1. What impression do these quotes give you about Congress?
Quote of the Day
“Reader, suppose you were an idiot; and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.” – Mark Twain
“It is widely believed in Washington that it would take Congress thirty days to make instant coffee.” – David Brinkley
What impression do these quotes give you about Congress?

2. Enquiry Question: How effective has the 115th Congress been?

3. Learning Outcomes
To evaluate the efficacy of the 115th Congress in relation to its roles of:
Representation
Legislation
Oversight of the executive branch

4. YOUR TASK: Read the extract “Reviewing Congress” by Robert Singh.

5. Pork Barrel Politics
The term pork barrel politics usually refers to spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes.

6. Pork Barrel Politics
For some Pork Barrelling is perhaps the most disgusting term in US Politics, nevertheless it is defined as the allocation of federal spending for projects specifically designed to bring money or benefit to an elected representative’s constituents.
Typically ‘pork’ will be public works projects such as airports, bridges or roads or agricultural subsidies.
No matter what the actual project ends up being, if the project involves federal spending and an economic gain that is relatively limited it is generally pork.
The Citizens Against Government Waste organisation published a criteria that will determine whether or not spending by the federal government is classed a pork.
Appropriation is requested by one chamber of Congress
Not specifically authorized
Not competitively awarded
Not requested by the President
Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding
Not the subject of Congressional hearings
Serves only a local or special interests

7. FIND EXAMPLES: CAGW Pig Book 2017
Pork Barrel Politics
There are countless examples of pork barrelling being attached to legislation in the US.
The use of pork barrel projects is popular among congressmen because it allows them to use the projects as a weapon to fight for re-election. They can attempt to use pork barrel projects as evidence of bringing home the bacon for their districts.
FIND EXAMPLES: CAGW Pig Book 2017

8. What is meant by ‘pork-barrel politics’, and what is its significance in Congress? (15)

9. What is meant by ‘pork-barrel politics’, and what is its significance in Congress? (15)
‘Pork barrel politics’ is the obtaining by members of Congress of as many federal benefits as possible for their district or state, principally to aid their own re-election.
It can be argued to be significant as it contributes to:
the very high rate of incumbent re-election
the shaping of congressional careers, as congressmen will look for assignments on committees which offer the most pork-generating opportunities
sprawling and incoherent legislation
the neglect of the national interest at the expense of the local
growing government debt

10. Pause for thought: Commemorative Resolutions
How often do you get a recurring sense that those of us outside the United States do not celebrate the wonders of dairy goats often enough these days?
Or that we have neglected the many joys of asparagus?
Or forgotten the aesthetic beauty of tap dancing?

11. Pause for thought: Commemorative Resolutions
25% of all public bills enacted in the 1980s
Specify day/week/month in celebration of a specific activity/product/theme
National Dairy Goat Awareness Week
National Asparagus Month
National Tap Dance Day
99th Congress (1985-6) passed 307 commemorative resolutions (46% of all bills they passed)
Small wonder, perhaps that most Americans take a rather dim view of he collective behaviour of their national legislators; as Mark Twain once scathingly put it, America’s ‘only native criminal class’.

12. Public Confidence in American Institutions (2017)

15. How much confidence does the public have in American institutions?
GALLUP POLL

16. How much confidence does the public have in American institutions?
GALLUP POLL

18. How effective is Congress?
YOUR TASK:
Read the handout “How effective is Congress”
This handout provides a list of arguments for and against the efficacy of Congress
However, this is just an outline list; to be an expert and write a sophisticated essay you should be able to cite up to date examples to back up all of these points.
Annotate the handout to give an example for each argument from either the 114th or 115th Congress.

19. How effective is Congress?
In order to evaluate and judge the extent to which Congress is effective you need to show an understanding of the concept of ‘gridlock’ (i.e. ineffectiveness) and the factors that may lead to it, which may include:
a complicated legislative process
a divided government
a divided Congress
the use of the filibuster (Senate only)
the need for super-majorities in certain instances
the lack of strict party discipline, as well as partisanship
a limited time-frame: only 2 years between elections
an unwillingness of the president’s party to exercise proper oversight of the administration
politicisation of the confirmation process – especially regarding Supreme Court nominations

20. How effective is Congress?
YOUR TASK:
Working in trios you will evaluate how effective the 115th Congress is in fulfilling its functions.
How effective is the 115th Congress in fulfilling its legislative function?
How effective is the 115th Congress in fulfilling its representative function?
How effective is the 115th Congress in fulfilling its scrutiny and oversight function?
Things to include:
What means are you going to use to measure ‘effectiveness’? Clearly explain your criteria.
Explain and give examples to support the argument it is effective.
Explain and give examples to support the argument it is ineffective
Comparison to previous Congress – has it become more or less effective?

21. How effective is Congress?
Watch the presentations and complete the worksheet to record your notes.
All of you will need to ask each trio at least one question, for example, have they used different criteria or examples to your group, why?
Feedback from presentations

22. Learning Outcomes
To evaluate the efficacy of the 115th Congress in relation to its roles of:
Representation
Legislation
Oversight of the executive branch

23. Plenary; Congress Vocabulary
How confident are you with the vocabulary for the Congress topic?
In pairs, test each other and RAG each phrase to prioritise those you are unsure of for revision.
Congress
House Rules Committee
House
Conference Committees
Senate
Select Committees
Congressional District
Committee chairs
Exclusuve powers
Seniority rule
Concurrent powers
Filibuster
House Speaker
Presidential veto
Minority Leader
Representation
Majority Leader
House Committee on Armed Services
President of the Senate
Gridlock
President pro-tem
Bill
Committee system
Capitol Hill
Standing committees

24. Homework
Application Task: What is meant by ‘pork-barrel politics’, and what is its significance in Congress? (15) Flipped Learning Preparation Task: Congress Under Fire (McKay p ) Stretch & Challenge Task Article: Is This the Worst Congress Ever?