House of Representatives

• Lower house containing 435 members
• Number of state seats is determined by population size, states with multiple members are divided into congressional districts
• Districts are drawn up following a census with takes place ever ten years and can alter seats (Texas went from 32 to 36 in 2010, and New York from 29-27)
• Over 30 states redrawing is done by state legislatures which leads to gerrymandering where majority party draws boundaries in a way which suits them
• Have two year terms
• Must be 25, resident in the state and a US citizen for at least 7 years, salaries are $174,000 (frozen in 2009)
• Elect the president if no candidate wins over 50% in electoral college
• They have exclusive right begin consideration of all money bills
• It is effective

  • Welfare reform measures (1996) passed despite congress being divided
  • 117th congress Republican Gerald Connolly of Virginia had a legislative effectiveness score (LAS) 7x higher than average house member
  • Pelosi served as a speaker of the house showing leadership structure
• Not effective

  • Bills can be pigeonholed or killed off e.g. Clinton's healthcare reforms faced challenges during early administration
  • 118th congress has been most unproductive with only a few dozen laws passed due to partisan divisions and insights in Republican majority
  • 2013 government shutdown is an example of gridlock over funding