Lawmakers and Legislatures Chapter 11 1
Legislators and Constituents Legislators start in local politics Expanding group of constituents 2
Structure Bicameral House : population Senate : state Census - 10 years Apportionment Re-apportionment Senate : state 2 for each state At large 3
Qualifications House Senate 25 years old 7 years a citizen 2 year term No limit on the number of terms Senate 30 years old 9 years a citizen 6 year term No limit on the number of terms 4
Informal Qualifications Race Gender Education Occupation 5
Jobs of Legislators Delegate Trustee 6
Getting Elected Challenger v. Incumbent Name recognition Office resources (franking privileges) Campaign funds Bragging rights (pork; earmarks) 7
Powers of Congress Delegated Implied Non-legislative
Delegated Borrow money Power to tax Regulate commerce among states Coin money Bankruptcies War powers Copyright laws, patents
Implied Power Necessary and proper clause ‘elastic clause’ McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) 10
Non-legislative Powers Impeachment Oversight and investigation Subpoena Authorization of bill Appropriation 11
How Congress Checks Other Branches Oversight Confirmation Impeachment Ratification Override Amendments (bill, constitution)
Operation of the House and Senate Roberts Rules of Order Procedures Deliberative body Methods of tracking the issue Method of tracking what the motion is the body is voting on Determining what can be decided under what procedure Parlimentarian
Committee System Standing committees & Sub Committees Select committees or special committees Joint committees Conference committees Assignment: majority party Caucuses: party meetings
Support Agencies Library of Congress Congressional Budget Office General Accounting Office Government printing office Staff
Privileges, Benefits, Penalties Perquisites or perks Benefits Health insurance Congressional staff Penalties Censure Expulsion 16
How a Bill Becomes Law -1 House Senate Hopper Calendar Committee Subcommittee Rules committee Floor Senate Hopper Calendar Committee Subcommittee Floor 17
How a Bill Becomes Law - 2 Conference Committee President Subcommittees Back to House and Senate President Sign Veto Pocket veto Congress can override a veto 18
Introducing a Bill Bill Concurrent resolution Joint resolution Suggested by President, Interest Group, Individual Concurrent resolution Congressional opinion, without the force of law, approval of both houses Joint resolution Formal expression of opinion, force of law 19
Committee Hearings Senate and House House only Testimony Mark up bill House only Rules Committee 90% of bills are pigeonholed Discharge petition 20
Floor Action & Debate Constitution requires Quorum -- majority of the members to house seldom Committee of the Whole Senate Debate -- all members Filibuster cloture House Debate -- limited 21
Amendments House Senate Open rule Closed rule Must be germane Riders Christmas tree bill 22
Voting by Congress Pass the bill as written - send to other house Table or kill the bill Sent the bill back to committee Offer amendments 23
Influence on Voting Constituent’s views Party membership Personal views Interest groups Congressional deals Logrolling Pork barrel 24