R Members and
Constituencies

Wednesday,
March 04, 2009

11:44 AM

In the 1800s many
people disgusted that Congress was filled with common people

Book claims that
Congress is increasingly representing the people more and more

Members

Pretty
basic membership requirements

Senate:
30 years old, 9 years resident of their state

House:
25 years old, 7 year member (does not need to be of that district)

Tenure

House
2 years

Senate
6 years

No
cap on tenure

Since
many at that time did not want to serve away from home in a muddy swamp

In
the 1900s as seats went uncontested people became career politicians with 30-40
year terms

Dominated
the politics

1990s:
much anger almost created term limits

Supreme
Court found that states can not limit terms of its members

Constitution
must be amended

People
wanted them because they envisioned citizen legislators

But
public opinion turned as people realized lobbyists would be the only ones who
knew how the system worked

Social
Characteristics

Throughout
history only rich, land-owning, well educated men ran

More
women and minorities now

However
still mostly well educated, wealthy people

Mostly
lawyers and businessmen and bankers

Still
overwhelmingly Caucasian ~80% of Congress while only 40% of population

Some
"dynasty" families

Many
however list other professions as their jobs

And
for many running for Congress has been their first race

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R Members and
Constituencies

Wednesday,
March 04, 2009

11:44 AM

In the 1800s many
people disgusted that Congress was filled with common people

Book claims that
Congress is increasingly representing the people more and more

Members

Pretty
basic membership requirements

Senate:
30 years old, 9 years resident of their state

House:
25 years old, 7 year member (does not need to be of that district)

Tenure

House
2 years

Senate
6 years

No
cap on tenure

Since
many at that time did not want to serve away from home in a muddy swamp

In
the 1900s as seats went uncontested people became career politicians with 30-40
year terms

Dominated
the politics

1990s:
much anger almost created term limits

Supreme
Court found that states can not limit terms of its members

Constitution
must be amended

People
wanted them because they envisioned citizen legislators

But
public opinion turned as people realized lobbyists would be the only ones who
knew how the system worked

Social
Characteristics

Throughout
history only rich, land-owning, well educated men ran

More
women and minorities now

However
still mostly well educated, wealthy people

Mostly
lawyers and businessmen and bankers

Still
overwhelmingly Caucasian ~80% of Congress while only 40% of population

Some
"dynasty" families

Many
however list other professions as their jobs

And
for many running for Congress has been their first race