Chapter 5:The Organization of Congress. Bicameral Legislature Senate House of Representatives

U.S. GOVERNMENTChapter 5:The Organization of

Congress

SECTION 1: CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Bicameral Legislature

SenateHouse of Representatives

SECTION 1: CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Congressional Sessions

Sessions last two years and starts in January

SECTION 1: CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Membership of the House

435 members Apportioned among the states based on

population Each state must have at least one

Qualifications Must be 25 Must be a citizen for 7 years

Term of Office Elected every two years in even numbered years Over 90% are reelected every year


Representation and Reapportionment Census Bureau Census – every ten years Reapportionment Limited in 1929 to 435


Congressional Redistricting State Legislatures are in charge of redistricting There have been a lot of problems over the

years, with both parties abusing this system to political advantage

Redistricting Cases Baker v. Carr, 1962 Reynolds v. Sims, 1964 Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964 North Carolina


Gerrymandering Named after Elbridge Gerry Packing Cracking One person-one vote Compact and Contiguous

SECTION 1:CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Senate

Each state has 2 Senators at-large 100 total

Qualifications Must be 30 Must have been a citizen for 9 years

Term of Office Elected every six years Elected in November of even year and begin in

January 1/3 of Senate elected every two years

SECTION 1:CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Senate

Salary and Benefits Cannot give themselves raises during a term- 27th

amendment Cost of living adjustments okay Current Salary: $174,000 Franking privileges Office Budgets (House- ~$1.5 mil, Senate - ~$3 mil.)

Privileges of Members Freedom from arrest Cannot be sued for speech in Congress

Hutchinson v. Proxmire, 1979 Members can vote not to seat an elected member Censure

SECTION 1:CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Members of Congress

535 voting members 4 non-voting delegates

Characteristics House:

128 lawyers108 business people80.6% Male

Senate45 lawyers22 business people 80% Male

SECTION 1:CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Members of Congress

Reelection to Congress Incumbents reelected 90% of the time. 14% approval rating for Congress, but 62% of

own representative The internet has changed elections, making

members much more accountable to the public

SECTION 2: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Rules for Lawmaking

Complex Rules Focus on defining actions of individual members Focus on passing legislation quickly once on floor

Committee Work Committees are the “work-horse” of Congress Members become specialists in areas important

to their constituents. Importance of Party Affiliation

The majority party has significant power It writes the rules, organizes committees,

controls flow of legislations, etc.

SECTION 2: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES House Leadership

Six Purposes Organize and unify the party Scheduled work of the House Make certain lawmakers are present for key

votes Distribute and collect information Keep the House in touch with the president Influence lawmakers to support the policies of

the party


Speaker of the House Chosen by caucus of the majority party every two

years, at the beginning of a session The whole house votes on new speaker, but, if

majority party votes together, the caucus’s nominee wins.

The Speaker:Controls flow of legislation on floorRecognizes members to speakAppoints Committee Chairs Is second in the line of succession to PresidencyMeets daily with members to build unity through

“sticks and carrots”


Speaker of the HouseThe Current Speaker is Paul RyanPaul Ryan has been Wisconsin’s 1st District’s

Representative since first elected in 1998.He is the youngest speaker since 1875.


House Floor Leaders Majority leader is the Speaker’s top assistant

The Majority leader: Plan the party’s legislative agenda Steers bills through the House Make sure Chairpersons are getting important

legislation through committee Is the floor leader of his or her party Is a party official, not a constitutional officer

Whips are the Majority Leader’s assistantsWhips:

Monitor how members plan to vote Ensure members are present for votes

SECTION 2: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES House Leadership The Majority Leader

The current majority leader is Kevin McCarthy

McCarthy has been a California representative since being elected in 2006.

SECTION 2: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES House Leadership The Majority Whip

The current Majority Whip is Steve ScaliseHe has represented Louisiana's 1st District

since 2008

SECTION 2: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Lawmaking in the House

It can seem chaotic, because people are everywhere and doing everything until the buzzers ring, calling members to the floor.

Floor sessions start around noon on M-F Most work is actually accomplished on Tuesday-

Thursday


How House Bills are Scheduled All laws start as bills To start the process, a member drops the bill into

the hopper The Speaker then sends the bill to the

appropriate Committee Only 10-20% make it through committee If it makes it through committee, it is put on a

calendar for full consideration by the House The House has five calendars for different

purposes


House Rules Committee Oldest and Most Powerful Committee It places bills on calendars and determines when

and how they will be heard This allows them to effectively kill bills Considered the “Traffic Officer” of the House


House Rules Committee Function and Purpose of the Rules Committee:

Every bill coming out of it has a rule applied to it

These determine which calendar it is on and in which position

Sets time limits for debates on each bill Allows, disallows, or limits floor amendments

to a billSettles Disputes between committeesDelays of blocks bills Leadership or certain

members do not want on the floor.


A Quorum for Business Quorum is the necessary number of people who

need to present for legislative action to be taken House Quorum is 218 Quorum for the Committee of the Whole is 100,

but bills must still be passed by the whole House after passing the Committee of the Whole

Documents

Chapter 5:The Organization of Congress. Bicameral Legislature Senate House of Representatives