The House of Representatives vs.

The Senate

The Legislative Branch: the 2 Houses (or

Chambers) of Congress

House of Representatives

435 members totalEach state sends a number

of representatives based on their population For Example: California’s

population is around 37 million (37,000,000) people

CA has 53 representatives in the house

Rhode Island’s population is around 1 million (1,000,000)

Rhode Island has 2 representatives in the House

100 members totalEach state sends 2

representativesCA sends 2Rhode Island sends

2

Senate

How Population DecidesSince 1913, the total

number of seats in the House is set at 435

Each Rep represents approximately 700,000 constituents

Drastic rises or drops in population totals can cause a state to gain or lose a seat in the House

A rise in population means that a state gets to add a new seat in the House Generally the seat comes

from a state whose population declined

Gerrymandering can occur

A fall in population means that a state loses a seat in the House Opposite of the previous

occurs when a seat is lost

Apportionment in the House

Reapportionment

114th Congressional Districts by Party

Population Voting Trend

California’s Congressional Districts

Do you see an example’s of gerrymandering?

Requirements for membership in the

House of Representatives

25 years of ageA citizen of the

United States for at least 7 years

A legal resident of the state you are representing

Term of Office = 2 years

30 years of AgeA citizen of the

United States for at least 9 years

A legal citizen of the State they represent

Term of Office = 6 years

Requirements for membership in the

Senate

A closer look into the House of

Representatives

The main task of the House is “to make laws”Most of the work of the House is done in

smaller Committees

House of Representatives

healthcare

immigration

Gun control

Taxes

Most powerful member of the House

Chosen from the majority party

Voted on by the entire House

Presides of House meetings

Is next in line for the Presidency if the V.P. is unable to step up.

The Speaker of the House

Current Speaker of the House, John Boehner

All laws start as billsA proposed law is called a bill

until both the House and the Senate have passed it and the President has signed it.

After a bill is introduced, the Speaker of the House sends it to the appropriate committee for study, discussion and review.

Only 10-20% of all bills make it to a full House vote.

Making Laws

Or… there’s another way…

What is the main task of the House of Representatives?A. To keep the peaceB. To make lawsC. To interpret the ConstitutionD. To enforce the laws

Where is most of the work of the House done?A. In meetingsB. In sessionC. In committeeD. In one-on-one meetings

House of Representatives: Check

A closer look at the Senate

The Vice President presides over the SenateIf he is unable to be

there then the Senate elects someone from the majority party to be the president pro tempore (or president pro tem) “for the time being”Basically he’s a

substituteHe can vote only if

there is a tie.

The President of the Senate

Vice President Joe Biden

There are less rules, fewer committees

2 Calendars (or agendas)The Calendar of General

OrdersA list of all the bills they

will considerThe Executive Calendar

Schedule for the discussion on treaties and nominations

The Senate law making process

The FilibusterEndless debate, no

voteCan be stopped by a

3/5th vote for “cloture”Cloture is a procedure

that allows each senator to speak only 1 hour on a bill under debate.

• The Senate brings bills to the floor by unanimous consent

- A motion by all members present to set aside formal rules and consider a bill from the

calendar

Who influences Congress most?Voters expect their

representatives to support their goals and aims while in office.

How do congressmen/women know what the voters want?What do you think?

Influencing Congress

Influencing Congress

How congressmen/women know what the voters want:

Visits to the district or stateThey make dozens of trips home every

yearMessages from home

Emails, letters, postcards, telephone calls, faxes, Etc.

Surveys and pollsQuestionnaires mailed to constituents,

polls on website, professional pollstersKey supporters

Those supporters who work on the campaigns, contribute money, etc.

Influencing Congress

Party Voting70% of the time

Congressmen/women will vote with their party (Democrat or Republican) on the big issues“Big issues” examples:

economy, farm issues, social-welfare, tax laws

The Influence of Parties

The influence of the PresidentThe president puts pressure on

Congress to pass laws that he and his party support

The influence of Interest GroupsLobbyists: the representatives

of special interest groups that want very specific laws passed to support their causes

Examples: business organizations, labor unions, doctors, lawyers, education groups, minority groups, environmental organizations, etc.

Other Influences on Congress