Chapter 10 Notes

• Section 1 and 2

• Section 3 and 4

Jumpstart AssignmentJumpstart Assignment

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives• 435 Members (a # which is set by 435 Members (a # which is set by

Congress)Congress)

–The original House of The original House of Representatives had only 65 Representatives had only 65 members.members.

• House members serve 2 year termsHouse members serve 2 year terms

–Why 2 years?Why 2 years?

House Apportionment• Reps. are Reps. are apportionedapportioned based on state based on state

pop.pop.

• They areThey are reapportionedreapportioned every 10 years every 10 years based on the national census.based on the national census.

• The The Reapportionment Act of 1929Reapportionment Act of 1929 set set the “permanent” size of the House at the “permanent” size of the House at 435435

Off-Year Elections

• Off-year electionsOff-year elections are those are those congressional elections held congressional elections held between presidential elections.between presidential elections.

Jumpstart AssignmentJumpstart Assignment

• What made the 2010 elections so much more important in comparison to other off-year elections? (Take a look at yesterday’s notes for a hint).

DistrictsDistricts• The House of Reps. has The House of Reps. has single member single member

districts.districts.– Under the Under the single-member district single-member district

arrangement, the voters in each district arrangement, the voters in each district elect one of the State’s representatives.elect one of the State’s representatives.

• The general-ticket system, no longer in The general-ticket system, no longer in use, provided that all of a State’s seats use, provided that all of a State’s seats were filled were filled at-large.at-large.

GerrymanderingGerrymandering

• Districts are drawn to the advantage of the Districts are drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State’s political party that controls the State’s legislature.legislature.

• Wesberry v.Wesberry v.

Sanders –Sanders –

established established

““one-person,one-person,

one-vote” districtsone-vote” districts

QualificationsQualifications

• 25 years old25 years old

• Citizen for 7 yrs.Citizen for 7 yrs.

• Inhabitant of the state where he/she is Inhabitant of the state where he/she is electedelected

• The realities of politics also require some The realities of politics also require some informal qualificationsinformal qualifications, such as party , such as party identification, name familiarity, gender, identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, and political ethnic characteristics, and political experience.experience.

Jumpstart AssignmentJumpstart Assignment• How should a member of Congress How should a member of Congress

make a decision on a vote, based make a decision on a vote, based on views of the people, their own on views of the people, their own consciences, or based on their consciences, or based on their political parties view? Explain your political parties view? Explain your answer.answer.

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda• JumpstartJumpstart

• ““Profiles in Courage”Profiles in Courage”

• Notes:Notes: Ch. 10, Section 3 and 4 Ch. 10, Section 3 and 4

• Comparing the House and SenateComparing the House and Senate

The SenateThe Senate

• 2 Senators per state (100 total)2 Senators per state (100 total)• Serve 6 year terms (1/3 of the Senate is up Serve 6 year terms (1/3 of the Senate is up

for re-election every 2 years)for re-election every 2 years)• Until the 17Until the 17thth Amendment (1913), Senators Amendment (1913), Senators

were elected by State Legislatureswere elected by State Legislatures

• The Senate is a The Senate is a continuous bodycontinuous body, , meaning that all of its seats are never up for meaning that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.election at the same time.

Senate QualificationsSenate Qualifications

• 30 years old30 years old

• Citizen for 9 yearsCitizen for 9 years

• Inhabitant of the state where elected Inhabitant of the state where elected (though not for any specific period of (though not for any specific period of time)time)

Job of Congress Members

1)1) Work in committee to screen proposed Work in committee to screen proposed lawslaws

– Oversight FunctionOversight Function – a way to – a way to check agencies of the Executive check agencies of the Executive BranchBranch

2)2) Represent the people (constituents)Represent the people (constituents)

3)3) Law MakingLaw Making

4)4) Serving their constituentsServing their constituents

Voting OptionsVoting Options

• TrusteesTrustees – believe that each question they – believe that each question they face must be decided on its meritface must be decided on its merit

• DelegatesDelegates – see themselves as agents of the – see themselves as agents of the people they representpeople they represent

• PartisansPartisans – lawmakers who see their – lawmakers who see their allegiance to their political party as being the allegiance to their political party as being the most importantmost important

• PoliticosPoliticos – attempt to combine all three – attempt to combine all three

CompensationCompensation

• HouseHouse and Senateand Senate - $169, 600 - $169, 600• Pay is set by CongressPay is set by Congress• The The franking privilegefranking privilege allows members of allows members of

Congress to mail letters and other materials Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-freepostage-free

Roles of Congress

• Senate House

• Qualifications (age, citizenship)

• Terms

• Pay

• Number

• Who they represent?