1. Chapter 11
CONGRESS

2. The Structural Foundations of the Modern Congress
The ability and willingness of the members of Congress to meet their responsibilities is affected by other government institutions and actors, by political linkage institutions (such as interest groups, public opinion, and elections), and by structural factors (such as constitutional rules and economic and social change).

3. Constitutional Design
The framers of the Constitution were ambivalent about democracy and concerned about the possibility of government tyranny.
They also wanted an energetic government capable of accomplishing its assigned tasks.
The framers intended for the legislative branch to be the center of policymaking
The framers also made sure that Congress was surrounded by competing centers of government power.

4. Representation in Congress
Apportionment
Established through the Great Compromise
Based on population in the House of Representatives and on equal representation of the states in the Senate.
Election of legislators

5. Federalism
In our federal system, some powers and responsibilities are granted to the national government, some are shared, and some are reserved for the states.
It is inevitable that conflicts will occur between state governments and the national government.
Federalism also infuses localism into congressional affairs.

6. Historical Development of Congress
1st Congress convened on March 4, 1789
Increase in size
Increase in the volume of congressional business
Institutionalization and professionalization
Sharing power with the president

7. Representation and Democracy
Styles of representation
Edmund Burke described two principal styles of representation in 1774.
Delegate theory
Trustee theory
Senators (who have longer terms of office) usually have more latitude than representatives to assume the trustee style.

8. Members of Congress: Who are they?
Gender and race
Occupation
One way to represent is to be similar to that which is being represented.

9. The Electoral Connection
How congressional elections affect the quality of representation
Electoral districts
Money and congressional elections
The incumbency factor
How democratic?

10. How Congress Works Congress plays an important part in making policy.
Congress remains the most powerful legislature among Western democratic nations.
The congressional agenda

11. Political parties in Congress
At the opening of each new Congress, the two houses organize their legislative business along party lines.
Party composition of Congress
Party voting in Congress
Party discipline

12. Congressional leadership
The political parties work through the leadership structure of Congress.
Leaders of the majority political party are also the leaders of the House and Senate.
Leadership in the House
Leadership in the Senate

13. Congressional committees
Most of the work of Congress takes place in its committees and subcommittees.
Why Congress has committees: purposes
Types of committees
Committee assignments
Committee and subcommittee chairs
Rules and Norms

14. Legislative Responsibilities: How a Bill Becomes a Law
It is extremely difficult to make law because it is relatively easy to block bills from becoming laws.
Only about 6 percent of all bills that are introduced are enacted into law.

15. Introducing a bill
Committee action
Floor action
Conference committee
Presidential action

16. Legislative oversight of the executive branch
Reviewing the performance of executive branch agencies to ensure that laws are being properly administered and that power is not being abused
An important legislative responsibility of Congress
Primarily managed by the committees and subcommittees
Hearings are an important part of the process.

17. Congress, Public Policy, and the American People
Congress as policymaker
Frequent criticisms of Congress
Assessment of criticisms: The evidence is mixed