R Members and Constituencies
Wed= nesday, March 04, 2009
11:= 44 AM
In the 1800s m= any people disgusted that Congress was filled with common people
Book claims th= at 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 3= 0-40 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 w= ho 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
R Members and Constituencies
Wed= nesday, March 04, 2009
11:= 44 AM
In the 1800s m= any people disgusted that Congress was filled with common people
Book claims th= at 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 3= 0-40 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 w= ho 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