THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS June 18th

Inside Congress -- The Two Houses Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses? –different basis of representation representation of constituencies versus representation of statesrepresentation of constituencies versus representation of states different weight of states in each housedifferent weight of states in each house

Inside Congress -- The Two Houses Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses? –different basis of representation –different electoral time-frame House of RepresentativeHouse of Representative –constant campaign mode – responsive to current political demands SenateSenate –more removed from immediate political pressure –can take long-term view

Inside Congress -- The Two Houses Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses? –different basis of representation –different electoral time-frame –each plays a different role and represents different interests

Inside Congress -- The Two Houses House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives –unique powers introducing money billsintroducing money bills SenateSenate –unique powers ratification of presidential appointmentsratification of presidential appointments ratification of treatiesratification of treaties both play a role in routine law-makingboth play a role in routine law-making

The Dynamics of Congressional Law-Making Inside CongressInside Congress –Within Each House –Between the Houses Congress and the PresidentCongress and the President

Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives Factors Effecting Voting in the House of RepresentativesFactors Effecting Voting in the House of Representatives –party influence –district influence –ideological influence –special interest influence

Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives weak party disciplineweak party discipline –individual members are more open to outside influence responsiveresponsive can be controlled by outside interestscan be controlled by outside interests –importance of log-rolling broad benefits, compromisebroad benefits, compromise hard to get things donehard to get things done sometimes described as briberysometimes described as bribery

Party Unity – House of Representatives HOUSE SUPPORT RepublicansDemocrats Boehner, OH 99% Coyne, PA 99% Bonilla, TX 99% Filner, CA 99% Callahan, AL 99% Schakowsky CA 99% Crane, IL 99% Solis, CA 99% Oxley, OH 99% Brown, OH 98%

Party Unity – House of Representatives (Support for Republicans) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) RepublicansDemocrats Morella, MD 61% Traficant, OH 91% Leach, IO 73% Hall, TX 75% Shays, CT 75% Lucas, KY 53% Gilman, NY 76% Cramer, AL 50% Johnson, CT 76% John, LA 48%

Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives committee systemcommittee system –important –dominated according to seniority

Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privilegesthe Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privileges Cloture and the FilibusterCloture and the Filibuster the committee systemthe committee system

Party Unity – The Senate SENATE SUPPORT RepublicansDemocrats Allard, CO 98% Dayton, MN 99% Helms, NC 98% Reed, RI 99% Kyl, AZ 98% Daschle, SD 98% Lott, MS 98% Kerry, MA 98% McConnell, KY 98% Levin, MI 98%

Party Unity – Senate (Support for Republicans) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) RepublicansDemocrats Chafee, RI 50% Miller, GA 58% Specter, PA 60% Nelson, NB 42% Snowe, ME 64% Breaux, LA 41% Collins, ME 67% Baucus, MT 33% McCain, AZ 67% Cleland, GA 22%

Inside Congress -- Between the Houses A Congress Divided?A Congress Divided? Differences between the HousesDifferences between the Houses –electoral time-frames –representational concerns –dynamics of operation balancing different interestsbalancing different interests

Congress and the President Formal Powers of CongressFormal Powers of Congress United vs. Divided GovernmentUnited vs. Divided Government –frequency and causes of divided government –effects of divided government The President and His PartyThe President and His Party The President and the “Other” PartyThe President and the “Other” Party

Party Unity – House Presidential Support Highest (D) and Lowest (R) RepublicansDemocrats Paul, TX 49% Hall, TX 86% Morella, MD 53% Lucas, KY 81% Leach, IO 60% Traficant, OH 81% Gilman, NY 62% John, LA 69% Ramstad, MN 65% Cramer, AL 67%

Party Unity – Senate Presidential Support Highest (D) and Lowest (R) RepublicansDemocrats Chafee, RI 84% Miller, GA 82% Snowe, ME 84% Breaux, LA 77% Specter, PA 13% Landrieu, LA 74% Collins, ME 12% Nelson, NB 74% McCain, AZ 91% Baucus, MT 71%