The document summarizes key characteristics of membership in the U.S. Congress. It describes Congress as a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. It outlines membership requirements, terms of office, the reapportionment and redistricting processes after each census, and issues like gerrymandering. It also provides details on the number of representatives and senators, and finding one's own representatives.

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