Re-Election Rates in the House of Representatives *

Cracking the Minority Packing the Minority Cracking the Majority Gerrymandering: Drawing Electoral Boundaries for Political Advantage *

Porkbarrel Representation *

Casework Representation *

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSTITUENCY SERVICE: THE GROWTH IN DISTRICT STAFF *

An Example of the Franking Privilege *

Change in Congressional Mailings: Election Year vs. Off Year * Off-Year Mean Change: -32% Election-Year Mean Change: +44%

Campaign Spending: Incumbents and Challengers *

Effects of Campaign Spending: Name Recognition *

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 80 TH –105 TH CONGRESS *

CONGRESSIONAL STAFFING *

The Simplified/Idealized Legislative Process *

Conservative Nature of Congress: Percent of Bills That Pass, Mean Percent of Bills that Pass: 6.7% * ( ) ( )

Fire Alarm Oversight *

The Electoral Value of the Franking Privilege *

The “Typical” Member of the 109 th Congress Gender: –Male –Women = about 15% of seats (most ever) Race: –White –Blacks = 8% of seats, 12% of population (1 senator) –Hispanics = 5% of seats, 14% of population (2 senators) Education: –93% have bachelor’s degrees –25% of population has bachelor’s degrees Age: –House = 55 years, Senate = 60 years –Oldest Congress ever Occupation: –Lawyer = 40%, Business = 35%, Politician = 35% Return

“Quality Challengers”: The Chicken and the Egg To be a quality challenger, you need: A good chance at winning, so that people take your candidacy seriously. In order to have a good chance at winning you need... Funding, so that you can get your name recognized. In order to get funding, you need... Return

WOMEN, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 92nd - 106th CONGRESS Return

Henry Clay and the “Unbounded” Congress: : Served in Senate (not yet 30) to fill the vacancy caused by resignation : State house of representatives, speaker in : Served in Senate to fill the vacancy caused by resignation : House of Representatives, Speaker of the House 1814: appointed one of the commissioners to negotiate the treaty of peace with Great Britain : Speaker of the House : “Retired” : Speaker of the House 1824: Ran for President : Secretary of State : Senate, chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on Finance 1832: Ran for President 1844: Ran for President : Senate 1852: DeadReturnReturn

Violence in Pre-Civil War Congress Return

Committees as “Preference Outliers”— Skewing Policy Outcomes Policy Dimension (where MC’s stand on spending for agriculture) Liberal (more spending) Conservative (less spending) Agriculture Committee members Bill representing the median (average) of the Chamber’s policy preferences Bill produced by the Ag Committee Committee bill wins: Chamber accepts committee’s expertise and “jurisdiction”. But why? Return

Committees as Party Agents— Skewing Policy Outcomes Policy Dimension (where MC’s stand on spending for agriculture) Liberal (more spending) Conservative (less spending) Majority Party members Bill representing the median (average) of the Chamber’s policy preferences Bill produced by the majority-controlled Ag Committee Majority party-favored bill wins: Party-agents on committee protect the majority party’s interests Return

The Chamber Rules— Centrist Policy Outcomes Policy Dimension (where MC’s stand on spending for agriculture) Liberal (more spending) Conservative (less spending) Bill representing the median (average) of the Chamber’s policy preferences Return

Congressional Party Leadership Positions HOUSE: Speaker—presiding officer, determines schedule, refers bills Majority Leader—Speaker’s “assistant”, party spokesperson Party Whips—maintain party loyalty of votes, pass information between leaders and members. Minority Leader—loyal opposition, party spokesperson SENATE: Majority Leader—Party’s floor leader, party spokesperson Party Whips—maintain party loyalty of votes, pass information between leaders and members. Minority Leader—loyal opposition, party spokesperson, coordinates very closely with Majority Leader Return

Cheating in 2305—Your Options Keep Your Mouth Shut Spill It KYMS Spill It Student 1 Student 2 C C BF FB DD

Cheating in 2305—Your Options Keep Your Mouth Shut Spill It KYMS Spill It Student 1 Student 2 C C BF FB DD

Cheating in 2305—Your Options Keep Your Mouth Shut Spill It KYMS Spill It Student 1 Student 2 C C BF FB DD

Cheating in 2305—Your Options Keep Your Mouth Shut Spill It KYMS Spill It Student 1 Student 2 C C BF FB DD

Cheating in 2305—Your Options Keep Your Mouth Shut Spill It KYMS Spill It Student 1 Student 2 C C BF FB DD

Prisoner’s Dilemma By acting rationally individually, the group collectively ends up with sub-optimal outcomes. Return

Serving on a Committee—Your Options Stick To Budget Spend Like Crazy STB SLC Committee 1 Committee Return