CONGRESSWhy bicameralism? Connecticut Compromise

Smaller states wanted equal representation, as had been the case under the Articles of Confederation (New Jersey Plan)

Larger states wanted representation based on population – more people, more reps. (Virginia Plan)

The Compromise was one of eachSenate = equal representation of states

Wyoming has 2 Senators, California has 2House = representation based on population

Wyoming has 1 Rep., California has 53

BICAMERALISM

The founders feared tyranny of government, but they also feared mob rule

The Senate was originally elected by state legislatures, to represent the states and not the people (popular election: 17th Am., 1913)

The House was popularly elected Both Houses have to pass the same bill in

order for it to become law

BICAMERALISM

The Senate was supposed to be more “deliberative” and the House more responsive to public opinion

Senate: Six-year terms Staggered terms mean that a popular uprising couldn’t

throw out the entire Senate at once, promotes stability House: Two-year terms Smaller number of Senators gives each one more

individual power and allows for unlimited debate (protection of minority rights)

The House is much more structured and runs according to majority rule

BICAMERALISM

Senate: Minimum age of 30, citizen for 9 years

House: Minimum age of 25, citizen for 7 years

The Founders anticipated that the Senate would be the “elder statesmen” exercising greater judgment, while the House would be more responsive to the popular will

Latin “senex” = “old man” This forms the root of both “Senate” and

“senile.” Draw your own conclusions.

HOW REPRESENTATIVE IS CONGRESS?

Demographically – not very Wealthier, older, better educated than the

population as a whole Whites are overrepresented and other racial

groups are underrepresented There are now 100 women in Congress for the

first time in history. This is a big deal.

HOW REPRESENTATIVE IS CONGRESS?

To what extent does Congress accurately reflect the will of the people?

If a small, heavily Republican state like Wyoming has the same number of Senators as a large, heavily Democratic state like California, does this distort the popular will?

What about the House?

REAPPORTIONMENT, REDISTRICTING AND GERRYMANDERING

The Constitutional reason for the Census is to determine each state’s number of representatives for the next ten years. This is reapportionment.

REAPPORTIONMENT, REDISTRICTING AND GERRYMANDERING

Once the state’s number of representatives is determined, the district lines must be drawn so that each district within the state contains the same number of people (this was not required until a series of Supreme Court decisions in the 1960’s.)

How you draw the lines determines who wins.

In most states, the legislature draws the lines. Some states use independent districting commissions.

SC 1970’s

SC 1980’s

SC 1990’s

SC 2000’s

THE TWO CONGRESSES

Legislation vs. representation Constituency service and personal

attentiveness Decision-making: Delegate, trustee, politico