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Respond to the following quote: “Though the President is Commander in Chief, Congress is his commander… this is not a Government of kings…,but a Government of the People, and … Congress is the people”. The Legislative Branch. Chapter 10 Unit 3.
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Respond to the following quote: “Though the President is Commander in Chief, Congress is his commander… this is not a Government of kings…,but a Government of the People, and … Congress is the people”
The Legislative Branch Chapter 10 Unit 3
http://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/house_of_reps.htmlhttp://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/house_of_reps.html
Legislative Branch • Congress is Bicameral • Two Separate Houses • Senate and House of Representatives • Law-making branch of government • Created by Article I of the Constitution • Currently in 110th Congress • January 4, 2007- January 3, 2009 • Sessions of Congress • Period in which Congress conducts businesses
Legislative Branch • Older, better educated, more white, more male, and richer than the rest of the United States. In the 110th Congress • Average age of both House Members is 57 • 42 African-Americans in the House • There are 30 Hispanics • Seven Members of the House and Senate are of Asian or Native Hawaiian ancestry • There is one Native American in the House • Total number of women is 90 • There are 16 in the Senate and 74 in the House,
House of Representatives Qualifications- written in constitution • 25 Years of Age • Must live in State • 7 Year US Citizen Unwritten Qualification • Must live within district
House of Representatives Size • Current size of House of Representatives is 435 members • Each state is guaranteed at least 1 Representative • Only 1 Representative • Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming • Washington D.C., Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico
House of Representatives Terms • Representatives are elected every 2 years • No constitutional limit on the number of terms
House of Representatives Elections • Every 2 years • Single Member Districts • Off year elections • Party in power usually loses seats • Incumbents carry huge advantage • 75-85% Re-Election Rate • Why??
House of Representatives Elections • Connections to interest groups, corporations, PACs • Pork-barrel politics • More campaign $ • Name Recognition • Franking Privileges
House of Representatives Reapportionment • Redistribute seats every 10 years based on population • Reappointment Act of 1929 • Permanent Size = 435 • Following each census, Census Bureau sets number of seats for each state • President sends Bureau’s plan to Congress • Congress approves and send to state legislatures to draw new lines if necessary
As of the 2000 census: • Average population per district: 646,946 people • State with the most districts: California (53) • District with the greatest area: Alaska At-large • District with the smallest area: New York's 15th • District with the most people: Montana At-large (905,316) • District with the fewest people: Wyoming At-large (495,304) • Oldest district: Delaware At-large (Same geographical borders since 1789) • http://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/representative_numbers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois%27_10th_congressional_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois%27_10th_congressional_district
House of Representatives Districts Redistricting • Contiguous Territory • Equal number of inhabitants • Compact Territory • Techniques can concentrate opposition votes into one district or divide and conquer • Has significant impact on membership
Gerrymandering District lines redrawn in favor of a political party or racial group Elbridge Gerry MA House of Representatives
The Senate Chapter 10 Section 3
http://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/the_senate.htmlhttp://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/the_senate.html
Senate Size • Constitution Sets number at 2 per state (100 Senators) • Represent a larger, more diverse population (constituents) Illinois Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=IL
Senate Election: • 17th Amendment- voters decide senator, prior to this senators were chosen by state legislators • Only one Senator is elected per election Term: • 6 year term • No term limit • Terms are staggered • Continuous Body • All seats are never given up for election at the same time • Only 1/3 expire (33 or 34)
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/e_one_section_no_teasers/org_chart.htmhttp://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/e_one_section_no_teasers/org_chart.htm
Senate Qualifications: • Higher requirements then House • At least 30 years of age • Must have been citizen of US for 9 years • Must be inhabitant of the State from which they are elected
Leadership • http://congress.indiana.edu/scripts/facts_of_congress/congressional_leaders.html
http://congress.indiana.edu/learn_about/launcher.htm Does Congress affect your life?? • http://congress.indiana.edu/learn_about/launcher.htm