1. 3 Branches of Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

2. The Legislature
The Primary Formulator of Public Policy

3. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS The Mind of the People
Constitutional Requirements
The Mind of the People
The “Art of the Possible”
Quorum

4. The Legislature Who’s in Charge? President (of the Senate)
President pro tempore
Speaker of the House
Majority & Minority Leaders
Whips (Assistant…)

5. The Legislature Assignment of Committees Exclusive Major Minor Select
Conference !
Senate p House p. 349

6. The Legislature “I’m just a Bill…” Committee shenanigans
Discharge petition (House)
Open & Closed Rules (House)
Amendments v. Riders
Cloture (Senate)
Double Tracking & Holds (Senate)
Override

7. The Legislature House Responsibilities Oversight Authorization
The Power of the Purse
Appropriations

8. The Legislature
Senate Responsibilities
Advise & Consent
Confirmations

9. The Legislature
Continuing concerns about Gerrymandering

10. The Legislature Other Problems in Both Houses Discretionary Spending
Entitlements
Partisanship
Gridlock
Logrolling
Lobbyists

11. The Legislature AKA “The Broken Branch”
How did it get this way?
Ineffective at solving the biggest problems
Non-stop Fundraising
Possibilities for Corruption (Franking)
Avoidance of Reforms

12. The Legislature REALITIES:
Congress never has been what the Founders conceived.
Parties are too unified against each other.
“Congress” is not supposed to be “Parliament”.
The House is just too big. (or too small)

13. The Legislature
REALITIES: Incumbency Advantage Democrats have dominated but are more divided 1990 Census (Apportionment) Changing South

14. The Legislature
REALITIES: ad Hominem voting Growth of Caucuses Increased Earmarks Pork-Barrel Legislation

15. The Legislature Why did the Framers put this branch first?
Why do we keep reelecting such bums?
Why has Congress become so polarized?
Are they “disconnected” from American reality?
Do we actually understand what the Framers intended for Congress?
Does anyone actually track their Congressman’s voting record?

16. The Legislature Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions
They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests
They endlessly debate
Usually end up in Compromise
Voters HATE all of these.

17. The Legislature Why do Congressmen act as they do?
Representational View (Delegate)
What if there are conflicting views in your area?
Closeness results in C. doing his own thing
No one is really watching
Providing services will make voters forget
Party loyalty will make others forget

18. The Legislature Organizational View (The Politico)
Why do Congressmen act as they do?
Organizational View (The Politico)
Party explains almost everything
Ideological affinity
Go with “the knowledge”

19. The Legislature Attitudinal View (Trustee)
Why do Congressmen act as they do?
Attitudinal View (Trustee)
Ideological differentiation
“The Disappearing Center” (Polarization)
Lack of citizen interest and efficacy
Clear division on major issues
May indicate a true “disconnect”
Less representative than ever

20. The Legislature Questions remain: Why is there no “Liberal Coalition”?
Why has the average age risen in the past 20 years?
Why has there been a shift with fewer lawyers and more businessmen over the past 20 years?
Why has the number of representatives with military experience decreased so much?

21. The Legislature Chart on page 336
Why did the number of Blacks and Hispanics in the Senate remain constantly low while the number of women soared?
1 + 1 in 1971; in 2015 whereas
Women = 2 in 1971, 20 in 2015

22. The Legislature Chart on page 336
How do we explain the much larger growth of minorities in the House?
1971 = 12 Blacks, 5 Hispanic, 13 Women
2015 = 46 Blacks, 32 Hispanic, 84 Women

23. The Legislature Chart on page 336
Is there an explanation for the timing of the growth of women members in the House?
13 in 1971
29 in 1991
47 in 1993
59 in 2005
74 in 2007
XX in 2018