CONGRESS (Legislative Branch)

I. Who is Congress 1 Congress was

established by the Constitution (Article I)

2 Congress is to be BICAMERAL

2 bodies

Upper House (Senate)

• Lower House (House of Representatives)

3 Congress Meets for two years “Sessions”

– Legislators are in office for two years and then are up for reelection.

4 Congress Meets for the first time of the year on Jan. 3rd (off odd year) at noon.

5 The Main Purpose of Congress is to TRANSLATE the will of the people into public policy or law!!!

2. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

1 Know as the “People’s house” OR “house of commons”

3. Guidelines for the House1 Each state shall be represented by a

proportional number of Reps based on its’ population (Compared with the other 49 states) “Distribution”

2 There are 435 members (Each represents approx. 650,000 citizens/”Constituents”)

3 2 year term ! (No limit) Federal level

NO “Term Limits” as per constitution (federal)

4Reapportionment: (redistribution) After every census, every ten years

5Gerrymandering: Redrawing congressional “districts” within each state… {Note: Calif. Prop. 11, 2008}

(Note: Any 650,000 people can make a district! )

4. WHO CAN RUN FOR THE HOUSE 1 Qualifications

25 years old or older

Citizen of the United States for seven years +

Live in the state you are representing

John Boehner, Speaker of the House

Nancy Pelosi,FORMER “Speaker of the House”

Mike Thompson, California 5th District

Committee Assignments1) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence2) House Committee on Ways and Means $ 3) Health Subcommittee

4) Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Human Analysis and Counterintelligence Subcommittee: Chairman

5. GUIDELINES FOR THE SENATE

1 Each State shall have TWO Senators

2 Term: Six year term with NO NO limits (federal)

3 Elections is “at-large” Thus, entire state votes for Senators

6.WHO CAN RUN FOR THE SENATE

1 Qualifications:Thirty years of age +

Citizen of the United States for Nine years +

Inhabitant of State representing

• Senator Dianne Feinstein, California.

•

1. United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

2. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

3. United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

4. Select Committee on Intelligence CHAIRPERSON

Senator Barbara Boxer, CaliforniaU.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Chairwoman)

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics (Chairwoman)

U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Note: Being a senator has more prestige, proportionately

more power, higher Media visibility.

Note: “Incumbency” , rate of re-election.

President of the Senate

Joe Biden, Vice President of United States

7. COMPENSATION $$$$$

1Both House receive~165,000 per annum (2006)

2Speaker of the House~212,000

3President ~ 400K

8. PERKS OF THE JOB

1Round Trip Air-faire between Washington and hometown (1st class)

2Tax deductions to maintain two home

3FREE medical and subsidized life insurance

4 Generous pension plan well beyond Social Security

5 Two offices or more

6 Staff at taxpayers expense

7 Gym, saunas, restaurants, all within capital

8. Demographics of Congress (2011)

HOUSE :

White 358

African- American 41

Hispanic 28

Asian 7

Male 357

Female 78

Average Age 56

• SENATE :– White 95– African-American 0 – Hispanic 3 – Asian 2

– Male 83– Female 17

– Average Age 60

9. POWERS OF CONGRESS

1-The Committees: (The real power in

Congress)

2-Membership is divided evenly in proportion to their parties numbers in Congress.

1 - STANDING: permanent in each house

National security, health care, Education and others…..

2- SELECT: Each house may create a special committee to investigate a national problem/crisis.

Watergate, organized crime, JFK assassination. Limited time and budget

5 3- JOINT: Drawn from both houses to research issues that are general to entire government

–Atomic energy, taxation, the Library of Congress and so on……….

–4- CONFERENCE: Members of both houses appointed to IRON OUT difference in Bill passing from both houses. Bill must be identical then pass both house. A lot of dealing goes on here.

10. HOW POLITICIANS MAKE THEIR DECISIONS

1TRUSTEE: Base their decisions on Conscience and Judgment regardless of views held by constituents

2INSTRUCTED DELeGATE: Agents of those who elected them. They ignore all others!!! Vote how the folks back home would like them to

3 PARTISAN: 1st allegiance is to their political party. {They rarely acknowledge this fact} They tow the party line [ie. Partisanship]

4 POLITICO: Attempt to combine all Three.. Try to balance these often conflicting factors.

End.