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Organization of Congress

Organization of Congress. The House of Representatives & U.S. Senate. Congressional Membership. Bicameral: Two house legislature. Congressional Sessions Each term begins on January 3 of odd-numbered years and lasts for two years. 111 th Congress [2009-2010] 112 th Congress [2011-2012 ]

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Organization of Congress

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  1. Organization of Congress The House of Representatives & U.S. Senate

  2. Congressional Membership • Bicameral: Two house legislature. • Congressional Sessions • Each term begins on January 3 of odd-numbered years and lasts for two years. • 111th Congress [2009-2010] • 112th Congress [2011-2012] • 113th Congress [2013-2014] • Each session lasts one year. • Have to vote to adjourn.

  3. Membership of the House • 435 members. • Based on each state’s population • [APPORTIONMENT] • Each state is guaranteed 1 representative.

  4. Congressional Apportionment, 2000 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUCnb5_HZc0 • http://mapscroll.blogspot.com/2011/01/2010-census-population-and.html

  5. Qualifications • Must be at least 25 years old. • Citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years. • Live in the district they represent. Dan Benishek

  6. Term of Office • Two-Year Terms. • All members (435 of them) must run for reelection! • 90% are reelected. • What if there is a vacancy? • Special election to fill the vacancy.

  7. Representation and Reapportionment Census Bureau- • Census taken every 10 years. • Population determines the new number.

  8. Congressional Redistricting • After reapportionment, the states sets up congressional districts – one for each representative. • Redistricting. • Some states abused redistricting power. • Creating districts of unequal populations • Gerrymandering- odd shaped districts • “One person, one vote” • Each district contains about 650,000 people.

  9. Membership in the Senate • 2 Senators from every state = 100 • Qualifications • Age 30+ • U.S. citizen for 9 years • Legal residents of the state they represent. • All voters of each state elect senators AT LARGE, or statewide. DEBBIE STABENOW CARL LEVIN

  10. Term of Office • Continuity • 6 year terms – 1/3 of the senators would run for reelection every 2 years. [Most win reelection] • Vacancy?? • State legislature may call upon the governor to appoint someone until the next election. OR • Governor may also call a special election to fill the seat.

  11. Salary and Benefits • Senate and House set their own salaries. • 27th Amendment (Michigan cast the deciding vote!) • Prohibits a sitting Congress from giving itself a pay raise. • $133,000 (‘93) • $150,000 (‘02) • Franking Privilege: free stationary, postage.

  12. Privileges….. • Free from arrest • Cannot be sued for things they say on the floor. • May judge each others’ qualifications. • May punish its own members for disorderly behavior by majority vote. [Can expel with 2/3 vote] • Censure: formal disapproval of a member. • E.g. Bill Clinton Scandal.

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