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Congress

Congress. 11/4-5/09. Representation. How should they represent their constituency? Constituency-the district making up the area from which an official is elected Delegates or Trustees Delegate- a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

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Congress

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  1. Congress 11/4-5/09

  2. Representation • How should they represent their constituency? • Constituency-the district making up the area from which an official is elected • Delegates or Trustees • Delegate- a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency • Trustee- a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

  3. How they represent Members of Congress District as a Whole Individual Constituents Organized Interests • Obtain federal Projects • Obtain grants and contracts that promote employment • Support policies that enhance economic prosperity, safety, cultural resources, and so on. • Participate in state and regional caucuses • Solve problems with agencies • Provide Jobs • Sponsor Private Bills • Sponsor appointments to service academies • Answer Complaints • Provide Info • Introduce Leg. • Intervene w/ regulatory agencies • Obtain fed grants and contracts • Help with importing and exporting • Help in securing favorable • Be figure head

  4. The House and Senate • Bicameral legislature- a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses. • House representation is proportional to population- i.e. about the same number of people are represented by one representative • Senate representation is distributed equally to each state- i.e. each state has 2 senators

  5. Requirement Differences • House • Age 25 • 7 years citizenship • 2 year term length • Number per state 1 per 630,000 today • Constituency, tends to be local • Senate • Age 30 • 9 years citizenship • 6 year term length • 2 per state • Is both local and national

  6. The Electoral System • Who decides to run? • Personal decision • Will they be able to raise money? • Will they be able to win

  7. Incumbency • Incumbency-holding a political office for which one is running • Huge advantage- turn to 187 and 189 • Why? Money raising, face time, familiarity, franking privilege, casework- working for their constituents, patronage/pork-barrel legislation • Professional legislature- a legislature whose members serve full-time for multiple terms

  8. Districts • Gerrymandering-the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one political party • Urban or rural? • Normally republican or democratic leaning

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