1.1 Overview of Congress (115th Congress)

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Overview of Congress lecture.

Term of Congress

Lasts two years, beginning on January 3rd of every odd-numbered year.

House of Representatives

Designed to be closer to the people; consists of 435 members elected for two-year terms.

Senate

Comprised of 100 members, elected for six-year terms, designed to be more removed from the people.

Revenue bills

Must originate in the House of Representatives.

Legislative Immunity

Members cannot be arrested while going to or from a Congress session, except for certain crimes.

Compensation for Congress members

Members set their own salaries, with a base salary of $174,000 for the 114th Congress.

Demographic trends in Congress

Show an increase in representation from Sun Belt states and a decrease from Frost Belt states.

Charges of conservative bias

Due to the over-representation of white, male, Protestant, upper-middle class lawyers in Congress.

Recent diversity in Congress

An increase in elected women and minorities in the 115th Congress.

Term limits for Congress members

Passed in some states, but ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (1995).