Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress? Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of...

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Chapter 9 Congress Congress

Transcript of Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress? Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of...

Page 1: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Chapter 9

CongressCongress

Page 2: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Why Congress? Founders feared tyrannical rulers and

had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation

Bicameralism (result of “Great Compromise”) attempts to balance power among large and small states, elites and masses; House based on population; Senate on equality of states

Page 3: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Powers of Congress Enumerated/expressed powers

(Article I, section 8), including: Impose taxes Borrow and spend money Regulate interstate and international

commerce Coin money Establish court system Declare war Raise army and navy

Page 4: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Powers of Congress (cont.)

Implied powers From the necessary and proper/elastic

clause (Article 1, section 8, clause 18) First used in the Supreme Court’s ruling in

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Allows Congress to enact laws that assist in

accomplishing goals directly related to its enumerated powers

Set stage for expanded role of national government relative to states; a check on expansion of executive power

Page 5: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Functions of Congress

Lawmaking (and logrolling) = primary and fundamental

Constituent service (casework) Representation

Trustee (conscience, broad interest) Instructed-delegate (agent of constituents) Combination of roles

Oversight (follow up on laws) Public education (agenda setting) Conflict resolution (great pluralist mediator)

Page 6: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

© 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Page 7: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Members of Congress Not typical Americans Older Wealthier Disproportionately White, male, and

Protestant Trained in professional

occupations

Page 8: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.
Page 9: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Congressional Electionsoperated by individual state governments

House of Representatives Elected every two years by

popular ballot Number of seats is

determined by population Each state has at least one

representative Each district has about a

half million residents 435 members

U.S. Senate Elected every six years

by popular ballot (since ratification of the 17th Amendment (1913))

One third of the Senate is elected every two years

Each state has two Senators

100 members

Page 10: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Power of IncumbencyOverwhelming majority of

incumbent representatives Smaller proportion of

senatorsWho run for reelection are

successfulSee Table 9-3, 215

Page 11: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Power of Incumbency, 215

© 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Page 12: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Complexities “One person, one vote” principle Reapportionment = allocation of seats

in House of Representatives to each state after each census

Redistricting = redrawing boundaries of districts within each state Done by state legislatures Gerrymandering (Figure 9.1, 217) Minority-majority districts

Page 13: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

4th district, Figure 9-2, 218

© 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Page 14: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

CompensationMembers of Congress are

well paid ($154,000 in 2003)Enjoy a host of benefitsPersonal and committee

staff membersPrivileges and immunities

Page 15: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Committee Structure Bulk of legislating done in committees

and subcommittees Standing committees (review introduced

legislation) Select committees (short-term, specific purpose) Joint committees (members from both) Conference committees (special joint committees

aimed at achieving agreement on legislative wording)

Seniority system (longer-term members given preference in committee appointments)

Page 16: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.
Page 17: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Congressional Leadership

House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the House (most

powerful position)House Majority LeaderHouse Minority LeaderHouse Majority WhipHouse Minority Whip

Page 18: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Congressional Leadership

U.S. Senate President of Senate (Vice President,

ceremonial) President pro tem (appointed by majority party

to preside when VP absent) Majority Floor Leader (most powerful leader) Minority Floor Leader Senate Majority Whip Senate Minority Whip

Page 19: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

How Members VoteCue-taking from senior

members (yes and no)Best predictor = party

affiliation

Page 20: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Passes through both chambers of Congress

Through standing and joint committees

Goes to President who signs or vetoes

If vetoed, can be overriden by a 2/3 majority in both houses

Page 21: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

© 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

How a Bill becomes a Law, Figure 9.3, 227

Page 22: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Budget ProcessPresident prepares executive

budgetReviewed by Office of

Management and Budget (OMB)

Sent to Congress, which is expected to pass a final budget by September

Page 23: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

© 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Budget Cycle, Figure 9-4, 229

Page 24: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Discussion Questions What are important differences between the

House and Senate? How is the average member of Congress

different from the average American? How much power do congressional leaders

have? Why do incumbents usually win reelection? Are minority-majority districts fair? Why is it relatively easy to kill a bill in

Congress?

Page 25: Chapter 9 Congress. Why Congress?  Founders feared tyrannical rulers and had experienced weakness of congress under Articles of Confederation  Bicameralism.

Hot Links to Selected Internet Resources Book’s Companion Site:

http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com/schmidtbrief2004

Wadsworth’s Political Science Site: http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com

U.S. Senate: http://www.senate.gov U.S. House of Representatives:

http://www.house.gov Roll Call Newspaper Online:

http://www.rollcall.com