Voting in Congress. Learning Objectives To identify the factors that affect how members of congress vote To investigate to what extent each factor affects.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Homework: Assignment 4 for tomorrow
Advertisements

Interest Groups Standard Describe the means that citizens use to participate in the political process (e.g., voting, campaigning, lobbying, filing.
Jacqueline White 2003 FRQ#2.
Chapter 7 Vocabulary. Caucus a meeting of party leaders to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc. a meeting of party members within a legislative.
January 31, 2007 The McGrail Case What is representation?
Interest Groups and Political Participation. Definition of Interest Group an organized group of individuals share common goals or objectives influence.
Chapter 9 Interest Groups
Role of Congress Congress works for the people…. –But who exactly are those people?
Unit 4: Institutions Influences on Members of Congress.
Consider: What is the most significant influence on an MoC? Homework: Assignment #6 for tomorrow; quiz and test Friday.
Monday 9/22 RAP Today: Watch media and campaigns. HW: Begin to Read Elections and interest groups; Ch. 9.
Chapter 18, Section IV. Traditional Methods  Political Party Organizations Party leaders in cities communicated with national party leaders keeping them.
Chapter 9 Congress Congress Origins, Structure, and Membership Bicameral Differences Rules of Lawmaking: How a Bill Becomes a Law Budgeting and Oversight.
Advocacy 101 Government and Labor Relations Department Jason Joseph, Director Joe Minor Karyn Cunningham.
US Congress Produced by Dr Peter Jepson – edited by Mrs W Attewell. Read & précis Chapter 5 of ‘US Govt & Politics’ by A J Bennett before the Lecture.
The Nature of Interest Groups What role do interest groups have in influencing public policy? How can we compare and contrast political parties.
Legislative Branch Citizenship: American Government.
Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties. Defining Interest Groups and Political Parties What is an Interest Group? an organized group of individuals.
The Citizen and Government
Political Involvement - Structure of Government Year 9 Commerce.
The Electoral System Federal and Provincial governments hold elections at least every 5 years. The Prime Minister has the right to choose when to call.
Unit 3 Influencing Government. 1.Influencing Government through our Political Parties  Contact your MP  Run for MP  Volunteer for a political party.
APS Day 31 Agenda.  What is politics? 1) the art or science of obtaining and maintaining power, and 2) the art or science of governing – ruling and controlling.
Ch.8 Sec 2. Measuring Public Opinion Public opinion can be found through a variety of means, voting, lobbying, books, pamphlets, magazines, and newspaper.
P OLITICAL P ARTIES 10/12-13/09 Mr. Westerfeld. W HY DO P ARTIES FORM ? To facilitate Collective Action in the Electoral Process Means of organizing competition.
INTEREST GROUPS Ryan D. Williamson 7 April Agenda Attendance Schedule for rest of semester Lecture on interest groups Reading for Thursday.
Chapter 9: Interest Groups Section 3
Political Parties vs. Interest Groups Interest Group: Individuals who organize to influence the government’s programs and policies Political Parties 1.
The Presidency and the Bureaucracy The Executive Branch of the United States Government.
Executive Branch Chapter 13. The President’s Roles Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander In Chief Chief Legislator.
1. 2 The Nature of Interest Groups What role do interest groups have in influencing public policy? How can we compare and contrast political parties and.
The Role of Legislators. How members of Congress vote and how they view their role as law makers Four Roles: Delegate Partisan Trustee Politico.
What is a congressional hearing
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION. WELCOME!  Membership-Building  Fundraising  Legislative HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Congressional Make up and Voting. Parliament Candidates selected by the national party Voters choose between national parties, not multiple candidates.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman.
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT - It may be surprising, but it is difficult for government to limit the public to access information. However, the major instruments.
Chapter 9 / Section 3 Interest Groups at Work
Making Legislative Choices Member of Congress cast 1,000+ votes per year How do they decide?
.  The House o 435 members, 2 year terms of office. o Initiates all revenue bills, more influential on budget. o Limited debates.  The Senate o 100.
Consider: What is the most significant influence on an MoC? Homework: Assignment #6 for tomorrow; quiz and MC test Friday.
Issues for Canadians Chapter 1 How effectively does Canada’s federal political system govern Canada for all Canadians?
Chapter 8 Interest Groups. What is an Interest Group? an organized group of individuals: –who share common goals or objectives –who attempt to influence.
The Organization of Congress. There are Many Organizations within Congress Congress is many organizations working simultaneously to pass legislation:
The Legislative Process How are lawmakers influenced to vote?
Presentation Pro © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Magruder’s American Government C H A P T E R 9 Interest Groups.
16 February 2011 Warm-up: Complete the survey “Beyond Belonging (10 minutes – max). DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE SURVEY.
Congress is not a single organization instead it is a vast and complex collection of organizations by which the business of the legislative branch is carried.
Congress Representatives of the People. Congress Bicameral ▫Term-Every 2 years ▫Session-2 sessions every term ▫Congress starts January 3 of every odd.
Interest Groups Interest Groups at Work. Lobbyist and Lobbying Lobbying involves special interest groups influencing the decisions and actions of public.
Membership and Representation Chapter 11: Wilson AP Government and Politics Homework Assignment: Read Wilson, Chapter 11 ( ) and take notes Read.
Presentation Pro © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc. Magruder’s American Government C H A P T E R 8 and Chapter 9.
Chapter 9: Interest Groups Section 3. Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc.Slide 2 Chapter 9, Section 3 Key Terms lobbying: the process by which organized.
3. Influence of Political Parties: Strong relating to Gov’t & Economy & Social Welfare. 4. Influence of President: President can twist lawmakers arms,
Political Parties Supreme Court Cases Executive Office.
U.S. Government Unit I : Executive Branch Chapter 13 The Presidency.
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT * Government by one person * Government by the few
Chapter 11 CONGRESS.
The Legislative Branch: Legislative Process
What is representation?
The U.S. Government Standard 2.
Voting in Congress Why Do Representatives Vote the Way They Do?
Chapter 9 Section 3 Interest Groups © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT * Government by one person * Government by the few
Chapter 13 Vocabulary: The Presidency
House of Representatives and Senate
Organization of Congress
Executive Office of the President
Roles of Congress.
Media, Public Opinion, Interest Groups
Presentation transcript:

