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CONGRESS: The People’s Branch

CONGRESS: The People’s Branch. Structure & Powers of Congress. The Federalist , No. 51, page 263 in your book Separation of Powers to make sure legislative Branch does not get too big Article I establishes the Legislative Branch. Terms and Sessions. Term lasts for two years

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CONGRESS: The People’s Branch

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  1. CONGRESS: The People’s Branch

  2. Structure & Powers of Congress • The Federalist, No. 51, page 263 in your book • Separation of Powers to make sure legislative Branch does not get too big • Article I establishes the Legislative Branch

  3. Terms and Sessions • Term lasts for two years • 112th Congress Convened on Jan. 3, 2011 • Session-period of time Congress meets during the year • Adjourn- when the Congress stops meeting and begins a recess • Pro-forma session- what the Senate is in now

  4. HOUSE • 435 members • Represent population within a state • Two year terms • Must be 25 years old, US citizen for 7 years, and live in state at the time of the election

  5. Senate • 100 members • 2 from each state • Six year terms • Staggered elections every two years (3 different classes) • Must be 30 years old, US citizen for 9 years, and live in the state at the time of election

  6. Congressional Elections • Safe Seats-USUALLY won by a particular party • Swing District-seat is competitive • Incumbents usually win (90% in Senate, 98% in the House)

  7. Drawing District Lines for the House of Representatives • Apportioned • Reapportion-census every 10 years • Reapportionment Act of 1929 • 435 Members • District has about 650,000 people

  8. Terms/Cases to know: • Adjourn • Prorogue • Special session • Reapportionment • Redistricting • Gerrymandering • Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964 • Off year elections • Continuous body • Constituencies • 4 ways a member of Congress can vote • Franking privileges

  9. The Job of the Legislator REPRESENTATIVE- • Delegates-vote according to what the constituents want • Trustees- vote for what is best for the constituents • Partisans- vote strictly along party lines • Politicos- attempt to combine the basic elements of delegates, trustees, and partisans

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