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The Congress

The Congress. Lesson 1. Congress: Senate and House of Representatives. House of Representatives. Size: 435 members Term Length: 2 years No term limits Elections All up for re-election every 2 years Represents people in one district Constitutional Qualifications At least 25 years old

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The Congress

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  1. The Congress Lesson 1

  2. Congress:Senate and House of Representatives

  3. House of Representatives • Size: 435 members • Term Length: 2 years • No term limits • Elections • All up for re-election every 2 years • Represents people in one district • Constitutional Qualifications • At least 25 years old • Citizen for 7 years • Live in state he / she represents

  4. Missouri Representatives Wm. Lacy Clay (D) 1st District Todd Akin (R) 2nd District Russ Carnahan (D) 3rd District

  5. Missouri Representatives Sam Graves (R) 6th District Kenny Hulshof (R) 9th District Emmanuel Cleaver (D) 5th District Jo Ann Emerson (R) District 8 Billy Long (R) 7th District Vicky Hartzler (R) 4th District

  6. Senate • Size: 100 members • Term: Length: 6 Years • No term limits • Elections • 1/3 of Senators up for re-election every 2 years • Represents people in whole state • Constitutional Qualifications • At least 30 years old • Citizen for 9 years • Live in the state he/she represents

  7. Missouri Senators Sen. Roy Blunt (R) Sen. Claire McCaskill (D)

  8. Caucasian 457 Caucasian 385 Asian 25 Asian 10 Other Christian 3 Other Christian 3 Other 3 Other 6

  9. How are seats in the House and Senate divided among the states?

  10. Apportionment of Seats • Apportionment is the distribution of seats in the House and Senate • The Senate has a total of 100 seats, 2per state • The House has 435 seats • These seats are divided among the states according to each state’s population • Congress sets total number of seats

  11. The Census • The population is counted every 10 years (1990,2000, 2010, for example) • Census is important because • Results are used to calculate how House seats should be redistributed (REAPPORTIONED) • Each state is guaranteed one representative • Congress caps number of House members at 435 • Average population a House member represents • Currently 646,952 • 2012: 710, 767

  12. Redistricting • Whether a state looses or gains seats in the House, each state must redistrict itself to accommodate the change What does that mean? • Redrawing their House district lines States are in charge of redistricting

  13. Gerrymandering What is it? • Redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections.

  14. First printed in March 1812, this political cartoon was drawn in reaction to the state senate electoral districts drawn by the Massachusetts legislature to favor the Democratic-Republican party candidates of Governor Elbridge Gerry over the Federalists. How did we get the name Gerrymandering?

  15. Two forms of Gerrymandering • Packing • Concentrating the opposition’s voters in one or a few districts leaving the other districts safe for the dominant party

  16. Fragmenting (Cracking) • Spreading the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts limiting the ability for the opposition to win anywhere in region

  17. Redistricting in MissouriFrom 9 to 8 Seats

  18. What do states have to keep in mind when redistricting? The US Supreme Court has ruled that districts must meet these three requirements • Population Equity: Districts must have about the same number of people in them • Contiguity: Districts must be of one solid shape; no land islands • Compactness: Districts must be compact shapes; no jagged lines or skinny extensions

  19. Review • Apportionment • Reapportionment • Census • Gerrymandering • Fragmenting (cracking) • Packing

  20. House and Senate • Number of members • Total Number • Term length • Term limit • Elections held when / who is up for election • How is apportionment determined? • Constitutional qualifications • Age • Citizenship • Residency

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