Congress
2 Houses/Bicameral
• FIRST PART OF THE CONSTITUTION!
• 3 Reasons
– Historical
– Practical
– Theoretical
• Different term limits
• Term vs Sessions
House of Representatives
• 435 Representatives
– # determined by Census
• Qualifications
• Elections
• District Voting
– Gerrymandering
Senate
• 100 Senators
– 2 from each state
• Requirements
• 17th Amendment
• Continuous Body
How Legislators Decide to Vote
• Four theories
1. Trustees
2. Partisans
3. Delegates
4. Politicos
Jobs and Privileges
• Committee Members
– Executive Oversight
– Video
• Annual Salary
• Franking Privilege
• Partial Immunity from arrest and libel
Crash Course Review
• Video
Congressional Power
• Expressed vs Implied vs Inherent (review!)
• Main power = MONEY
– Make money/legal tender
– Tax/House (4 limits)
– Borrow
• Public debt and deficit financing
– Commerce Power (Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824)
– Bankruptcy
Congressional Power
• War powers
• Naturalization
• Postal Power
• Copyrights and Patents
• Judicial Powers
• New territories
• Propose Amendments
Congressional Duties
• Electoral College
• Impeachment
• Presidential appointments
– Link
• Treaties