AP U.S. Government Rixie April 26th, 2018 Review Session #4 AP U.S. Government Rixie April 26th, 2018

Structure of Congress Bicameral legislature, Distinctions between house & Senate, & Elections

Comparison of House & Senate House of Representatives Senate Membership Term of office Qualifications Constituencies Prestige

Comparison of House & Senate House of Representatives Senate Membership 435 members; by population (each state has at least 1) 100; two per state Term of office 2 years (entire House elected) 6 years (staggered terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years) Qualifications 25 years old; citizen for 7 years; live in state of district 30 years old; citizen for 9 years; live in state Constituencies Smaller; districts Entire state Prestige Less prestigious More prestigious

Elections – House of Representatives Reapportionment – seats are redistributed after each census Congressional districting – state legislatures draw boundaries Gerrymandering – drawing districts to favor one party or group

Elections – Senate Originally chosen by state legislatures until 17th Amendment (ratified 1913) Now elected directly by people of the state Senate races get more media coverage

Incumbency Effect Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to: Name recognition/publicity Credit claiming for past deeds Voting record Casework for constituents More support from PACs

Who’s in Congress? Demographics: Majority white males Average age 55-60 Prior occupation of lawyers/businesspeople/academics No term limits – some states have tried, but SCOTUS says must have constitutional amendment

Workings of Congress Leadership, committees, Roles, & Powers

Leadership: House of Reps. Most influential: Speaker of the House Assigns bills to committee, controls floor debate, appoints party members to committees Majority & minority leaders – help speak for their parties Majority & minority whips – direct party members in voting, keep track of votes & pressure members

Leadership: Senate U.S. VP is presiding officer, but only votes to break a tie President pro tempore – majority member who presides (ceremonial) Majority & minority leaders Majority leader is most influential member Whips – same role as in House

Types of Committees Type Description Standing Joint Select Conference

Types of Committees Type Description Standing Joint Select Conference Permanent committee on specific policy issue; most have subcommittees Joint Made up of members of both houses; could be routine or select Select a.k.a Special Committee; temporary for a specific purpose, such as the Senate Watergate Committee Conference Temporary committee with members from both houses; resolves differences in House/Senate versions of a bill

Leadership: Committees Committee chairpersons Members of majority party, chosen by the party Set agendas & assign members to subcommittees Seniority system not as strong as it once was, but still exists Majority of members of each committee come from majority party

Key Committees to Know House Rules Committee (powerful!) Reviews & schedules all bills before they go to the floor; allocates time for debate and sets amendment rules for each bill House Ways & Means Committee Writes tax codes (they must originate here) Senate Finance Committee Works with Ways & Means to write tax codes Appropriations Committee in each house Decides how federal $ gets apportioned to agencies

Caucuses Different meaning from a caucus as a form of primary election Informal groups of Congress members who share a common purpose/goal Congressional Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Dem. Or Rep. Caucus

Congressional Staff & Support Personal staff of members Committee staff – research and analyze info Support agencies: Library of Congress

Roles of Congressmen/women Policymaker Representative: Delegate model: vote based on wishes of constituents Trustee model: constituents entrust elected officials to make informed decisions Constituent servant (casework) Committee member Politician/party member

Privileges Travel allowances Franking privileges – send mail to constituents postage free

Legislative Powers Expressed (enumerated) – Article I, Section 8 of Constitution Implied – elastic clause Limitations: 10th Amendment; Article I, Section 9 of Constitution

Non-legislative Powers Select POTUS (House) & VP (Senate) upon failure of 270 votes in electoral college Propose amendments to Constitution House may impeach POTUS, VP, other officers; trial held in Senate Senate confirms appointments and treaties Legislative oversight: investigates/reviews policies & programs of executive branch

How a Bill Becomes a Law Process & Influences

First Steps for All Bills Revenue/tax bills MUST begin in the House All others can start in either House or Senate Anyone can propose a bill – member of congress must introduce it Numbered, assigned to committee/subcommittee

Bill Process cont’d It can die in committee, or if approved, is debated and voted on In the House only – Rules Committee schedules/sets terms of debate If passed – goes to the other body Conference committees resolve differences in House/Senate versions – create compromise versions Compromise bills must be voted on again

Presidential Action Only goes to POTUS if passed by BOTH houses Sign the bill into law Veto the bill Can be overridden with 2/3 vote of both houses Allow bill to become law w/out signing Pocket veto

Major Tactics In the Senate – filibuster is unlimited debate to stall action on a bill; may end with cloture (vote of 60 senators to end filibuster) Members can propose amendments to legislation (additions/changes)

Major Tactics Pork barrel legislation Logrolling Riders Attempt to provide funds/projects to member’s district/state Logrolling “I’ll support your bill, if you support mine.” Riders Additions to a bill that have no real connection to it (sneaky)

Major Tactics Legislative veto: Allows vote of Congress to reject POTUS/executive branch action SCOTUS declared it unconstitutional (1983) Present in the War Powers Act (one major argument against it)

Major Influences on Congress Constituents: Members want to win re-election and therefore please their voters Lobbyists & interest groups attempt to sway votes/legislation Senior members & staff often influence &/or advise members Party & POTUS want loyalty Senators are more likely to sway from party line