How Congress Works

Creating Laws Bills-first step to a law –As many as 25,000 introduced per 2-year session Less than 10% become law Great majority never get out of committee Normally less than 100 are really major issues –Routing of a bill-Check graphic in text Decision making in the legislature –May vote on over 750 bills/yr Bill may be up to 2000 pgs –No time to read them all-not to mention gather your own information

Influences on Congress persons –Voters in home districts (constituents) Can you oppose their wishes often and be reelected? Do voters know how you voted? Do voters care how you voted on every issue? How do you know what your constituents want? – –Questionnaires and surveys –Polls –Party influence Usually vote with their party because they can’t be informed on every issue Shared political philosophy

–Demos-social welfare programs, regulation of business, jobs programs, tax laws for lower income brackets, less defense spending –Republicans-less spending for government programs, favor business and higher income groups, less national gov’t. influence –Political spectrum President’s inmfluence –Popularity polls Special interest groups –Lobby for a particular agenda –PAC’s-Are they too powerful? Congressional control over the budget –Taxes are source of most gov’t money –All revenue bills must start in the House

Ways and Means Committee –Who will pay and how much tax –Loopholes like capital gains and oil depletion allowance –Close rule bills-no riders –Special interests try to influence Goes to floor-always a battle along party lines –Senate No closed rule –Apply many amendments –All government spending must be appropriated by Congress Authorizations bills-how much money can be spent on a particular program Heads of various departments testify before Congressional committees each year. Ask for money and defend programs Pres must sign bills

Helping constituents Casework-staffs are assigned specific cases-may be trivial or huge-Shell drilling outer continental shelf