Voting in Congress

Learning Objectives To identify the factors that affect how members of congress vote To investigate to what extent each factor affects members voting

Pressures Political Party Constituents The administration Pressure Groups Colleagues and Staff Personal Beliefs

Political Party Can be the most important factor – ‘party votes’ on contentious issues. Parties have few punishments/incentives to offer members. Party labels don’t always mean whole party voting together (regional ideologies). Internal party groups e.g. Blue Dog Democrats

Constituents Trustee model of representation

Pause for Thought Representation This term can be used in a number of different ways. Representation can be understood in terms of how legislators represent their constituents. In this sense there are three different models of representation – the trustee model, the delegate model, the mandate model and the resemblance model.

Trustee ModelDelegate ModelMandate ModelResemblance Model The representative acts as the person who is vested with formal responsibility for the affairs of others. Such representation is based upon the considered judgement of the legislator. The elected representative is ‘trusted’ to make the right judgement. Constituents elect their representatives as delegates for their constituency. Essentially, the representative acts as the voice of those who are (literally) not present. Constituents elect their representatives and consequently provide them with a mandate to carry out certain policies that they have campaigned on. This model focuses on who represents the electorate, and considers how representative legislators are in terms of such factors as gender and race. Pause for Thought; Representation

Constituents Trustee model of representation “folks back home”, “locality rule” Failing to look after/represent constituents can result in electoral defeat Phone, , local news, visits, letters from constituents Regular visits “home” for party/town hall meetings, ‘surgeries’, local TV and radio, interviews with local media, addressing groups, visiting schools, hospitals etc. Views of constituents = divided (discontented v content = representative?) (National good + local popularity + electoral benefit) of policies to balance

The administration Members of the executive branch including POTUS, VPOTUS, cabinet members etc. Legislation initiated by the administration – keen interest so in touch with members/committees to influence votes Two way street of cooperation Supporting unpopular legislation/administration can be costly

Pressure Groups Try to influence members and votes Direct contact with members Attempt to generate public support Phone calls, make visits Provide evidence to committees Organise rallies, demonstrations and petitions Fundraising and campaigning Campaign donations

Colleagues and Staff Huge number of votes – impossible to be an expert on all issues and policies Reliance on others for help Colleagues – same party, same philosophy, same views – ‘mentors’, advice, suggestions Senior staff – chief of staff or legislative director

Personal Beliefs Applicable on certain votes – usually abortion, capital punishment etc. Generally members personal beliefs are similar to the majority of their constituents especially if a member adopts a trustee or mandate model of representation

Pressures Political Party Constituents The administration Pressure Groups Colleagues and Staff Personal Beliefs To what extent does each factor affect how a Member of Congress votes? Can you identify a single “deciding factor”? How do members balance all of these factors?

EXAM FOCUS How do members of Congress decide to vote?

How do members of Congress decide how to vote?

Homework Reading and Note Taking, Oversight of the Executive Branch, p