Houses and Members of Congress

Houses and Members of Congress

Section 2Chapter 5

House of Representatives The framers intended the House to be close to

the people then the Senate Their idea was the ordinary people would serve

for a brief period of time

House of Representatives

Size The size of the House is set

by Congress (not by the Constitution)

The Constitution just states that the distribution must be based on population

A national census, or population count, is taken every ten years and serves to determine distribution


Size At the first Congress there was 65

members and every ten years more members were added to House

Until 1910 when the House got up to 435

The number has stayed at 435 members and the seats are now just divided among the states

As the population continues to grow more and more people are represented by one House Representative


Terms Representatives serve

two year terms If a representative dies

or resigns before the end of a term the governor of the state must call a special election to fill the seat

House of RepresentativesCongressional

Districts After each census, Congress uses the

new population count to apportion, or distribute the 435 seats among states

Every state is entitle to one representative but those who can population very often times take representatives from those states that lose population

Once apportionment is complete, the state then determines the boundaries of the congressional districts

The drawing of these lines has been controversial

House of RepresentativesOne Person, One

Vote Years ago congressional districts were

unfair because districts within a state varied in population size

At times congressional districts had eight times as many residents as other districts in the same state

In 1964 the supreme court case Wesberry v. Sanders determined that “one-person, one-vote” and districts had to be divided by population

Some are dissatisfied with the fact that every state gets at least one representative


Gerrymandering One criticism of states

appropriating their districts is Gerrymandering– when district lines are drawn to favor one political party over another

It is named after Elbridge Gerry, who in 1812 was the governor Massachusetts when the district lines were drawn to favor the republican party


Gerrymandering It can be done to

concentrate a parties strength in a number of districts or by splitting opposing party members over several districts

In the 1986 case of Davis v. Bandemer the supreme court ruled against extreme gerrymandering


Qualifications The Constitution sets the

requirements to be a House member: At least 25 years of age U.S. citizens for at least 7 years Legal resident of the state they

want to represent

According to the Constitution individuals do NOT have to be from the district they are representing

House of RepresentativesSalary and Benefits

Representatives get $145, 100 annually The 27th Amendment set that

Congressional pay increases do not go into affect until after the next Congressional election

Members are given an office space, an allowance to hire a staff, travel to and maintain offices in their home districts, and for stationery, newsletters, and other supplies

They also have franking privilege- which allows them to send official mail for free

House of RepresentativesSalary and Benefits

The Constitution also gives members of Congress a form of immunity, or legal protection to protect their freedom of speech, members cannot be sued for anything they say while performing congressional business

They also cannot be arrested in or on their way to or from a meeting in Congress (unless it is a serious crime)

Senate The framers thought that Senate would attract an

older, more experienced group of people who would serve longer terms as the nation’s senior leaders

Until 1913 Senators were chosen by state legislatures and not by the voters (17th Amendment changed that)

The Senate does have a more prestigious atmosphere (most often go from being a House Rep to a Senator and not vice-versa)

Senate

Size The Constitution sets

the Senate at two members per state

Today there are 100 Senators

The Senators represent their entire state

Senate

Terms Senators serve a six year term Senate elections are held

every two years This means that every two

years, one-third of the senators are up for re-election

If a senator dies the governor of that state chooses someone to fill the spot until a special election can be held

Senate

Qualifications The Constitution sets

certain qualifications for being a senator: 30 years of age U.S. citizen for at least

nine years Legal resident of the

state they represent

SenateSalary and Benefits

Senators also receive $145,100 annually

They also receive the same benefits and legal protections as House members

Members of Congress Most members of Congress are businesspeople or lawyers Most members are white, male, and more than 40 years old Minority groups and women are not represented in the

same proportion that they make up the population The 1992 elections produced increases in the numbers of

African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and particularly women in Congress

Ben Nighthorse Campbell was elected to Senate in 1992 and was the first American Indian to serve in the Senate in 60 years

Documents

Houses and Members of Congress