Congress The Backbone of Democracy
What is Congress? Senate, House 535 Members Committees 20 in the House, 17 in the Senate This body makes the laws of the land what falls into this category? Salary: $174,00 In Session New Session begins January 3 rd every year
What do they do every day?
House of Representatives There are currently 435 seats in the House. Seats are distributed based on the population of each state, with each state guaranteed at least one representative. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and reside in the state that they represent.
House of Representatives For many years the number of seats in the House increased as the country grew in population and new states were added. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 fixed the size of the House at 435 members. Congress can change this number if it wishes.
House of Representatives Every 10 years the Census Bureau counts the national population. The Census figures are then used to decide how many representatives each state will have until the next Census is taken. Currently, each seat in the House represents about 700,000 people.
What is gerrymandering and what are its purpose and result? Gerrymandering involves drawing the borders of districts to favor one political party. Tactics include clustering the opposing party s voters in a few districts or spreading them out thinly over many districts. Due to gerrymandering, only a few congressional districts in any election are actually at risk to switch their support from one party to the other.
Informal Qualifications What informal qualifications affect a candidate s electability? They include factors such as gender, ethnicity, political experience, name recognition, and party affiliation. Being an incumbent is a big advantage more than 90 percent of those seeking reelection to the House win. Being able to raise money is also a key. In 2008 the average cost of running a winning campaign for a seat in the House was over $1 million.
Paths to Congress Heath Shuler (D., NC) had no political experience before his election to the House in 2006. Shuler had been an NFL quarterback and owned a real estate business. He was approached by both parties to run for office.
Paths to Congress, cont. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R., FL) was the first Cuban American and Hispanic woman elected to the House in 1989. She holds a doctorate in education and founded a private elementary school. She was elected to the Florida State legislature in 1982.
Leadership in the House House Speaker - Most powerful member of the House, comes from the Majority Party Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip
U.S. Senate Nuts and Bolts How does the Senate differ from the House? The Senate has only 100 members, two from each state. Members are elected to six-year terms. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and reside in the state they represent. Senators are often seen as less subject to public pressure and more concerned about national issues than members of the House. Senators tend to represent a much larger and broader range of citizens than representatives. Each Senator represents his or her entire state, while only seven representatives are elected at large from their entire state as opposed to a congressional district.
U.S. Senate Nuts and Bolts Senators were originally elected by state legislatures rather than by popular vote. In the late 1880s, the Senate was called the Millionaires Club because legislatures often elected wealthy political party and business leaders. In 1913, the 17th amendment changed the way Senators were elected. Senators are now elected by popular vote in statewide elections. Only one senator is elected from a state during any given election.
U.S. Senate Nuts and Bolts To be electable, senators must also meet informal qualifications. These can include party affiliation, gender, ethnicity, name recognition, and being an incumbent. Fundraising is also vital for successful senate campaigns.
Roll of Congress Members of each house have five major roles. They act as: Legislators Representatives of their constituents Committee members Servants of their constituents Politicians
Congress is made up mostly of upper-middle-class Americans. Most of the 535 members of Congress are married white men aged 50 or older who have college degrees and identify themselves as Christians. Congress has 88 women, 42 African Americans, 24 Hispanics, eight Asian Americans, one Native American, and one Native Hawaiian. The typical senator is serving a second term, while the average representative has served four terms. John Dingell
How do members of Congress Vote? Delegates Believe they should vote however their constituents want them to, even if it means going against the delegate s personal views or those of his or her party. Trustees Guided by their personal views on each specific issue, even if it may mean voting differently than their constituents might want Partisans Place their loyalty to their political party first when deciding how to vote. They support the party platform and party leaders. Politicos Try to balance the other three approaches personal views, party loyalty, and the wishes of constituents when deciding how to vote.
Complexity of Representation Christopher Murphy 5 th Connecticut District Democrat in a highly democratic state What is the platform on gun laws for the two majority parties? Does this rep. have any chance to spearhead legislation to address this issue? (gun control, mental health, etc.) Oh, by the way, he just got elected to the U.S. Senate.
Committees in Congress Members of Congress do much of their work in committees. Committee members must decide which bills will die in committee and which ones will move ahead to be voted on. Committee members also provide oversight of executive branch agencies, making sure that they carry out the public policies set by law. Congress.gov
Powers of Congress The President is the main authority in foreign affairs. Congress does have some key powers involving foreign policy. Congress passes laws that deal with issues of national security, such as immigration and antiterrorism. Congress can regulate foreign commerce, control federal spending (which can include foreign aid), and has the power to declare war.
Security against foreign danger: Regulation of the intercourse with foreign nations: Clause 1: levy taxes, duties, and excises Clause 1: regulate foreign commerce Clause 2: borrow money Clause 10: define and punish crimes committed on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations Clause 11: declare war Clause 12, 13, 14: raise regulate, and provide for armies and navies Clause 15 and 16: organize, arm, discipline, and call forth the militia to execute federal laws, suppress uprisings, and repel invasions
Maintenance of harmony and proper intercourse with the States: Clause 3: regulate commerce among the several States and the Indian tribes Clause 4: establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform laws of bankruptcy Clause 5: coin money, regulate the value of domestic and foreign coin, fix the standard of weights and measures Clause 6: provide for the punishment of counterfeiting Clause 7: establish post offices and and post roads
Miscellaneous objects of general utility: Provisions for giving due efficacy to all these powers: Clause 8: establish patent and copyright laws Clause 18: The Necessary and Proper Clause Clause 17: legislate for the seat of the federal capital and other federal territories
Congress can acquire and manage federal lands and property. These powers apply to the District of Columbia, to federal territories, and to the many federal holdings such as military installations, prisons, and parks. Congress can gain new property by treaty, purchase, conquest, admitting new states, discovering unclaimed land, or by exercising eminent domain. The federal government can seize private property as long as the property is put to public use and the original owners are given fair notice and are fairly compensated for the loss of their property.
Necessary and Proper Clause: the final clause of Article I, Section 8 in the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its expressed powers; also called the Elastic Clause strict constructionist: someone who argues that Congress can use only those implied powers absolutely necessary to carry out its expressed powers liberal constructionist: someone who argues that the Constitution gives Congress very broad implied powers
Major crises have placed more responsibility on the national government. Citizens have demanded more services from the government. Congress established the United States Border Patrol to guard the nation s borders.