3 Branches of Government Legislative Executive Judicial

The Legislature The Primary Formulator of Public Policy

The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS The Mind of the People Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People The “Art of the Possible” Quorum

The Legislature Who’s in Charge? President (of the Senate) President pro tempore Speaker of the House Majority & Minority Leaders Whips (Assistant…)

The Legislature Assignment of Committees Exclusive Major Minor Select Conference ! Senate p. 347 House p. 349

The Legislature “I’m just a Bill…” Committee shenanigans Discharge petition (House) Open & Closed Rules (House) Amendments v. Riders Cloture (Senate) Double Tracking & Holds (Senate) Override

The Legislature House Responsibilities Oversight Authorization The Power of the Purse Appropriations

The Legislature Senate Responsibilities Advise & Consent Confirmations

The Legislature Continuing concerns about Gerrymandering

The Legislature Other Problems in Both Houses Discretionary Spending Entitlements Partisanship Gridlock Logrolling Lobbyists

The Legislature AKA “The Broken Branch” How did it get this way? Ineffective at solving the biggest problems Non-stop Fundraising Possibilities for Corruption (Franking) Avoidance of Reforms

The Legislature REALITIES: Congress never has been what the Founders conceived. Parties are too unified against each other. “Congress” is not supposed to be “Parliament”. The House is just too big. (or too small)

The Legislature REALITIES: Incumbency Advantage Democrats have dominated but are more divided 1990 Census (Apportionment) Changing South

The Legislature REALITIES: ad Hominem voting Growth of Caucuses Increased Earmarks Pork-Barrel Legislation

The Legislature Why did the Framers put this branch first? Why do we keep reelecting such bums? Why has Congress become so polarized? Are they “disconnected” from American reality? Do we actually understand what the Framers intended for Congress? Does anyone actually track their Congressman’s voting record?

The Legislature Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests They endlessly debate Usually end up in Compromise Voters HATE all of these.

The Legislature Why do Congressmen act as they do? Representational View (Delegate) What if there are conflicting views in your area? Closeness results in C. doing his own thing No one is really watching Providing services will make voters forget Party loyalty will make others forget

The Legislature Organizational View (The Politico) Why do Congressmen act as they do? Organizational View (The Politico) Party explains almost everything Ideological affinity Go with “the knowledge”

The Legislature Attitudinal View (Trustee) Why do Congressmen act as they do? Attitudinal View (Trustee) Ideological differentiation “The Disappearing Center” (Polarization) Lack of citizen interest and efficacy Clear division on major issues May indicate a true “disconnect” Less representative than ever

The Legislature Questions remain: Why is there no “Liberal Coalition”? Why has the average age risen in the past 20 years? Why has there been a shift with fewer lawyers and more businessmen over the past 20 years? Why has the number of representatives with military experience decreased so much?

The Legislature Chart on page 336 Why did the number of Blacks and Hispanics in the Senate remain constantly low while the number of women soared? 1 + 1 in 1971; 2 + 4 in 2015 whereas Women = 2 in 1971, 20 in 2015

The Legislature Chart on page 336 How do we explain the much larger growth of minorities in the House? 1971 = 12 Blacks, 5 Hispanic, 13 Women 2015 = 46 Blacks, 32 Hispanic, 84 Women

The Legislature Chart on page 336 Is there an explanation for the timing of the growth of women members in the House? 13 in 1971 29 in 1991 47 in 1993 59 in 2005 74 in 2007 XX in 2018