CONGRESS

Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress HouseSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Length of Term2 years6 years

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term2 years6 years Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Special Powers ▪ Impeaches federal officials ▪ Introduces revenue-raising bills ▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so ▪ Conducts impeachment trials ▪ Approves Presidential appointments ▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term2 years6 years Special Powers ▪ Impeaches federal officials ▪ Introduces money bills ▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so ▪ Conducts impeachment trials ▪ Approves Presidential appointments ▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties

Distinct legislative Bodies Senate  Great debating society  Many decisions require super-majority  Minority of senators (41) can block measures  Considered the upper house

House of Representatives  Technical expertise & personalized constituency service  Uses formal rules for debate  Decisions made by a simple majority  Lower house

FRQ Practice A. Describe two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature B. Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power C. Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.

Who is in Congress? Mr. WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children

Many were lawyers Held previous positions in government Many make careers out of office Upper-middle class

Do members represent their voters? Demographically: No Ideologically – No  Republican members more conservative than avg. Americans  Democrat members more liberal than avg. Americans Yes: If they want to get elected

Congressional Elections Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition & franking privilege Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel & casework Safe districts  gerrymandered

Figure 11.2: Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18.

Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR

Why is it important?  1. increases or decreases the number of seats  2. more Rep’s more influence  3. electoral votes

Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines Every 10 yrs. After the census is taken

- The designing of election districts to give advantage to one group over another Why?  To enhance political party strength  Protect incumbents  Ethnic groups Gerrymandering

Powers of Congress Source of Power - Constitution Article 1 section 8 lists the Enumerated Powers

Enumerated Powers Economic powers – Judicial powers – National security powers – Regulatory powers – Administrative powers -

Article I, section 8, clause 18  “make all laws necessary and proper”  Called the implied power – aka – elastic clause or the necessary & proper clause

Functions of Congress Making laws Representation Oversight Agenda setting

The Legislative Process Bill – proposed piece of legislation Five Steps 1. Introduction 2. Committee review 3. House & Senate approval 4. Conference committee reconciliation 5. Presidential approval

How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

Standing Committee Formed to handle bills in different policy areas 2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member

Conference Committees Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a bill

Forms of Representation REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS

ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW (Partisan) - MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE TO PLEASE COLLEAGUES Logrolling

ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE

Oversight Congress “checks” the executive branch  Examples – Congressional hearings, confirmation hearings & investigations

Leadership in Congress

House of Representatives Speaker of the House- 1. Chosen by majority party 2. Presides over the House 3. Appoints select, conference & rules committees

4. Assigns bills to committees 5. Second in line for the presidency

Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )

Majority & Minority Leader 1. Partisan position picked by individual parties 2. Floor leader & legislative strategist

Majority Leader –Kevin McCarthy (R)

Minority Leader

Party Whips 1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the House

Senate Vice President - Biden 1. President of the Senate 2. Presides over the Senate 3. Votes in case of tie

President pro Tempore 1. Ceremonial job – picked by the majority party 2. Presides when the VP is absent 3. Third in line for the presidency after the Speaker – Orrin Hatch

Majority Leader 1. True leader in the Senate 2. Recognized first for all debates Majority –McConnell Minority - Reid

Majority Leader – Mitch McConnell

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Riders to Bills Riders are provisions not likely to pass on its own merit Attached to an important measure certain to pass “Christmas Tree” bill – many riders attached

Job Benefits Pay $174,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking Privileges

Types of Committees

Committee Chairmen Head a standing committee Chosen by the majority party Decide when they will meet Which bills they will discuss Decide when to hold public meetings

Seniority Rule What is it?  The head of a committee is almost always the longest-serving member of the committee from the majority party Criticisms – ignores ability and discourages younger members

Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress

Select Committees Temporary - set up to study specific issues

Caucuses Associations of members of Congress created to advocate on behalf of an ideology, constituency, or regional and economic interest

Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

Journal topic Members of Congress tend to have a particular demographic profile. Is this a matter of concern? Does the preponderance of a particular demographic and professional group compromise the quality of representation provided by the U.S. Congress?

The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress

Senate

Bills & Resolutions

Bills 10,000 proposed laws a session About 6% become law

Two Types 1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or places

Resolutions Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution

Joint Resolution Has the force of law May be used to appropriate money & propose constitutional amendments

Concurrent Resolution State position Example – Foreign matters

Resolutions Used for such things as the adoption of a new rule or procedure

Court Cases Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Political spending is protected by the 1 st Amendment. However, there is sufficient public interest in establishing a level playing field to justify limits

Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must represent approximately the same number of people as all others

Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial gerrymandering

Pork barrel legislation- the practice of legislators obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts – ex. Highway Bill - Don Young (R-AK) $1 billion to his home state - $231 million to build a bridge to a sparsely inhabited marshland - Named “Don Young’s Way”