Congress Membership, Leadership & Organization

Members Not a glamorous job, but has its perks Not a glamorous job, but has its perks PowerPowerPower $174,000 annual salary$174,000 annual salary Generous retirement and health benefitsGenerous retirement and health benefits Constitutional requirements Constitutional requirements House: 25, citizen for 7 yearsHouse: 25, citizen for 7 years Senate: 30, citizen for 9 yearsSenate: 30, citizen for 9 years Reside in stateReside in state 435 Representatives; 100 senators435 Representatives; 100 senators

113 th Congress

Members Q1: Can Congress be representative without representative demographics? Q1: Can Congress be representative without representative demographics? Descriptive representation vs. substantive representationDescriptive representation vs. substantive representation

Q2: Why Aren’t There More Women in Congress? Less likely to run Less likely to run ChildcareChildcare Risk averseRisk averse Bias Bias Must be more qualifiedMust be more qualified

Bicameral Legislature Bills must pass both houses Bills must pass both houses Checks and balances Checks and balances Connecticut Compromise Connecticut Compromise

House of Representatives More institutionalized and seniority- based More institutionalized and seniority- based More party loyalty More party loyalty Tied more closely to people Tied more closely to people Reelected every two yearsReelected every two years All revenue bills originate hereAll revenue bills originate here Rules Committee Rules Committee Sets agenda for hearing billsSets agenda for hearing bills

Senate Meant to be more elite body Meant to be more elite body Ratifies treatiesRatifies treaties Confirms presidential nominationsConfirms presidential nominations Tries impeached officialsTries impeached officials More equal to one another than in House More equal to one another than in House Party leaders play role of House Rules Committee Party leaders play role of House Rules Committee Filibuster = talk legislation to death Filibuster = talk legislation to death Filibuster Unless 3/5 vote for clotureUnless 3/5 vote for clotureUnless 3/5 vote for clotureUnless 3/5 vote for cloture

Congressional Leadership Chosen by party Chosen by party House House Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House Majority / minority leadersMajority / minority leaders WhipsWhips Senate Senate Vice PresidentVice President Majority / minority leadersMajority / minority leaders

Committees and Subcommittees Control congressional agenda Control congressional agenda Guide legislation through process Guide legislation through process Four types: Four types: Standing committeesStanding committeesStanding committeesStanding committees By far most important By far most important Handle bills in different policy areas Handle bills in different policy areas Each house has its own Each house has its own Subcommittees = smaller (more specialized) units formed out of committees membership Subcommittees = smaller (more specialized) units formed out of committees membership

Other Committees Joint Committees Joint Committees In some policy areas, draw membership from both housesIn some policy areas, draw membership from both houses Conference Committees Conference Committees Formed when two houses pass a bill in different formsFormed when two houses pass a bill in different forms Work out the differences and compromiseWork out the differences and compromise Select Committees Select Committees Appointed for a specific purposeAppointed for a specific purpose Watergate investigation Watergate investigation

What Committees Do Legislation Legislation DuhDuh Oversight Oversight After legislation is enacted bureaucracy administers itAfter legislation is enacted bureaucracy administers it Committees monitor administration through hearingsCommittees monitor administration through hearings A legislative check on executive branchA legislative check on executive branch

Caucuses: Informal Organization of Congress As important as formal structure As important as formal structure Dominated by caucuses Dominated by caucuses Groups of members who share an interest or a characteristicGroups of members who share an interest or a characteristic 500 caucuses today500 caucuses today Black Caucus Black Caucus Congresswomen’s Caucus Congresswomen’s Caucus Sunbelt Caucus Sunbelt Caucus Moderate/Conservative Democrats Moderate/Conservative Democrats Travel and Tourism Caucus Travel and Tourism Caucus Mushroom Caucus Mushroom Caucus

Congressional Hispanic Caucus 11.3

Congressional Staff Personal Staff Personal Staff mostly LAs (legislative assistants)mostly LAs (legislative assistants) CaseworkCasework Committee Staff Committee Staff Legislative oversightLegislative oversight Staff Agencies Staff Agencies Congressional Research ServiceCongressional Research Service Government Accountability OfficeGovernment Accountability Office Oversight of executive Oversight of executive Congressional Budget OfficeCongressional Budget Office

How many staff members does Congress employ to help it do its job? a.More than 11,000 b.3,200 c.Less than 2,000 d.Staff are volunteers from the member’s constituency, and their numbers vary

How many staff members does Congress employ to help it do its job? a.More than 11,000 b.3,200 c.Less than 2,000 d.Staff are volunteers from the member’s constituency and their numbers vary