Post on 18-Jan-2016
Congress
Congress
Big Picture:
Representative Democracy
Congress
Congress = the Legislative Branch
What does Congress do?
Congress
Congress
What does Congress do?
“Translate the public will into public policy in the form of law.”
Congress
What does Congress do?
Congress decides what the (federal) government will do.
Congress
What does Congress look like? How is structured
and organized?
Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
Bicameral Legislature
Congress
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
246 Republicans – 188 Democrats 54 Reps – 44 Dems – 2 Inds
Congress
Congress
Congress
Congress
Congress
Congress
Congress
Congress
Indiana’s Congressional
Delegation
Congress
Indiana’s Congressional
Delegation
Congress
Indiana’s Congressional
Delegation
Congress
Indiana’s Congressional
Delegation
Senior Senator Dan Coats
Junior Senator Joe Donnelly
Congress
“Term”• Term of Congress (2 years)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
1789
112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
SessionSession
Congress
“Term”• Term of Congress (2 years)• Term of a member of the House (2 years)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
1789
112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
43543543543543543565
Congress
“Term”• Term of a member of the Senate (6 years)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
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112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
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Congress
“Term”• Term of a President (4 years)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
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112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
43543543543543543565
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ObamaBushBush
Congress
“Term”
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
1789
112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
43543543543543543565
3333
34
ObamaBushBush
Election
Congress
“Term”
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
1789
112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
43543543543543543565
3333
34
ObamaBushBush
“Off-year” Election
Congress
“Term”
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1790
1789
112th111th110th109th108th107th1st
43543543543543543565
3333
34
ObamaBushBush
Election
Congress
I. BasicsA. Bicameral
1. Historical (parliament, colonial legislatures)
2. Practical (Connecticut Compromise)3. Each house has own “character”4. Part of system of checks and balances
Congress
I. BasicsB. House apportionment
1. 1st Congress: 65 membersa. 1:37,000
2. Census every ten years3. House membership grew to 435 in 19104. 1920 – no reapportionment5. Reapportionment Act of 1929
a. Fixes house membership at 4356. Ratio now 1:713,000
Congress
Congress