Congressional Membership

Essential Questions:1) What are the formal and informal

qualifications for members of Congress?2) Who is in the 113th Congress? 3) How are representatives apportioned in

Congress?

Most members of Congress start out in local politics

After they gain experience, they may run for either the House or Senate

The people they serve are called Constituents◦ The size of this group increases as they move up

in politics

Legislators and their Constituents

Must be a resident of the state in which elected

House members must be at least 25 years old and must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years

Senators must be at least 30 years old and a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years

Formal Qualifications for Members of Congress

Members of Congress used to be all white, male, and middle to upper class

This changed starting in 1960s: Now women and minority groups are somewhat included (but it is still mostly old white rich guys)

Most have a college degree, many have advanced degrees

Most have a background in business or law

Informal Qualifications for Members of Congress

Party Composition in House *Republicans: 233 *Democrats: 199

*3 Seats are currently vacant

Gender Composition in Congress *100 women

Some Statistics on the 113th Congress (2013-2015)

Religious Affiliation Largest denomination: Catholic

Racial Composition: 19% of House members are minorities, which

includes:◦ 43 African Americans (10%)◦ 34 Hispanics (8%)◦ 10 Asians (2%)◦ 2 Native Americans (.5%)

Average age of members of the House of Representatives is 57

Average age of members of the Senate is 62

Stats Cont.

Senate=100 seats, 2 for each state House=435 seats, each represents 1

congressional district (approx. 650,000 people)

House seats are assigned by state’s population (each state guaranteed at least 1)◦ This is determined by the census, taken every 10

years. When states gain or lose population, sometimes House seats are reapportioned, and congressional districts change.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUCnb5_HZc0

Apportionment

Redistricting – drawing up new district lines after reapportionment

Gerrymandering is the process of re-drawing electoral district boundaries in order to create a political advantage for a particular party by manipulating geographic boundaries.

Named after Elbridge Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts who redrew Massachusetts state election districts to benefit his Democratic-Republican party in 1812.

Gerrymandering was outlawed in 1960 by the court case Gomillion v. Lightfoot.

See: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/gerrymandering-how-drawing-jagged-lines-can-impact-an-election-christina-greer

Congressional Redistricting

Talk to your neighbor:1) What are the formal and

informal qualifications for members of Congress?

2) Who is in the 113th Congress?

3) How are representatives apportioned?

The Organization of Congress

Essential Questions:1) How do the leadership roles in the

Senate and the House work?2) What is the purpose of the

Congressional Committees?

House members run for re-election every 2 years

Senators run every 6 years (1/3 up for re-election every 2 years)

Number of terms is unlimited for both Incumbent=currently in office During elections, incumbents have the

advantages of: ◦ name recognition◦ campaign funds◦ Solve voters issues

Getting Elected

John Dingell: D- Michigan

Organization is based on the 2 major political parties

Party with the most seats controls the agenda Speaker of the House:

◦ presides over the House◦ Schedules bills for action◦ Also, 2nd in line to assume the Presidency in an emergency

John Boehner (R-OH)

Leadership in the House

Majority Leader • Manages legislation on the house floor

• Second in command of their party

Minority Leader •Helps manage legislation on the house floor (no power over agenda)•First in command of their party

Majority Whip •Helps majority leader in house•Persuades reps to vote w/ party•Makes sure people are present to vote

Minority Whip •Has the same duties as the Majority Whip

Leadership in the House

Who currently holds these offices?

House Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (R-Va)

House Minority Leader:Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca)

President of the Senate •Vice President •Official presiding officer

President Pro Tempore •Senior senator of majority party• Fills in when VP isn’t there

Majority Leader •Steers party’s bills through senate•Encourage members to attend•Party support on bills

Minority Leader •Helps shape minority party policy

Majority Whip •Makes sure reps are present to vote•Link between party members and majority leader

Minority Whip •Same as above

Leadership in the Senate

Who currently holds these offices?

President pro temporePatrick Leahy (D-Vermont)

The Vice PresidentJoe Biden (D-Delaware)

Who currently holds these offices?

Senate Majority Leader:Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Minority Leader:Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)

Purpose of Congressional Committees

Ease workload and divide work Select worthy bills

◦ Most bills never make it past committee stage

Help public learn about bills

Types of Congressional Committees Standing- permanent committees that

deal w/ specific policy area Select- temporary committees to

study a specific issue Joint - made up of members of both

chambers, permanent or temporary Conference- temporary committee to

resolve issues over versions of a bill and create a compromised bill

Choosing Committee Members Membership extremely important for

congressmen Each political party assigns members

of Congress to standing committees Committee Chairperson

◦ Decide when the committee will meet◦ How long they will discuss a bill◦ Manage floor debate of bills from

their committee

Congressional Powers expressed powers (enumerated

powers): granted to Congress explicitly in the Constitution.

◦ Article 1 Section 8

Elastic Clause: Constitution authorizes Congress to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper.”◦ Powers beyond those expressed in first 17 clauses◦ Congress can stretch its listed powers to meet the

needs of a growing nation◦ These implied powers must be linked to

specifically assigned powers

Congressional Powers

Denied Powers◦ Limits on Congressional Power: Bill of Rights

Cannot pass Bill of Attainder: laws that punish people w/o allowing them a trial

Ex post Facto laws: laws that make crimes of acts that were legal when committed

Congressional Powers

The Power to choose a President in a tie Impeachment: House can formally accuse a

federal official of wrongdoing, Senate then conducts a trial to decide whether to remove the official from office

Confirmation: Senate approves officials appointed by the President

Ratification: Senate must approve all treaties negotiated by President before become law

Amendment: Both houses of Congress can vote to propose an amendment to the Constitution

Non-Legislative Powers (Powers aside from lawmaking)