535 members in congress 435 Reps & 100 Sen.
Article 1
Legislative branch makes law
A Bicameral Congress
Historical
British Parliament consisted of two houses
Practical
Created to settle differences in NJ (Senate)&VA (House of Reps) Plans Terms
Each term of Congress last for two years
First term of Congress
March 4th, 1789
Start date for Congress changed with 20th Amendment
Session
A period of time during which, every year, Congress assembles and conducts business
Adjournment
When we’re done with the session. Presidential Power over Congress
Article 2 s3
President has the power to prorogue, end or discontinue, a session only when two houses cannot agree on date for adjournment.
Special Session
Only the President may call Congress into Special Sessions.
The House Size: 435
Seats are based on population.
Appointed
Distributed on basis of population
Each state has to have at least 1 Rep.
Reapportionment
A census
Census 1790
Population 3.9 million 1792- House raises number of reps to 106 1912- House has 435 members
Reapportionment Act of 1929
Automatic reapportionment
Congressional Elections
Date (same in every state)
First Tuesday in November of each even numbered year
At large districts
Everyone in the state votes for each rep in the state.
States with one Rep has a at large district
1842
Law passed that required each state to draw congressional districts
1872
Law added that districts have.
Gerrymandering
District drawn to the benefit of the political party that controls the state legislature.
The end of Gerrymandering
Westbury v. Sanders, 1964
One person one vote
The Senate
Size: 100
Used to be chosen by the state legislature (Millionaires Club)
17th amendment people of the state elect the senators.
Term: 6 years
Continuous body
33 or 34 terms expires every two years
All seats are never up for election at the same time
Why 6 years
Job Security
Larger Constituencies
30 years old in Senate
Citizen 9 years
You have to live in the state
Florida Reps
Ron DeSantis (R) District 6
Senate
Bill Nelson
Marco Rubio
The house is in charge of impeachment (charge of a crime)
The senate is in charge of kicking them out
Congressional Powers
The Constitution grants Congress power in 3 ways
Expressed Power
Explicitly in specific wording
Implied Power
Reasonable deduction from the expressed powers
Inherent Power
Creation of a national government
Strict Constructionist
One who follows the Constitution exactly w/o modern interpretation?
Liberal Constructionist
One who believes the Constitution is a living document and changes meaning with time
Expressed Powers of money
Congress can tax
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