1. Influencing Congress
Chapter 7, Section 3

2. How Should A Congressman Vote?
Vote his/her own mind?
Vote as his constituents want regardless of his/her own feelings?
Vote with his/her party?
What do you think?

3. Who Influences Lawmakers?
Voters back home (constituents)
Political parties
The President
Special Interest Groups
Which should be most influential?

4. Constituents
What do the people want? (Ex: Civil Rights or Social Welfare)
What if the representative disagrees with the people?
What if the representative has more information or better understanding? (Ex: Foreign Affairs)
What if the people are uninformed, misguided, or prejudiced?
How the representative votes will influence voters in the next election.

5. How do you know what the people want?
Frequent trips back home for meetings and to make speeches.
Mail from constituents.
Questionnaires sent to voters.
Polls.
Opinions of those to contribute to their campaigns. (both workers and money)
Which sources would you trust?

6. Influence of Political Parties
Parties are more influential in the House than in the Senate. Why?
Political philosophy
Liberal versus conservative
Certain types of issues (foreign affairs, farm issues, the economy, etc.)
Maybe the representative needs guidance.
Party leaders do not expect to get their way all the time.

7. Other Influences The President Use of news coverage/interviews
Appeal to the people
Direct face-to-face influence
Would you be influenced if you got
a personal call from the President?

8. Would you be influenced by lobbyists?
Other Influences
Interest Groups
Lobbyists
Industries
Associations
Labor unions
Single-issue groups
Would you be influenced by lobbyists?

9. Other Influences Political Action Committees (PACs)
Influence law makers
Contribute money to candidates
Provide information on issues