Organization of Congress

1. Chapter 5

2. Describe the characteristics of
membership in Congress

3.  Bicameral legislature- two house chamber; Senate
and House of Rep.
 Session- meeting of Congress
 Census- population count (every 10 yrs)
 Reapportionment- process to divide the number of
reps among the states
 Redistricting- process of setting up new district
lines after reapportionment
 Gerrymandering- process of drawing district
boundary lines to gain an advantage
 Incumbent- members already in office

4.  Congressional terms start on January 3rd of odd
years
 Terms last 2 years
 Terms have 2 sessions; each last 1 year
 The President can call Congress into special
session
There are a total of 535 members
435- House
100- Senate
Currently- 114th Congress

5.  435 members
 Members are apportioned among the states
based on pop.
Pennsylvania has 18 reps
California has 52 reps
Montana has 1 rep
(1 Rep per 400,000 people)

6.  25 years or older
 Citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 yrs
 Legal resident of the state that elects them

7.  2 year term
 Elected in November of even years
 Terms start on January 3rd following election

8.  A census is taken every ten years for
reapportionment.
 If a states pop. goes down they may lose
representatives; if it goes up they may gain
them.
 Reapportionment Act of 1929 fixed the number
of reps in the House at 435

9.  After the census, state legislatures can redraw
the district lines in their state.
 States abuse their power of redistricting by
Gerrymandering- drawing lines to gain an
advantage in elections.
 Gerrymandering results in odd shaped districts

10. Elbridge Gerry – Salamander - Gerrymander

11. Find Your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives

12. Allyson Schwartz (D)
District 13
Pat Meehan
(R)
District 7
Jim Gerlach (R)
District 6
Brendan Boyle (D)Ryan Costello (R)

13.  30 years old
 Citizen for at least 9 years
 Legal resident of the state they rep.

14.  Elections held in Nov. of odd numbered years
 Terms start on Jan. 3
 6 yr terms
PA Senators
Robert Casey
Democrat
Pat Toomey
Republican

15.  Current salary is $174,000/year
 Congress sets its own salary however, 27th
Amendment- prohibits a sitting Congress from
giving itself a pay raise

16. Legislator – make laws
Committee member- Screen and revise bills
Constituent Rep- represents the people back home
Constituent Servant- Does favors for citizens
Politician- works for the party

17. Trustee- votes based on their own judgment
Delegate- votes based on opinion of the constituents
Partisan- votes with the party
Politico- balances all three