Chapter 7 Congress at Work

7-1 How a Bill Becomes a Law

Types of Laws Public – applies to whole nation Private – applies to an individual; i.e. immigration issues Ryder – unrelated issue attached to a law that is likely to pass; often “pork” being sneaked in

Types of Resolutions Becomes a law if passed? Requires president’s signature? Applies to: Uses or examples: Simple No One house of congress Joint Yes Whole nation Correct error in earlier law; appropriate money Con-current Congress Set date of Congress’ adjournment; express Congress’ opinion

How Laws are Made – Simplified Introduce Committee Action Floor Action Conference Action Send to President Signature, 10-day rule or veto What are the more detailed steps? See diagram on p. 185.

Committee Action Hearings – testimony from expert witnesses, government officials and/or interest groups Markup session – committee makes changes in bill Reporting a bill – committee sends bill and its report to House or Senate

Vocabulary “Pigeonholing” – committee lets a bill die by doing nothing Line-item veto – ability to veto portions of a bill (usually appropriations) Appropriation – approval of government spending

7-2 Taxing and Spending Bills

Taxes The committees that work on tax laws are: House Ways & Means Committee Senate Finance Committee

Appropriations The president proposes the annual budget The budget must be approved by Congress in a two-step process Authorization bill – approves a program Appropriations bill – approves the funding House & Senate appropriations committees deal with this

Vocabulary Uncontrollables – spending to which the government is committed by previous laws or contracts (about 70% of budget) Entitlements – social programs that continue from one year to the next

7-3 Influencing Congress

Constituents Representatives listen to: Why? Reelection! Visits home / face-to-face meetings Letters, faxes, e-mails, form letters Surveys Polls Key supporters Why? Reelection! Constituents expect politicians to defer to the district’s needs more than the “good of the nation” What about when there is a conflict between what the district wants and the good of the nation? Why do politicians do this? Reelection! Have you tried to influence politicians?

Political Parties Strong influence on economic and social policy issues Less influence on foreign policy Why? Elected officials tend to have the same views as their parties They can’t be experts on everything They get pressured They want election support Read aloud p. 196

Other Influences President Special interest groups / lobbyists PAC’s (Political Action Committees) Lobbyists or PAC’s may represent: Businesses Labor unions Professions (doctors, educators, etc.) Non-profits (environmental groups, etc.) Read aloud p. 196

7-4 Helping Constituents

Vocabulary Casework – helping constituents with problems related to government Public works – infrastructure – “built” environment” under the jurisdiction of a government Roads, mass transit, airports Sewage, water supply, dams Sometimes hospitals, schools, jails Pork Barrel legislation – benefits a particular district Logrolling – lawmakers helping each other get federal projects for their districts Read aloud p. 200 – many different requests