1. Chapter Congress

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3. Congress
Congress
Independent representatives of their districts or states
Principal work is Representation and Oversight
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5. The Congress Bicameral (two chamber) legislature
House of Representatives
2yr terms
Senate
6yr terms
Library of Congress
Most work done in congress is by committees and sub-committees
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6. Exclusive Powers
House; Pick Pres if no maj for Electoral College, Initiates Impeachmnts, Starts all tax bills
Senate; Jury in Impeachment, Ratifies Treaties, Confirms Pres appointments, confirms Judicial nominations (“Advise and Consent”)
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7. New York Public Library
A cartoon from Puck in 1890 expressed popular resentment over the “Millionaires Club,” as the Senate had become known.
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8. Who is in Congress? Gender and Race Incumbency
Marginal districts (Purple)
Safe districts (Gerrymandering)
Baker v Carr 1962
Shaw v Reno 1993
Wealth-over 180 millionaires, median net worth $450K (rollcall.com)
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9. Source: Congressional Quarterly, various years
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Source: Congressional Quarterly, various years
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10. Capitol Building Washington DC
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Speaker of the House
ROD LAMKEY JR./The Washington Times/Landov
Capitol Building Washington DC
Rex Features via AP Images
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11. Source: Adapted from chart based on Congressional Research Service and Military Officers Association data in John Harwood, “For New Congress, Data Shows Why Polarization Abounds,” New York Times, March 6, 2011.
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12. Do Members Represent Their Voters?
Representational View–members vote to please their constituents
Organizational View–members vote to please fellow members of Congress
Attitudinal View–members vote on the basis of their own beliefs
Delegate vs Trustee Model
Keith Ellison (D.,MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress.
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13. A Polarized Congress
A more ideological perspective has been brought to Congress.
Congress’ most liberal members are Democrats.
Congress’ most conservative members are Republicans.
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14. The Organization of Congress: Parties and Caucuses
Party Organization of the Senate
Party Structure in the House
The Strength of Party Structures
Party Unity
Caucuses
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16. The Organization of Congress: Committees
Standing Committees
Select Committees
Joint Committees
Conference Committees
House
Senate
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19. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., holds a photo of an oil covered
AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., holds a photo of an oil covered
pelican as he questions BP CEO Tony Hayward on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 17, 2010, during the House Overight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on the role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
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20. The Organization of Congress: Staff and Specialized Offices
Tasks of Staff Members
Staff Agencies
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
General Accounting Office (GAO)
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
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21. Floor Debate – The House Floor Debate – The Senate Vote
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Introducing a Bill
Study by Committee
Hearings/Interest Groups
Floor Debate – The House
Floor Debate – The Senate
Vote
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22. How a Bill Becomes a Law Replace with jpeg, p. 343
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24. Reducing Power and Perks
Term Limits?
Incumbent success..
New Ethics Laws (“Self-Enforced)
Pork-Barrel Legislation “earmarks”
Franking Privilege
Campaign donations
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26. Congress Pay (2016) All Members $174,000 Speaker $223,000
Other Leadership $194,000
COLA (cost of living adjustment) Jan 1 every year (CPI)
Congress can vote to decline increase
Declined every yr since 2009
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