CONGRESS Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances.
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Transcript of CONGRESS Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances.
CONGRESS
Why Bicameralism?
Compromise Checks & Balances
Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting
Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR
Why is it important? 1. increases or decreases the
number of seats 2. more Rep’s more influence 3. electoral votes
Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines
Gerrymandering Why?
To enhance political party strength Protect incumbents
Who is in Congress?
Personal & Political Backgrounds
WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children
Table 11.1: Blacks, Hispanics, and Women in Congress, 1971-2002
Many were lawyers Held previous positions in
government Many make careers out of
office
Do members represent their voters?
Demographically: No Republican members more
conservative than avg. Americans Democrat members more liberal than
avg. Americans Yes: If they want to get elected
Congressional Elections
Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel &
casework Safe districts - Gerrymandering
Table 11.2: Incumbents in Congress Reelected by 60 Percent or More
Figure 11.2: Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, 1999-2000 (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18.
Job Benefits
Power Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking
Privileges
Powers of Congress
Legislative Article 1 section 8
examples include: to collect taxes, borrow money, to declare war, and to “make all laws necessary and proper”
Non-legislative powers oversight of the executive
branch appointments impeachment
Leadership in Congress
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House- Boehner 1. Presides over the House 2. Appoints select & conference
committees 3. Appoints the rules committee
4. Assigns bills to committees 5. Second in line for the
presidency
Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )
Majority & Minority Leader
1. Partisan position picked by individual parties
2. Floor leader & legislative strategist
Majority – Cantor Minority - Pelosi
Majority Leader – Eric Cantor
Minority Leader
Party Whips
1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the
“mood” of the House
Senate
Vice President - Biden 1. President of the Senate 2. Presides over the Senate 3. Votes in case of tie
Joseph Biden
President pro Tempore
1. Ceremonial job 2. Presides when
the VP is absent 3. Third in line for
the presidency after the Speaker –
Patrick Leahy
Majority Leader
1. True leader in the Senate 2. Recognized first for all debates 3. True leader of the Majority
party Majority – Reid Minority - McConnell
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell
Types of Committees
Standing Committee
Formed to handle bills in different policy areas
2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member
Joint Committees
Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress
Select Committees
Temporary - set up to study specific issues
Conference Committees
Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a
bill
Caucuses
Associations of members of Congress created to advocate on behalf of an ideology, constituency, or regional and economic interest
Types- Intraparty, Personal interest, Constituency concerns
Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses
How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law
HOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE
REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS
ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW (Partisan) - MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE TO PLEASE COLLEAGUES
Logrolling
ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members
Determined By
Qualifications
Length of Term
Special Powers
Congress
The United States Congress
House Senate
Total Members 435 Members 100 Members
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined By
Qualifications
Length of Term
Special Powers
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Determined ByThe state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have.
Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined ByThe state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have.
Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population
Qualifications
Length of Term
Special Powers
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Qualifications
▪ Must be 25 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years▪ Must be resident of state
▪ Must be 30 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years▪ Must be resident of state
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined ByThe state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have.
Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population
Qualifications▪ Must be 25 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years▪ Must be resident of state
▪ Must be 30 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years▪ Must be resident of state
Length of Term
Special Powers
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Length of Term 2 years 6 years
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined ByThe state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have.
Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population
Qualifications▪ Must be 25 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years▪ Must be resident of state
▪ Must be 30 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years▪ Must be resident of state
Length of Term 2 years 6 years
Special Powers
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Special Powers
▪ Impeaches federal officials▪ Introduces money bills▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so
▪ Conducts impeachment trials▪ Approves Presidential appointments▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties
CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined ByThe state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have.
Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population
Qualifications▪ Must be 25 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years▪ Must be resident of state
▪ Must be 30 years old▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years▪ Must be resident of state
Length of Term 2 years 6 years
Special Powers▪ Impeaches federal officials▪ Introduces money bills▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so
▪ Conducts impeachment trials▪ Approves Presidential appointments▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties
Journal topic
Members of Congress tend to have a particular demographic profile. Is this a matter of concern? Does the preponderance of a particular demographic and professional group compromise the quality of representation provided by the U.S. Congress?
The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Majority Floor Minority Floor
Majority Whip Minority Whip
Senate
President of the Senate
Majority Floor President pro Temp. Minority Floor
Minority WhipMajority Whip
Bills & Resolutions
Bills
10,000 proposed laws a session
About 6% become law
Two Types
1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or
places
Resolutions
Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution
Joint Resolution
Has the force of law May be used to appropriate
money & propose constitutional amendments
Concurrent Resolution
State position Example – Foreign matters
Resolutions
Used for such things as the adoption of a new rule or procedure
Riders to Bills
Riders are provisions not likely to pass on its own merit
Attached to an important measure certain to pass
“Christmas Tree” bill – many riders attached
Court Cases
Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Political spending is protected by
the 1st Amendment. However, there is sufficient public interest in establishing a level playing field to justify limits
Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must
represent approximately the same number of people as all others
Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial
gerrymandering
Pork barrel legislation- the practice of legislators obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts – ex. Highway Bill - Don Young (R-AK) $1 billion to his home state - $231 million to build a bridge to a sparsely inhabited marshland - Named “Don Young’s Way”
Essay Practice # 1
A. Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature
B. Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power
C. Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.