Introduction to Congress Legal Basis of Congress Found in
Article I of Constitution A Bicameral Congress Definition: a
legislative body made up of two houses Reasons: 1. Historical:
British Parliament consisted of two houses 2. Practical: Settled
conflict over NJ and VA Plans 3. Theoretical: Created additional
checks and balances
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Art. I, Sect. 2 House of Representatives Total Number: 435 Term
Length: 2 years Qualifications: 25 years old American citizen for 7
years Resident of that state Apportionment: number of Reps based on
population Salary: $174,000, $223,500 (Speaker) Speaker of House
presides Has sole power to Impeach accuse or bring accusations
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Art. I, Sect. 3 The Senate Total Number: 100 Term Length: 6
years Qualifications: 30 years old American citizen for 9 years
Resident of that state Apportionment: 2 senators per state Salary:
$174,000, $193,400 (party leaders) Vice President presides over
Senate, can cast only a deciding vote to break tie President pro
tempore presides when VP is absent Has sole power to try
Impeachments
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A TERM of Congress Definition: a time in which all the members
of Congress are the same (no elections during this time) Each lasts
for two years and is consecutively numbered A new term begins on
Jan. 3 rd of an odd year We are currently in the 112 th Term which
began Jan. 3, 2011 and will end on Jan. 3, 2013
http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/termsofcongress.html
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A SESSION of Congress Definition: a period of time in which
Congress assembles and does work Other info: Two sessions for each
term of Congress (1 year each) Congress adjourns or suspends each
session as they see fit Currently, they work for most of the year
but will recess for several short periods Special Sessions A
meeting to deal with an emergency situation There have been only 26
called in history Most recent: Harry Truman, in 1948, to consider
anti-inflation and welfare measures post-WWII
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Key Terms House of Reps Apportioned: seats are distributed in
the House based on a states population Higher population More
districts As of 2008: about 700,000 people per district
Reapportioned: seats are redistributed following a census every 10
years Off-year Elections: elections held between Presidential
elections (mid-term)
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Gerrymandering Definition: redrawing districts to benefit one
political party over the other, usually done by the party in
power
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Key Terms Senate Continuous Body: Senate terms are staggered,
meaning only a third (33 or 34) of the senators are up for
re-election every 2 years Constituency: the people (constituents)
and the interests the elected official represents Since Senators
represent a larger constituency, they are regarded as national
political leaders Representative = one district Senator = entire
state
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The Members of Congress Average Member: white male in early 50s
More women than ever Variety of minorities represented Most members
are married with children Have some type of religious affiliations
Most members have considerable political experience Do you think
this changes the way Congress functions? Racial Composition of the
112th Congress (including Delegates in the House) U.S. HouseU.S.
Senate White36196 Black440 Hispanic252 Asian72 American Indian
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House of RepsSenate
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The Members of Congress Jobs: Legislators: write laws/bills,
vote Representatives of Constituents Trustee A lawmaker who votes
based on their own conscience and judgment, not the views of their
constituents Delegate Lawmaker who votes based on how their
constituents tell them to vote Partisan Lawmaker who owes their
allegiance to their political party and votes according to party
lines Politico Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements
of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
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How Congress Organizes
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Opening Day 1) Each new Term begins on January 3rd of an odd
year. 2) The House chooses the Speaker, members are sworn in, and
they adopt new rules and appoint members to committees. 3) The
Senate (a continuous body) swears in new and re- elected members,
vacancies in Senate organizations and committees are filled.
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4) When both are organized, they let the President know they
are ready and wait for him/her to deliver the State of the Union
Message He shall from time to time give to the Congress information
on the State of the Union -Article II, Section 3
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II. Presiding Officers House Speaker of the House Majority
Floor Leader Majority Whip Minority Floor Leader Minority Whip
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Current Leadership in the 112 th Congress House of
Representatives Speaker of the House John A. Boehner (R-OH)
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy
(R-CA) Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Minority Whip Steny
Hoyer (D-MD)
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II. Presiding Officers Senate President of the Senate Majority
Floor Leader Majority Whip Minority Floor Leader Minority Whip
President pro-tempore
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Current Leadership in the 112 th Congress Senate President Pro
Tempore Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) House Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell (R-KY) Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ)