1. Chapter Thirteen Congress
American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship

2. Chapter Thirteen: Learning Objectives
Explain the difference between the delegate and trustee theories of representation and how the members of the Congress were expected to combine elements of both
Detail the most important differences between the House and Senate

3. Chapter Thirteen: Learning Objectives
Describe the constitutional powers of Congress
Explain the importance of political parties and committees to the structure and functioning of Congress

4. Chapter Thirteen: Learning Objectives
Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law
Detail the major functions of Congress and explain their importance
Analyze the power of the reelection incentive to mold behavior in Congress

5. Chapter Thirteen: Learning Objectives
Discuss the performance of Congress as a deliberative, representative, ethical, and accountable institution
Evaluate the contribution of Congress to deliberative democracy in the United States

6. Introduction
Congresspersons face many challenges and one of those is time. Many are concerned that Congresspersons do not have enough time to be deliberative in the legislative process.

7. Introduction
Two theories of representation
Delegate
Trustee
The framers combined elements of both theories in designing Congress.

8. Constitutional Structure and Powers
What is the structure of Congress? What are the constitutional powers of Congress? What are the purposes of bicameralism and separation of powers?

9. Constitutional Structure and Powers
Congress is bicameral, which means that it consists of two chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate. By creating a bicameral legislature, the framers hoped to curb the branch’s dominance.

10. International Perspectives
Bicameralism throughout the world The number of bicameral legislatures around the world is increasing. Many countries have found benefits to bicameralism as it may allow for better deliberation.

11. Constitutional Structure and Powers: The House and Senate
Number of representatives based on population
Direct election by the citizens
Two year terms
Senate
Each state has an equal number of senators
Originally elected by state legislatures
Six year terms

12. Constitutional Structure and Powers: The House and Senate
Work divided through committees
Power found in leadership
More centralized control
Senate
Members are generalists
Power spread more evenly
Less centralized control

13. Constitutional Structure and Powers: The House and Senate
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

14. Constitutional Structure and Powers: Constitutional Powers
Constitutional powers include
Lawmaking
Impeaching and removing public
officials
Expelling members

15. Constitutional Structure and Powers: Constitutional Powers
Constitutional powers include
Expelling members
Ratifying treaties and confirming appointments
Proposing constitutional amendments

16. Constitutional Structure and Powers: Congress and the Other Branches
In what ways does Congress check the actions of the other branches of government? Why are these checks important?

17. Pledges and Promises
The Congressional Oath and the PATRIOT Act Members of Congress take an oath before they begin service. During the debate over the PATRIOT Act, some congresspersons referred to that oath.

18. Congressional Organization
What is the role of political parties in Congress? Should political parties have much influence in Congress? Why or why not?

19. Congressional Organization: Party Control
The majority party in each chamber controls the legislative agenda and gets to select the chairmen of all committees and subcommittees. As Lee Hamilton has stated, “party status affects pretty much everything.”

20. Congressional Organization: Party Control
Divided government occurs when the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress are controlled by different parties. What are some advantages or disadvantages to divided government?

21. Congressional Organization: Party Control
Source: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, "Party Divisions" at
.house.gov/art_history/house_history/partyDiv.html; U.S. Senate, "Party Divisions in the
Senate" at

22. Congressional Organization: Party Leaders
House
Speaker
Majority Leader
Minority Leader
Whips
Senate
President
President Pro-Tempore
Majority/Minority Leaders
Whips

23. Congressional Organization: Committees
Types of committees
Standing (often have subcommittees)
Special (or select)
Joint
Conference

24. Congressional Organization: Congressional Staff
Most congressional staff work for individual members of the House and Senate, although committees hire staffers. Does congressional staff help or hinder deliberation?

25. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Origins of Bills
Congress follows a two-year cycle which begins during the January after a congressional election. Ideas for legislation come from many places including legislators, the White House, executive agencies, and interest groups.

26. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Origins of Bills
Four forms of legislation
Bills
Companion bills
Joint resolutions
Concurrent and simple resolutions

27. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Committee Stage
After a piece of legislation is introduced, it goes through the referral process. While in committee and subcommittee, legislation typically goes through markup. If a bill survives the committee stage, it will be ready to go to floor deliberation.

28. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Consideration by the Full Body
In the House, the Rules Committee determines the rule of debate, such as open rules and closed rules. In the Senate, holds, filibuster, cloture, riders, and the unanimous consent agreement are used.

29. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Beyond the Floor
To become law, bills must pass both chambers in the exact form.
Presidential action includes
Signing legislation
Vetoing legislation (may be overridden)
Exercising a pocket veto

30. The Functions of Congress
Besides making laws, what does Congress do?
Source: Norman J. Ornstein, Thomas E. Mann and Michael J. Malbin, Vital Statistics on Congress
(Washington, AEI Press, 2002); Resumes of Congressional Activity, at
gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/Resumes.htm.

31. The Functions of Congress: Overseeing the Administration
How does Congress provide oversight?
Reviews agencies when executive branch wants to renew authority for programs
Annual budget review assesses performance

32. The Functions of Congress: Overseeing the Administration
How does Congress provide oversight?
Standing committees oversee government operations
How does the oversight function of Congress contribute to checks and balances?

33. The Functions of Congress: Educating the Public
Congress conducts much of its business in the open, unlike the executive and judicial branches. Members of Congress work to reach the public in a variety of ways, including special order speeches, town hall meetings, and media interviews.

34. The Functions of Congress: Serving Constituents
Two ways to serve constituents
Casework
Logrolling

35. The Functions of Congress: The Reelection Incentive
Congresspersons must be reelected to accomplish their long-term goals. In general, to be reelected members of Congress need to communicate with constituents, raise money, and do what is in the best interest of their constituents.

36. The Functions of Congress: The Reelection Incentive
Some scholars believe that in the quest for reelection, congresspersons may not deliberate about the broad public good, rather the good of their constituencies. Do you believe that deliberation about the public good is sacrificed for reelection?

37. Congress and Deliberative Democracy: Deliberation
In order to serve the national interest, Congress must be deliberative. Through the existence of information gathering agencies and staff, it appears that Congress may be able to effectively deliberate.

38. Congress and Deliberative Democracy: Representation
Congressional demographics do not represent the demographics of the American population. Do you believe that has an effect on deliberation? Should the demographics of Congress reflect the exact demographics of the population? Why or why not?

39. Congress and Deliberative Democracy: Ethics
There is an expectation that congresspersons should be virtuous, which means that they should be devoted to the common good of society and should love justice. Corrupt behavior is actually atypical in Congress.

40. Congress and Deliberative Democracy: Accountability
Congress is held accountable to the people through elections and the openness of its proceedings. With the emergence of the Internet, citizens may place more scrutiny on the activities of Congress.

41. Deliberation, Citizenship, and You
Monitoring and influencing Congress There are many questions to consider when evaluating Congress. There are many ways for citizens to contribute to congressional deliberation.

42. Summary
Congress is a deliberative institution
Bicameralism promotes deliberation
Congress has many functions
Many ways to evaluate Congress’s contributions to a deliberative democracy