The House of Representatives Chapter 10 section 2

• 435 members: Congress fixed the number because it was getting too big• Each state is guaranteed at least 1 seat• 7 states

• Representatives are elected every 2 years• Why do you think this is???• No term limit• Same time as Federal elections • Off year elections: non presidential years

Basics

Powers reserved to the House• To vote on Charges of impeachment• To initiate bills involving• The raising of revenue

• Tax bills• Annual appropriations bills (federal budget)

Getting elected to the House• The Constitution (article 1) guarantees each state at least one

representative• Members are chosen from districts within each state• Apportionment:

• distribution among the states based on the population of each of the states

• Reapportionment: • the redistribution of Congressional seats after the census determines

changes in population• Census is every 10 years

• Congressional districting: • the drawing by state legislatures of congressional districts for those

states with more than one representative

• Districts that have been drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the state legislature• Remember election laws are set by whom???

• Widespread1. To concentrate the opposition voters in one or two

districts so the rest are yours2. Spread the opposition voters so thin they can never win

Gerrymandering

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Speaker of the House

• John Boehner (R)• Chosen by majority party• Chief presiding officer

(constitutionally) of the House

• Decides whom to recognize to speak on the floor

• Schedules bills for action• Appoints members of

special and select committees

House Majority• Whip: Steve Scalise (R) • Party floor leader• Keeps close watch on how

majority members intend to vote

• Attempts to influence voting

• Leader: Kevin McCarthy (R) • Chosen by majority party• Assists Speaker• Plans party’s legislative

program• Steers important bills

through the House• Party leader

House Minority• Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D)• Party leader• Performs similar tasks to

House Majority Leader• Has no power over scheduling

work in the House

• Whip: Steny Hoyer (D) • Assists party minority leader• Keeps close watch on how

majority members intend to vote• Attempts to influence voting

10th District House Representative

• Barbara Comstock