1. Chapter Twelve:
Congress

2. Learning Objectives
Explain the major functions of Congress, including lawmaking, representation, constituent service, oversight, public education, and conflict resolution.
Explain the difference between the trustee and instructed-delegate views of representation.

3. Learning Objectives
Compare the basic differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Explain the process and significance of the filibuster.
Explain redistricting and gerrymandering.

4. Learning Objectives
Explain the types of committees in Congress and what impact committees have on the legislative process:
Standing committees;
Select committees;
Joint committees; and
Conference committees.

5. Learning Objectives
Describe the seniority system and its implications for committee work, leadership, and legislating.
Identify the leadership positions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including the Speaker of the House and the majority and minority leaders of both the House and Senate.

6. Learning Objectives
Provide the basic steps by which a bill becomes a law.
Explain the different kinds of vetoes and articulate the roles that congress plays relative to the president.
Explain how the federal budget is developed and the role played by the Office of Management and Budget (OM).

7. The Functions of Congress
Lawmaking
Representation
Service to Constituents
Oversight
Public Education
Conflict-Resolution

8. The Powers of Congress Enumerated Powers Necessary and Proper Clause
Checks on Congress

9. House-Senate Differences
Size and Rules
Debate and Filibustering
Prestige

10. House-Senate Differences

11. House-Senate Differences

12. Congressional Elections
Candidates
Congressional Campaigns and Elections
Presidential Effects
Power of Incumbency

13. Congressional Elections

14. Congressional Elections

15. Congressional Apportionment
Reapportionment : allocation of seats in the House to each state after each census.
Redistricting: redrawing of the boundaries of districts within each state.
Gerrymandering: legislative boundary-drawing tactics by dominant state party that maximizes its electoral strength at the expense of the minority party.

16. Congressional Apportionment

17. Congressional Apportionment

18. Congressional Apportionment

19. Congressional Apportionment

20. Congressional Apportionment
Redistricting after the 2000 Census
Minority–majority districts
Constitutional Challenges

21. Perks and Privileges Permanent Professional Staffs
Privileges and Immunities under the Law
Caucuses as a Source of Support

22. The Committee Structure
Types of Committees
Standing Committees
Select Committees
Joint Committees
Conference Committees
House Rules Committee

23. The Committee Structure

24. The Formal Leadership
The majority party controls the legislative process, including the selection of Congressional leaders.

25. The Formal Leadership Leadership in the House of Representatives:
The Speaker of the House
The Majority Leader
The Minority Leader
Whips

26. The Formal Leadership Leadership in the Senate: Vice President
Majority Leader
Majority Whip
Minority Whip

27. The Formal Leadership

28. How Members of Congress Decide
Party membership is a major determinant of how members vote, but it is not the only factor at work.
The Conservative Coalition
“Crossing over”
Logrolling, Earmarks, and “Pork”

29. How a Bill Becomes a Law
For a bill to become law, it must pass through both houses of Congress
House of Representatives:
Introduction
Committee Stage
Rules Committee
Floor Action

30. How a Bill Becomes Law
The procedure in the Senate is similar, but there are no special rules such as those set by the House Rules Committee; the leadership schedules action.

31. How a Bill Becomes Law Conference committee
The House and Senate vote on the bill as reported by the conference committee.
If it conference version passes both chambers, it is sent to the President.
If there are differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, the bill will be sent to a conference committee.

32. How a Bill Becomes Law

33. How Much Will the Government Spend?
Congress Faces the Budget
Authorization
Appropriation
Budget Resolutions

34. How Much Will the Government Spend?

35. Web Links
United States Congress: To view the schedule of activities taking place in Congress: and
Congressional Budget Office: provides Congress with nonpartisan analyses for economic and budget decisions:
Roll Call: the newspaper of the Capitol that provides an inside view into what’s going on in Washington, D.C.:

36. What If…Pork Were Banned?
Earmark spending, or “pork”, directly helps constituents by adding legislation into projects that create more jobs and generate more profits locally.
Earmarks have increased substantially: In 2009 Congress approved 10,160 earmarks worth $19.6 billion.

37. What If…Pork Were Banned?
Because Congress does not have an unlimited amount of time for debate, eliminating pork might reduce federal spending.
Most spending projects coming before Congress would have to pass through the normal budget process.

38. What If…Pork Were Banned?
The ban may impact logrolling, which could result in less legislation passing Congress.
It could reduce the influence of lobbyists.
Candidates may receive fewer campaign contributions.

39. You Can Make a Difference: Why Should You Care About Congress?
Legislation passed by Congress can directly impact your life.
You can make a difference by voting for representatives that reflect your interests.

40. You Can Make a Difference: Why Should You Care About Congress?
To find out who your members of Congress:
House of Representatives:
U.S. Senate:
To track the voting records of members of Congress: