Back to Chapter 1 for a Back to Chapter 1 for a sec…sec…

What kind of democracy do What kind of democracy do we live in?we live in?

So the people rule, but they So the people rule, but they don’t make public policydon’t make public policy

Who does make it?Who does make it?

Bicameral CongressBicameral Congress Our Congress is bicameral, Our Congress is bicameral,

meaning it has two housesmeaning it has two houses The larger house, which is The larger house, which is

supposedly the “common man’s supposedly the “common man’s house,” is the House of house,” is the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

The smaller house, which is for The smaller house, which is for “the elite” of America is the “the elite” of America is the SenateSenate

Members of the House of Members of the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

Official title is Official title is “Representative So and So”“Representative So and So”

Also called “congressman”Also called “congressman” There are 435 congressmenThere are 435 congressmen Congressmen are elected to a Congressmen are elected to a

term of 2 yearsterm of 2 years

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

Members of the SenateMembers of the Senate

Official title is “Senator So Official title is “Senator So and So”and So”

There are 100 Senators (2 There are 100 Senators (2 from each state)from each state)

Senators are elected to a Senators are elected to a term of 6 yearsterm of 6 years

The SenateThe Senate

The SenateThe Senate

Basic InformationBasic Information

Since you get new congressmen Since you get new congressmen every 2 years, we call each 2 every 2 years, we call each 2 year period a “term” of Congressyear period a “term” of Congress

The terms are numbered The terms are numbered consecutively… the one that consecutively… the one that ends Dec. 2008 was the 110ends Dec. 2008 was the 110thth CongressCongress

The one that was just elected is The one that was just elected is called the 111called the 111thth Congress Congress

Basic InformationBasic Information A session of Congress is all A session of Congress is all

the time it takes to finish the time it takes to finish their business for the yeartheir business for the year

So how many sessions are So how many sessions are there in a term of Congress?there in a term of Congress?

Seats in the HouseSeats in the House Seats are apportioned (given Seats are apportioned (given

out) to each state based on out) to each state based on populationpopulation

Every 10 years seats are Every 10 years seats are reapportioned after the census, reapportioned after the census, when a new count of the when a new count of the population is takenpopulation is taken

Ever since 1929, the number has Ever since 1929, the number has been 435 (Reapportionment Act)been 435 (Reapportionment Act)

Seats in the HouseSeats in the House Every state divides itself into Every state divides itself into

districts based on the number districts based on the number of seats apportioned to the of seats apportioned to the statestate

For example, Arizona is given For example, Arizona is given 8 seats based on our 8 seats based on our populationpopulation

What Does it Take to be in the What Does it Take to be in the House?House?

25 years old25 years old U.S. citizen for U.S. citizen for

at least 7 at least 7 yearsyears

Must live in Must live in the state you the state you are elected inare elected in

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ 6th)

Seats in the SenateSeats in the Senate

The Constitution establishes The Constitution establishes that there are 2 seats per that there are 2 seats per state in the Senatestate in the Senate

50 States = 100 Senators50 States = 100 Senators

What Does it Take to be in the What Does it Take to be in the Senate?Senate?

30 Years Old30 Years Old U.S. Citizen U.S. Citizen

for 9 Yearsfor 9 Years Must live in Must live in

the state you the state you are elected inare elected in

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Off-Year ElectionsOff-Year Elections In the election In the election

years where years where there is no there is no presidential presidential election (2006, election (2006, 2010), the 2010), the president’s party president’s party usually loses usually loses seats in Congressseats in Congress In 2006 Republicans lost

27 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate

Comparing the House and the Comparing the House and the SenateSenate

Originally, congressmen were elected Originally, congressmen were elected by the public, and Senators were by the public, and Senators were elected by the state legislatureselected by the state legislaturesFounding Fathers did not trust the Founding Fathers did not trust the public with all powerpublic with all power

1717thth Amendment has since changed Amendment has since changed Senate elections to a public voteSenate elections to a public vote

Comparing the House and the Comparing the House and the SenateSenate

Senators have a much longer termSenators have a much longer term Entire House is elected at once, Entire House is elected at once,

while only 1/3 of Senate is chosen at while only 1/3 of Senate is chosen at a timea time

House members appeal to one small House members appeal to one small district, Senators appeal to entire district, Senators appeal to entire statestate

Founding Fathers’ IntentFounding Fathers’ Intent The Founding Fathers wanted to The Founding Fathers wanted to

have one house that would have one house that would quickly respond to the desires of quickly respond to the desires of the public (House of Reps)the public (House of Reps)

And one house that would be And one house that would be moderate, and stop any crazy moderate, and stop any crazy nonsense the House would try nonsense the House would try (Senate)(Senate)

Demographics of CongressDemographics of Congress

Congress is Congress is notnot at all at all demographically demographically representative of the U.S. representative of the U.S. populationpopulationFor example…For example…

Demographics of 111Demographics of 111thth CongressCongress

U.S.U.S.Males – 49%Males – 49%Females – Females – 51% 51%

CongressCongressMales – 83%Males – 83%Females – Females – 17%17%

Demographics of 111Demographics of 111thth CongressCongress

U.S.U.S. White – 75%White – 75% Black – 12%Black – 12% Hispanic – 13%Hispanic – 13% Asian – 4%Asian – 4% Native – 1%Native – 1%*Many people *Many people

qualify as more qualify as more than 1 race than 1 race

CongressCongress White – 85%White – 85% Black – 8%Black – 8% Hispanic – 6%Hispanic – 6% Asian – 1%Asian – 1% Native – 0%Native – 0%

Demographics of 111Demographics of 111thth CongressCongress

U.S.U.S.Millionaires – Millionaires – 0.7%0.7%

Non-Non-Millionaires – Millionaires – 99.3% 99.3%

CongressCongressMillionaires – Millionaires – 33%33%

Non-Non-Millionaires – Millionaires – 67%67%