of the PeopleRepresentatives of the People

Four Types of RepresentationFour Types of RepresentationTrustee (“call em as they see em”)Trustee (“call em as they see em”)Delegate (vote how the folks back home want)Delegate (vote how the folks back home want) Partisan – (loyal to party)Partisan – (loyal to party)Politico (balance the above ideas)Politico (balance the above ideas)

Oversight FunctionOversight FunctionPolitical Watchdog – makes sure executive Political Watchdog – makes sure executive

branch is in line with lawbranch is in line with law

Pay, Perks, and PrivilegesPay, Perks, and Privileges Congressional Salaries Congressional Salaries

$174,000 (some paid more – Speaker of House & President $174,000 (some paid more – Speaker of House & President Pro Tempore) Pro Tempore) http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/03/93358/congress-where-44-percent-are.html http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/03/93358/congress-where-44-percent-are.html

Special benefitsSpecial benefits Tax deductionTax deduction Franking privilegesFranking privileges StaffsStaffs Congressional ImmunitiesCongressional Immunities

““cloak of legislative immunity”cloak of legislative immunity” Protection from libel or slanderProtection from libel or slander Still must face treason, felony, and breach of the peace chargesStill must face treason, felony, and breach of the peace charges

See page 283See page 283

Politics of PayPolitics of Pay

2727thth Amendment AmendmentProposed 1789Proposed 1789Ratified 1992Ratified 1992Pay increases do not go into effect until next Pay increases do not go into effect until next

congressional electioncongressional election

Membership PrivilegesMembership Privileges

Congressional Immunity (p. 284)Congressional Immunity (p. 284)Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1