3 Branches of Government
Once Upon a Time… …there were 3 little branches of government…
The Legislature
NUTS & BOLTS
The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements
The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People
The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral
The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral The “Power of the Purse”
The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral The “Power of the Purse” The “Art of the Possible”
The Legislature Majority and Minority Leaders President President pro tempore Speaker Whips
The Legislature “I’m just a Bill…” Committee shenanigans Discharge petition (House) Quorum Open & Closed Rules (House) Amendments v. Riders Cloture (Senate) Double Tracking & Holds (Senate)
The Legislature Assignment of Committees Exclusive Major Minor Select Senate p. 347House p. 349
The Legislature AKA “The Broken Branch” How did it get this way?
The Legislature AKA “The Broken Branch” How did it get this way? Ineffective at solving the biggest problems
The Legislature AKA “The Broken Branch” How did it get this way? Ineffective at solving the biggest problems Non-stop Fundraising
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 )
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 Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions
The Legislature Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests
The Legislature Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests They endlessly debate
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
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 Why do Congressmen act as they do? Organizational View (The Party Man) Party explains almost everything Ideological affinity Go with “the knowledge”
The Legislature Why do Congressmen act as they do? Attitudinal View (Trustee) Ideological differentiation “The Disappearing Center” Lack of Political interest and efficacy Clear division on major issues May indicate a true “disconnect” Less representative than ever
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 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.
The Legislature REALITIES: Incumbents win handily Democrats have dominated but are more divided 1990 Census Changing South
The Legislature REALITIES: ad Hominem voting Growth of Caucuses Increased Earmarks Pork-Barrel Legislation
The Legislature REALITIES: Continuing concern about Gerrymandering
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? in 1971; 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