Organization -Great Compromise of 1787 3 branches of government Bicameral legislature -House Lower house -Senate Upper house

The Senate is based on equal representation, with two Senators from every state (today) The House of Representatives is based on population

House of Representatives

-representation based on each states population

-3 requirements (for members) 25 years old

Live in state they represent

U.S. citizen for 7 years

House Terms

-2 year terms
Elected every two years -unlimited terms Can be elected as many times as possible

term limitations???
-Idea that legislators should only be allowed a maximum number of years in office in order to encourage more involvement in government -435 total members (fixed total) Total number of representatives divided between 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Why do you think that some people do not want Congressmen to be able to serve unlimited numbers of terms? What is a citizen legislator? According to this picture, why should we have citizen legislators rather than career politicians?

House Membership

-census determines the number from each state

-apportionment-- Term that refers to the number of representatives assigned to a state based upon its population Divide members by states -gerrymandering-- Drawing a districts boundaries in an odd shaped manner in order to benefit one political party over another
A gerrymander is an oddly-shaped district drawn to increase the voting power of one specific group of people. Why do people think this should be illegal? Who would it benefit? Who would it hurt?

Strengthens one groups voting power -each member represents one certain district closer to the people -represents constituents (citizens)

North Carolina Congressional districts following the Census of 2000. Which district do we live in? Who is our district Representative in the House of Representatives? How are those people closer to the people?

Constituents:
House vs. Senate

Senate
-based on every state being equal

-3 requirements
30 years old Live in state they represent U.S. citizen for 9 years

Senate Terms

-6 year terms
Staggered elections (1/3 elected every two years) every 2 years One Senator serves 6 years -unlimited terms Can be elected as many times as possible

South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond served 8 terms in the U.S. Senate for a total of 48 years, many of which he served as the ceremonial leader in the Senate. Why might people have disagreed with his ability to be in the Senate for so long?

term limitations???
-100 members

An incumbent is a person who is already in office when an election comes. During the election, the incumbent will run to keep the same position. What do you think this political cartoon is trying to say about term limitations?

Senate Membership -100 members

-2 from each state

-each represents the whole state Represent more people than in the House of Representatives

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr is a Republican and Kay Hagan is a Democrat. Who does each represent?
Kay Hagan was elected in 2008. When will she be up for re-election? Richard Burr was elected in 2006. When will he be up for re-election?

Congressional Benefits
-salary
Approx. $150,000 a year -budgets for their staff -office space at Capital -franking privileges-- Right of a Congressmen to send job-related mail without postage -limited immunity
Why do you think the franking privilege is a benefit to U.S. Congressmen?

Legal protection to speak freely while in Congress -Limitations

-expulsion-removed from Congress

-censure--Formal vote of disapproval of a legislators conduct

Congressional Sessions

-each Congress serves two years and is given a number

Entire Congress is elected every two years -Congress meets from Jan. to Nov/Dec 20th Amendment In session -can be called into special sessions by President Whenever he feels necessary
Every two years an entirely new Congress is sworn in during the month of January. The current Congress, the 109th Congress, began in a unique way. For the first time, a woman (Nancy Pelosi) became the leader of the House of Representatives, and she swore in the new members.