1. Congress: The Legislative Branch

2. I. House of representatives
A)Representation based on population of each state. (435 members total)

3. B. Characteristics of the House
The large size of the House makes it necessary to follow strict debate rules
a. This makes members of the House Rules Committee very powerful.
2. Legislation can be passed with a majority vote
Minority party has little power in the House.
3. House members tend to be more ideological than senators because many represent homogenous districts.

4. C. Leadership 1) Speaker of the House 2) Majority/Minority Leader
Voted on by the entire House
Also serves as majority party leader
Follows VP in presidential succession
2) Majority/Minority Leader
A) Leads their party
3) Majority/Minority Whip
A) In charge of getting voters to vote w/ leadership.

5. II. Senate
100 total, 2 from each state.

6. B. Characteristics of the Senate
Senators tend to be more moderate because they are elected by whole states.
Looser debate rules give more power to the minority party which can make it harder to pass bills.

7. C. The Filibuster
The Senate requires two votes before a bill can pass.
Cloture (End debate on a bill) requires 60 votes
Pass a bill requires a majority 51 votes.
2) Recently the minority party have required 60 votes to pass anything of substance know as filibustering a bill.

8. III. Committee System
A) The majority of law writing, investigating and other work is done in the committees. B) Powerful committees in the House include Appropriations (funding/money), Ways and Means (taxes), Budget and Rules. C) Powerful Senate committees include Judiciary (judges and constitutional issues), Appropriations, finance, budget and Foreign Relations.

9. Review Questions
How does the size of the House compared to the Senate impact its structure and debate rules.
Which chamber’s members tend to be more ideological? Which chamber’s member tend to be more moderate Why?
What is a cloture vote?
In your own words why the minority party has more power in the Senate than the minority party in the House.
Name two important congressional committees and describe why each is important.

10. 1) How does Congress provide oversight of the Executive Branch
IV) Oversight:
1) How does Congress provide oversight of the Executive Branch
Oversight hearings- Congress has the power to subpoena executive department heads to testify before Congress.
Congress controls the budget of executive departments.
(They can decrease the budgets of departments)
-Censure, impeachment, removal from office.

11. V. Mayhew’s Three Behaviors to get reelected.
Advertising- disseminate one’s name among constituents to create a favorable with little or no issue content
1. Congress members use their franking privileges and attend local events

12. 1. Earmarks and Pork Spending
B. Credit Claiming -take credit for things they did for people in their district or state.
1. Earmarks and Pork Spending
-Money that goes to projects in a member’s district or state.
2. Casework
Examples: Helping constituents enroll in Obamacare, finding a lost social security check, and providing help in dealing with government agencies, writing letters of recommendation.

13. Position Taking- Congress members make calculated decisions about the positions they take in order to establish a desired public image

14. VI. Delegate v. Trustee Model
Delegate- Vote how the voters want you to.
Trustee- Vote for what you think is best.

15. Review Videos