2. The U.S. Congress  Functions of a legislative body Representation Policy making Oversight  Basic Structure of Congress Bicameral House/Senate Differences

3. Congress Has Evolved Over Time  Pre-Modern Congress High Turnover Light Workload Many criteria for Committee Assignments Little party structure Committee-centered  Modern Congress Low Turnover Heavy Workload Seniority-based Committee Assignments Well-defined party structure Some power has shifted to sub-committees

4. Descriptive/Sociological Representation HouseSenatePopulation Female14%13%51% Black9013 Hispanic4014

5. Other Ways to Represent  Agency Representation Delegate mode Trustee mode  Direct Patronage Casework Pork Barrel projects Private Bills

6. Committees  The work of Congress is organized around a complex committee structure

7. Types of Committees  The most common type of committee is the Standing Committee Revenue Committees: Budget (H), Finance (S), Appropriations (Both), Ways and Means (H) Foreign Policy/Defense: Armed Services (S), Foreign Relations (S), International Relations (H) Investigation: Government Reform (H) Legislative Administration: Rules Domestic: Agriculture, Banking, Education, Small Business

8. Committees Continued  Select Committees Intelligence (both), Ethics (S), Homeland Security (H)  Joint Committees Economic, Taxation, Printing  Conference Committee  Some committees are more prestigious than others: Ways &Means(H), Finance (S), Rules(H), Appropriations, Budget

9. Committees Continued  Some committees are more prestigious than others: Ways &Means(H), Finance (S), Rules(H), Appropriations, Budget  Committee Assignments: Member interests Committee on committees Seniority

10. Sub-Committees  Much of the work of committees is done in subcommittees.  Example: The House Judiciary Committee has five sub-committees: Commercial and administrative law Constitutional law Immigration, Border Security, and Claims Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Courts, the Internet, and intellectual property

11. Consequences of Committee System Policy fragmentation Policy Expertise

12. The Organization of Congress: Party Structure  Most power in Congress goes to the Majority Party, especially in the House  How the Senate is different No Speaker VP is President of the Senate Power of individual members weakens the control of the Majority party

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law  The process is long and complicated, providing many opportunities to kill the proposed bill  In a nutshell: Passes one chamber first, then must be approved by the other, then the differences must be reconciled, then the president must sign the bill  Details:

15. Influences on Congressional Voting  Constituents  Parties  Interest Groups  Colleagues  The President  Staff

16. Oversight  Appropriations  Investigations  Advice and Consent  Impeachment

17. Congressional Elections—A Story of Incumbency Advantage Incumbent ReelectionRates 1980s1990s2000s House94%93%98% Senate80%90%85%

18. Sources of the Incumbent Advantage  Information Recall and Recognition if incumbents is higher than that of challengers. To know an incumbent is to like the incumbent.

19. But Why Do Incumbents have Such an Information Advantage?  Pre-existing base of support (previously elected)  Perks of office  Free media  Tremendous fundraising advantage*

20. Fundraising Advantage of Incumbency

21. But Why Do Incumbents have Such an Information Advantage?  Pre-existing base of support (previously elected)  Perks of office  Free media  Tremendous fundraising advantage*  Inexperienced challengers*