6/2 govt notes

6/2 govt notes

6/2 GOVT NOTES

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

National Legislature

Representative Democracy-translate the public’s will into policy in form of law

Bicameral Congress- 2 houses BECAUSE:

          Historical-British Parliament

          Practical-in accordance with population of states

          Theoretical-Checks/Balances of each other

Congress SESSION-period of time when Congress conducts business

ADJOURNED- finished/suspended

The fact that Congress meets year round reduced likelihood of SPECIAL SESSION-emergency

CONGRESS= SENATE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

SENATE=very small

HOUSE OF REPS= determined by population

Wyoming has 493,782 people- 2 senators (dem/rep)-1 house of reps member

CALIFORNIA has 33,871,648 ppl- 2 senators, 53 house members

Qualifications for House of Reps member:

25 years old - US Citizen 7+ years  -must live in state of election

NH State Reps-

Rep-Frank Guinta

Dem-Ann Kuster

Senators-

Rep-Kelly Ayotte

Dem-Jeanne Shaheen

Congress- 535 members, 82 women (2006)

ON AVERAGE- 55 year old white men, Christian, 2 kids, mostly married

60% Protestant, 30% Roman Catholic, 6% Jewish, 4% no religious affiliation

$170,000- free postage, pension-$150,000, social sec retirement, medicare