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Congress Chapter 12
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Representatives and Senators
The Job Salary of $168,500 w/ retirement benefits Office space in D.C. and home w/ staff Travel allowances Franking – ability to mail anything for free Requires long hours, time from family, and pressure from others to support policies
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The Representatives and Senators
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Congressional Elections
Who wins Elections? Incumbents: those already holding office
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Congressional Elections – Incumbents
Advertising Be visible to constituents Frequent trips home, newsletters, and technology Credit Claiming Service to constituents: Casework – specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right to Pork barrel – federal projects, grants, etc. made available in congressional district or state
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Congressional Elections – Incumbents
Position taking Portray themselves as hard working, dedicated Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issue Weak Opponents Inexperienced in politics, unorganized, and underfunded Campaign Spending Challengers need to raise $ PACs give most money to incumbents
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Gerrymandering Manipulating the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class Huge component to incumbent advantage
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Congressional Elections
Defeating Incumbents Scandal or corruption = vulnerable Redistricting may weaken advantage Major political tidal wave may defeat incumbents
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Congressional Elections
Open Seats Greater likelihood of competition Most turnovers occurs Stability and Change Incumbents provide stability Change occurs less frequently through elections
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
American Bicameralism The House of Representatives The Senate 435 members, 2-year terms of office 100 members, 6-year terms of office Initiates all revenue bills, more influential on budget Gives “advice and consent”, more influential on foreign affairs House Rules Committee Unlimited debates (filibuster) Rule of Cloture Limited debates
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Who is the Leadership in the House?
Speaker of the House – Paul Ryan Presiding officer – meant to maintain decorum and order Third in line of succession Majority Leader – Kevin McCarthy Enforces party discipline Majority Whip – Steve Scalise Three major roles: Head count “Whip Team” – hear out complaints of “fence-sitters” Ensure ppl vote how the party wants Minority Leader – Nancy Pelosi Minority Whip – Steny Hoyer
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Who is the Leadership in the Senate?
President Pro Tempe – Orrin Hatch Schedules and manages all legislative matters to be proposed on the floor Majority Whip – John Cornyn Fourth in line of succession Minority Leader – Chuck Schumer Able to speak or vote Presides in VPs absence Majority Leader – Mitch McConnell Minority Whip – Richard Durbin Main spokesperson for the majority party
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
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The Congressional Process
Presidents and Congress: Prez attempt to persuade Congress they want the same thing Prez have many resources to influence Congress Bully Pulpit State of the Union Press Corp
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How Congress is Organized – Committees and Subcommittees
Standing committees Subject matter specific that handle bills in diff policy areas Joint committees Few subject-matter areas – membership drawn from House and Senate Conference committees Resolve differences in House and Senate bills Select Committees Created for a specific purpose, such as Watergate investigation
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
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How Congress is Organized – Committees at Work
Legislative Oversight Monitoring of bureaucracy through committee hearings Credit for controlling spending has increased Oversight usually happens after a catastrophe
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
Getting on a Committee Want committee assignments that gain reelection, influence, and important policy Junior members express committee preferences to leaders Supporters of leadership are favored
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
Committee Chair Most important for agenda: Scheduling hearings Hiring staff Appoint subcommittees Manage committee bills when brought before full House Most chairs selected according to seniority system
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
Caucus Group of Congress members sharing some interest or characteristic About 300 caucuses Pressure for committee meetings and hearings and for votes on bills Can be more effective than lobbyists
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How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
Congressional Staff Personal Staff Work for the member usually with constituent service, but also help w/ legislation Committee Staff Organize hearings, research and write legislation, target of lobbyists Staff Agencies Provide specific information to Congress: CRS: Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress) GAO: Government Accountability Office CBO: Congressional Budget Office
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The Congressional Process – Type of Congressmen
Trustee Do what you think is right even if its not what the constituents want More in the Senate Delegate Voting for your constituents More in the House Partisan Vote on your party alignment Politico Some combination of all three based on different situations
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The Congressional Process
Lobbyists and Interest Groups 35,000 registered lobbyists try to influence Congress Lobbyists can be ignored, shunned, and regulated
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Understanding Congress
Descriptive vs. Substantive Representation Descriptive – must be a member of the demographic group in order to accurately represent them Substantive – represent interests even though not from that group Kennedys
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Understanding Congress
Representation vs. Effectiveness Supporters claim Congress is: A forum in which many interest compete for policy Decentralized, no oligarchy prevents action Critics argue Congress is: Responsive to so many interests that policy is uncoordinated, fragmented, and decentralized So representative that it is incapable of taking decisive action to deal with difficult problems
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Understanding Congress
Congress and the Scope of Gov’t More policies Congress works on, the more ways it can serve their constituents More programs that are created, bigger gov’t gets Contradiction in public opinion: everybody wants gov’t programs cut, just not their programs
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Summary Members of Congress make policy
They have a sizeable incumbency advantage Congress is structurally complex Presidents, parties, constituents, and interest groups all affect legislators’ vote choice
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