CONGRESS

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CONGRESS

• National Legislature
• House and Senate Two Houses of Congress
• Basic Functions
• To make laws
• To translate public will into public policy
  explain and examples
• To represent the people
• The House represents
• 650,000 people per district

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A BICAMERAL CONGRESS WHY?
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• Historical
• British Parliament a 500 year tradition
• Name two original colonies to only have a
  unicameral legislature - explain
• Georgia and Pennsylvania

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The Queen speaks to British Parliament
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• Theoretical
• The Framers believed that a two house legislature
  would
• Check on each other
• States would be equally represented

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we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer
to cool it Washington
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• Practical
• Designed to settle conflict between VA and NJ
  plan
• A reflection of federalism ???
• Equal representation in the Senate and
  proportional to each states population in the
  House

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TERMS OF CONGRESS

• Each term of congress lasts 2 yrs
• Numbered consecutively
• From March 4, 1789 1st
• 20th amendment changes start of term to Jan 3rd
  every odd numbered years why?
• presently we are in the
• 109th Congress- when does the 110th begin?

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TERMS OF CONGRESS
Congressman Pat Toomey
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SESSIONS OF CONGRESS

• Two Regular Sessions
• One each year
• Congress in session most of the year
• Second session begins after 3rd of Jan.
• Special Session
• Only called by whom?
• The President may call for some emergency
  situation

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SESSIONS OF CONGRESS
President Pro Tempore of the
Senate, presides over a special joint session of
Congress as President Bush outlines plan to fight
terrorism.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Size and Term
• 435 members
• Not fixed by Congress
• Constitution provided that total of seats in
  the House shall be
• Apportioned based on each states population
  explain
• 7 states have only one

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Beartooth Pass, Montana
State with only one representative
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• Delegates -
• DC, Guam, Samoa,Virgin Island
• Resident Commissioners
• Puerto Rico
• May not vote, but are given salaries

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REAPPORTIONMEMT

• Constitution directs Congress to redistribute
  seats in the House following census year (10
  yrs)
• What parts of country grew in population with
  2000 census
• Reapportionment Act 1929
• Creates a permanent size at 435 represents
  650,000
• House grew too large for what?

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REAPPORTIONMENT
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DISTRICTS AND GERRYMANDERING
Single member or at large? What do you think?
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ELECTIONS

• Date
• Congressional elections are held on the same day
  in every state Tuesday following the first
  Monday in November in each even year
• Off Year Elections
• Occur in a non-presidential year
• Party in power more often than not, loses seats

.
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Rep. Charles Dent 15th District
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DISTRICTS

• Single-member districts
• Voters in each district choose their
  representative from a field of candidates
• At-large
• Voters in the entire state vote
• The district covers the entire state

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GERRYMANDERING

• Congressional Districts that ..
• Have been drawn to the advantage of the party
  that controls the States legislature
• Wide spread today How?
• Lines are drawn to concentrate oppositions voters
  in one or a few districts(makes it safe for the
  dominant party)
• Spread the opposition as thin as possible among
  several districts limiting opposition to win
  anywhere

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WESBERRY VS. SANDERS
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WESBERRY VS. SANDERS

• Puts an end to Wide Population Variations
• Ends rural over representation
• Court Rules
• Georgias population difference within one
  district was too great
• Violates the Constitution
• representation chosen and apportioned to
  respective numbers one man, one vote

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(No Transcript)
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QUALIFICATIONS MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE

• Qualifications
• 25 years of age
• A citizen for at least
• 7 years
• Must be an inhabitant of the state elected
• Other
• House judges elections and qualifications
• House may expel by majority of 2/3

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Congressman Charles Dent
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THE SENATE

• Elections and Term
• 2 per state
• 17th amendment provides for direct election
  (1914)
• Each senator is elected from the state at-large
  explain

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THE SENATE

• Senators serve a 6 years term
• Terms are staggered
• Only 1/3 are elected every 2yrs
• The senate is known as
• A continuous body why?
• All seats are never up for election at the same
  time

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Senator Santorum praises President Bush
Qualifications the Senate
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QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SENATE

• AGE
• 30 YEARS OLD
• CITIZENSHIP
• 9 YEARS
• INHABITANT OF THE STATE
• SENATE MAY JUDGE QUALIFICATIONS
• MAY PUNISH DISORDERLY CONDUCT
• 2/3 VOTE EX. Joe McCarthy 1954

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House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts
praises President Bush
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Sen. Arlen Specter
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Sen. Specter and Bush on Air Force I
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Specter with Mr. Rodgers