THE ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS

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THE ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS
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Creation and Evolution

• Framers AGAIN we worried about executive power
• In turn, gave the Congress Legislative Poweror
  the power to make laws

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BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE

• MEANING TWO.(BI2)
• HOUSE POPULATION
• SENATE EQUAL REPRESENTATION
• WOWWE DIDNT KNOW THAT YET DID WEWAIT THIS IS
  CALLED REVIEW

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CONGRESS SESSIONS

• SESSIONONE YEAR
• TERM2 YEARS
• STARTS ON JANUARY 3 ON ODD YEARS BY THE 20th
  Amendment

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BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE

• HOUSE REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY (COMMON
  PEOPLE)
• SENATE REPRESENTS THE STATES
• (ELITE)

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REAPPORTIONMENT

• Reapportionment Act of 1929
• Every ten years-A CENSUS has to be takenthis is
  for the purpose of reapportioning seats in the
  HOUSE.
• HOUSE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AT 435 SEATS
• THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO EACH CENSUS

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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTING

• OR HOW TO CONTROL CONGRESS
• STATE LEGISLATURES PICK DISTRICT LINES
• IF THE STATE IS OVERWHELMINGLY ONE PARTY OR
  ANOTHERTHEY CAN CHANGE THE LINES TO SUIT THEIR
  NEEDS

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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTING

• MUST HAVE EQUAL POPULATION
• SO ONE DISTRICT MAY BE HUGE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS
  RURALBE EQUAL TO A SMALL SECTION OF A BIG CITY.

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GERRYMANDERING

• DRAWING DISTRICT LINES TO HURT A POLITICAL
  OPPONENT
• PACKING CHANGING DISTRICT LINES TO PACK THE
  DISTRICT WITH ENOUGH OF ONE PARTY TO WIN
• CRACKING SPLITING A DISTRICT SO THE OPPONENTS
  SUPPORT IS SPILT BETWEEN TWO DISTRICTS

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Members of Congress

• Salary
• 27th Amendment
• Privileges and Benefits
• Franking
• Staff
• Medical and Retirement
• Protection from arrest or lawsuit while on the
  floor of
• Congress
• Punishment
• Exclusion
• Censure
• Expulsion

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Membership in the House

• 435 Members
• Qualifications
• 25 years old
• Citizen of U.S. for 7 years
• Legal resident of state where elected
• --Term of Office
• 2 years
• Elections in even numbered years

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Membership of the Senate

• Two From Each State
• Qualifications
• 30 years old
• Citizen of U.S. for 9 years
• Legal resident of state where elected
• Term of Office
• 6 years
• Elections in even numbered years
• 1/3 up for reelection every two years

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Members of Congress

• Characteristics
• Reelection
• Constant in the House
• Incumbent Advantage
• Money PACs
• Name Recognition
• Experience
• Franking
• Being a Congressman

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REPRESENTATION

• One man one vote
• Baker v. Carr(1962)
• Baker filed suit against Carr, the Secretary of
  State of Tennessee
• Violated Equal Protection and the 14th amendment
• Courts decided the States must redistrict
• Courts were concerned with POLITICAL QUESTIONS
  (enmeshed in two branches of government), if a
  case is JUSTICABLE

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POWERS OF CONGRESS A REVIEW

• EXPRESSED POWERS
• TAX AND SPEND
• BORROW
• COINING MONEY
• COMMERCE
• FOREIGN RELATIONS
• POST OFFICES
• NATURALIZATION

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IMPLIED POWERS

• EVERYTHING ELSE
• NOT STATED IN THE CONSTIUTIONOR WRITTEN

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NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS

• IMPEACHMENT
• HOUSE- BRINGS CHARGES BY MAJORITY VOTE
• SENATE CONDUCTS TRIAL AND MUST HAVE A 2/3s
  MAJORITY TO CONVICT

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NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS

• POWER TO PROPOSE CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
• 2/3s vote in both houses

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NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS

• POWER TO CHOOSE A PRESIDENT
• SENATE COUNTS ELECTORAL VOTES
• IF NO ONE PERSON HAS A MAJORITYTHE HOUSE ELECTS
  A PRESIDENT
• USED TWICE WITH JEFFERSON AND JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

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NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS

• GIVING ADVICE AND CONSENT
• APPROVING PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS
• SENATORIAL COURTESYTHEY USUALLY ACCEPT EVERYONE.

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NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS

• INVESTIGATIVE POWERS
• CONDUCTED BY COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTES
• CALLED OVERSIGHT OR WATCHDOG FUNCTIONTHEY WATCH
  THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING
  THE RIGHT THING