HOUSE AND SENATESize, Qualifications, The Job and

Pay

House Members – 435 Set by Reapportionment

Act of 1929

Apportion – Distribute Reapportion – Redistribute (Every 10

years after the Census)

House Elections Tuesday after the first Monday of even

numbered years. Therefore, A House term is two years.

Elections outside of presidential years are called “off year elections.”

Gerrymandering Districts been drawn to the benefit of the

party that controls the legislature.

A) To pack opposition B) To spread opposition too thin

Gerrymandering Rules Wesberry v. Sanders – Near Equal

Population Race – Can not be the controlling factor,

but can be part of a mix of factors

Only works for Single Member Districts At Large Districts eliminate the problem

Gerrymandered Districts 2000

Gerrymandered Districts 2010

Not just PA

Formal Qualifications 25 Years Old

Citizen for at least 7 years

Inhabitant of the state from which they are elected

Compare to the Senate

Informal Qualifications Party Identification Name familiarity Gender Ethnicity Experience Incumbency Fundraising ability

Senate 100 Members

2 (per state) x 50 (states) = 100 members

Represent Entire State

Senate Elections Originally chosen by State Legislatures

17th Amendment – Direct Election of Senators (1913)

Only one Senator per state in any election

Term Senators serve for 6 years

Continuous Body – all of its seats are never up at the same time (1/3 in three consecutive elections)

Attention Due to size, Senators are more likely to

be seen as national leaders and are more likely to garner attention from the media in their states.

The Senate is the primary source of contenders from the presidency from both parties.

Formal Qualifications 30 Years Old

Citizen for at least 9 years

Inhabitant of the State from which they are elected

Compare to the House

What Congress Members Do

Legislators – Make Laws Representatives – Represent Constituents Committee Members – Screen proposals

and decide if they get floor consideration Servants of Constituents – Casework Politicians – Win elections

How Representatives Vote 1. Delegate – Agents of the people who

vote the way the “folks back home” want them to.

2. Trustee – Vote their conscience only 3. Partisans – Owe allegiance to their

party 4. Politicos – Attempt to combine the

basic elements of the other three roles

Compensation Salary - $174,000 Floor Leaders - $ 193, 400 Speaker - $223,500

Tax deduction for multiple residences Travel allowances Healthcare Retirement/Pension Plan

More Compensation Offices in D.C. and at home Staff members Franking Privilege – Free mail Free Printing Gym Membership

Legislative Immunity – No arrest going to or from session or while in session; Can not be taken to court over things said on official duty.