CONGRESSCONGRESSI. Institutional Foundations

II. Key FunctionsII. Key Functions

III. Organization

IV. Legislative Process

V. Members of Congress V. Members of Congress

VI. An Effective Legislature?1

Constitutional Differences

HOUSE SENATE2 Year Term 6 Year Term

435 Members (Proportional Representation)

100 Members (Equal Representation)

Representation)Initiates all “Money Bills” (Taxation and 

“Advice and Consent” on Appointments and 

Spending)pp

TreatiesInitiates Impeachment Proceedings

Tries Impeached Officials 2Proceedings Officials

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O i l DiffOperational DifferencesHOUSEHOUSE SENATESENATE

More Centralized Less Centralized Strong Leadership and Impersonal Rule

Collegiality and  Personal InteractionImpersonal Rule Interaction

Rules Committee Determines Time for Debates (Open, Closed and Restricti e Rules)

Debate by ‘Unanimous Consent’ or Cloture Vote (60 Senators needed)and Restrictive Rules) needed)FILIBUSTER!!

Germane Amendments ONLY Non‐Germane Amendments Allowed (Riders)

Members Specialize/Committee Decisions More Influential/Floor 

Members More Generalists/ Committees Less 

4Debate Less Important Influential/Floor Debate More Important

Major Functions of Congress

R i • Representation – Delegate v. Trustee

I di id ll R i t – Individually Responsive, not Collectively Responsible

– Pork Barrel and LogrollingPork Barrel and Logrolling• Lawmaking • Oversight authorityO e s g t aut o ty• Consensus building• Confirmation powers (in the Senate)

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Organization: Congressional Organization: Congressional Committees System

• Standing committees– House 19 (w/89 subcommittees)

S ( / b i )– Senate 17 (w/69 subcommittees)

– Authorization and Appropriation

J i i• Joint committees

• Special or select committees

• Conference committees

Woodrow Wilson: “Congress in session is Congress on exhibition; 6Congress in committee is Congress at work.”

Organization: Congressional Organization: Congressional Leadership Positions

• Speaker of the House of Representativesp

• Majority leaders (House and Senate)

• Minority leaders (House and Senate)• Minority leaders (House and Senate)

• Whips (House and Senate)

P id P T (S )• President Pro Tempore (Senate)

• Vice-President (President of Senate)7

Organization: Congressional Organization: Congressional Leadership Positions

• Speaker of the H f House of Representatives

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)(D CA)

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Organization: Congressional Leadership

( )• Majority and Minority Leaders (House)Steny Hoyer (D-MD) John Boehner (R-OH)

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Organization: Congressional Leadership

• Majority and Minority (Chief) WhipsJames Clyburn (D-SC) Roy Blunt (R-MO)

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Organization: Congressional Leadership

President Pro TemporePresident of the Senate President Pro Tempore

of the Senate

Robert Byrd (D-WV)

President of the Senate

Vice President

Dick Cheney (R-WY)

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Organization: Congressional Leadership

( )• Majority and Minority Leaders (Senate)Harry Reid (D-NV) Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

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Organization: Congressional Organization: Congressional Staff

• Personal Staff

• Committee Staff

• Support OrganizationsCongressional Budget Office (CBO)– Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

– Congressional Research Service (CRS)

G t A t bilit Offi– Government Accountability Office

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

“I’m just a Bill....Yes I’m Only a Bill...and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill...”

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

FLOOR DEBATE ↑↑House: Rules Committee

15Senate: Unanimous Consent

Determinants of Voting

O P liti l Vi /Id l• Own Political Views/Ideology

• Constituents Interests

• Colleagues Influence (Committee Members [Report]; Congressional Staff )

• Interest Groups

• Presidential Pressures

• Party Leadership

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Members of Congress

• Traits:– Mostly White, Male, Professional y , ,

(i.e., lawyers, business), Wealthy

• Day-to-Day Work:Day to Day Work:– Committee Work

– Constituency Work– Constituency Work

– Media and Interest Group Events

Campaigning and Fundraising 17– Campaigning and Fundraising

Criticisms of Congress

•Inefficient

•UnrepresentativeUnrepresentative

•Unethical

•Lack of collective responsibilityp y

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