CONGRESS

The Bicameral Congress0British Parliament – has consisted of two houses

since 1300s

0Most colonies and early states had bicameral legislatures

0Constitutional Convention (1787)0Consideration given to Virginia and New Jersey plans0 the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)0Senate – equal representation (2 per state)0House of Representatives – representation based on

population

Terms of Congress0Each term lasts two years

0 First term March 4, 1789 – March 4, 17910Why did this date (March 4) change???

0 Congress now begins a new term at noon on January 3rd of every odd-numbered year.0Congress began a new term this year on January 3rd

0Sessions of Congress0 Time when Congress assembles to do conduct business0 Two sessions for each term – one per year

0Prior to World War II – Congress was in session 4-5 months/year0Congress currently remains in session most of the year

20th Amendment

Terms of Congress cont’d

0When Congress adjourns0Suspension of business

until the next session0Requires approval of both

houses when exceeding 3 days

0President has the power to prorogue (end a session)0Only when Congress

cannot agree upon a date0Never been done

0Special sessions0Called by President only0For emergency situations0Only 27 have been called

0Most notable in 1861 and 1933

0President can also call House or Senate into special session individually0 Senate has been called upon 46

times0Consider treaties or

appointments

Why are there fewer special sessions these days?

The House of Representatives0 Consists of 435 members

0 Number not fixed by the Constitution

0 Set by Congress0 Each state has at least 1

0 Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming

0 House members serve terms of two years0 No limit on number of terms

0 Qualifications:0 25 years old0 US citizen for at least 7 years0 Resident of state in which elected

0 Georgia’s Representatives to the 113th Congress0 Jack Kingston (R)0 Sanford Bishop Jr. (D)0 Lynn Westmoreland(R)0 Henry Johnson (D)0 John Lewis (D)0 Tom Price (R)0 Robert Woodall (R)0 Austin Scott (R)0 Doug Collins (R)0 Paul Broun (R)0 Phil Gingrey (R)0 John Barrow (D)0 David Scott (D)0 Tom Graves (R)

Tom Price (R)

Phil Gingrey (R)

Reapportionment – redistribution of the seats in the House

0Began with 65 seats0First national census taken in 1790 (4 mil)

0 Increased # to 106 seats0Census of 1910 resulted in 435 seats

0Reapportionment Act of 19290 Permanent size of the House is 435 members

0Each seat represents approximately 650,000 people0Who could change this?

0 Census Bureau determines number of seats each State should have – after each census

0 President sends Census Bureau’s plan to Congress for approval0 If neither house rejects after 60 days, it becomes effective

http://www.census.gov/cbdmap/http://www.census.gov/2010census/pdf/2010_Questionnaire_Info.pdf

The Senate“shall be composed of two members from each state”

0Started with 26 members0Currently 100 members

representing 50 states

0Serve 6-year terms0 No limit to number of terms

0Terms are staggered0 1/3 are up for election every

two years0 Makes the Senate a

continuous body0Less subject to public opinion

& special interests

0Qualifications:0 30 years old0 Citizen of US for at least

9 years0 Resident of state in

which elected

0Georgia’s Senators:0 Saxby Chambliss (R)0 Johnny Isakson (R)

Senate Facts

0Longest serving Senator0 Robert Byrd (D-WV)

051 years, 5 months

0Salary:0 1815 - $1,5000 2013 - $174,0000 Leadership gets $193,400

0Participated in the Olympics:0 Wendell Anderson – Hockey0 Bill Bradley – Basketball0 Ben Campbell - Judo

0Gone on to serve as President:0 James Monroe0 John Q. Adams0 Andrew Jackson0 Martin Van Buren0 William Henry Harrison0 John Tyler0 Franklin Pierce0 James Buchanan0 Andrew Johnson0 Benjamin Harrison0 Warren G. Harding0 Harry Truman0 John Kennedy0 Lyndon Johnson0 Richard Nixon0 Barack Obama

Congressional ElectionsSince 1872 elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

0At-large0Elected by state as a whole0Party with plurality of

voters had advantage

0Single-member district0Voters in each district

choose from a field of candidates

SENATE0Chosen by the voters in each

state since…

01/3 of senators are up for election every two years0 3 classes of senators

0Only one senator from a state is elected in any given electionWhich states still vote “at-large”?

17th Amendment(1913)

Differences BetweenHouse and Senate

House of Representatives0 Larger body (435 members)

0 Shorter term (2 years)

0 Smaller constituencies (elected by districts)

0 Younger membership

0 Less media visibility

0 No power over treaties or presidential appointments

Senate0 Smaller body (100 members)

0 Longer term (6 years)

0 Larger constituencies (elected by state)

0 Older membership

0 High media visibility

0 Approves/Rejects treaties and presidential appointments

Congressional Profile(as of 2011)

0Age0 Senate – 62 years old (Youngest

39; Oldest 87)0 House – 56 years old (Youngest

29; Oldest 89)

0Religion0 57% Protestant0 29% Catholic0 7% Jewish

0Occupations0 Law0 Business0 Public Service/Politics

0Gender0 83% male0 17% female

0Education0 Bachelor’s Degree

092% of House099% of Senate

0 Master’s Degree019% of House016% of Senate

0 Ph.D02% of House00% of Senate

Congressional LeadershipSenate0President of the Senate0 "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of

the Senate but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."

0President Pro Tempore – “for the time being”0Serves in VP’s absence0Early years – served on temporary basis

0Chosen based on personal characteristics, popularity, & reliability

0Since mid-20th century0Senior member of the majority party

0Cannot vote to break a tie

Joseph Biden

Patrick Leahy

Congressional Leadershipcont’d

0Senate Majority Leader0 Harry Reid (D)

0Majority Whip0 Richard Durbin (D)

0Senate Minority Leader0 Mitch McConnell (R)

0 Minority Whip0 John Cornyn (R)

0Floor leaders are elected by members of their own party0 One serves as majority

leader; one as minority leader

0 Serve as spokesmen for parties’ positions

0Whips are also elected by both parties0 Responsible for counting

heads and gathering party members for votes or quorum calls

Congressional Leadership cont’d

House of Representatives

0Speaker of the House (Leader of the majority party)

0Elected by whole House0Presiding officer and administrative head

0Majority Leader0Represents Republicans on House floor0Elected every 2 years0Plans legislative agenda

0Majority Whip0Assists leadership in managing legislation0Keeps track of legislation0Ensures presence of party members for votes

John Boehner (R)

Eric Cantor (R)

Kevin McCarthy (R)

Congressional Leadershipcont’d

0Democratic Leader0Nancy Pelosi (D)0Represents Democrats on the House floor0Counterpart of majority leader0Works to protect rights of minority party

0Democratic Whip0Steny Hoyer (D)0Assists leadership in managing party’s legislative

policy0Tracks legislation0Ensures presence of party members for votes