Members of the House are chosen every two years by the people of their district through elections.
(See chart on p.138 for salary and privileges)
Minimum qualifications (per Article I Section 2)
- minimum 25 years of age
- US citizen for a minimum of 7 years
- resident of the state in which the district representing is
Q: Once voted in, can someone be kicked out of the House?
A: Yes. The House can vote to expel a member for any reason with a 2/3 majority vote.
Informal qualifications for a seat in the US House
- live within the boundaries of the district
- military background or name recognition
- quality education
- wealthy
"In 2006, the winning and losing candidates for each seat in the House spent a combined average of more than $1.5 million." --from p.138 of the text
Reapportionment & Redistricting
- 435 members in the House (fixed at that number in 1929)
- Each district represents approx. 690,000 people for correct apportionment
- Each state guaranteed a minimum of 1 seat in the House, so ratio not always perfect
- House is reapportioned based on census
- Malapportionment is unconstitutional (Wesberry v Sanders ; Davis v Bandemer)
- Gerrymandering (drawing district boundaries for political advantage) does happen and isn't necessarily unconstitutional
depends on whether the courts feel that the boundaries disenfranchise or violate the equal protection clause
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Leadership positions in the House Article I Section 2 Clause 5
(selected by party caucus)
Speaker of the House (most powerful)
Party leaders (majority and minority)
Party whips (majority and minority)
House Committees
This is where things happen
Standing Committees
- permanent committees; usually have sub-committees that report to them
examples: Budget, Foreign Affairs, Rules*, Ways & Means* (*=something notable)
Select Committees
- created to carry out a specific task
example: Watergate investigative committees
Joint Committees
- addresses issues that affect both House and Senate
Conference Committee
- members of House & Senate resolve differences in two similar bills passed for same purpose
Note importance of Committee Membership and Committee Chair positions
