1. CONGRESS

2. Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances

3. Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR

4. Why is it important?  1. increases or decreases the number of seats  2. more Rep’s more influence  3. electoral votes

6. Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines Gerrymandering Why?  To enhance political party strength  Protect incumbents

7. Who is in Congress?

8. Personal & Political Backgrounds WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children

9. Table 11.1: Blacks, Hispanics, and Women in Congress, 1971-2002

10. Many were lawyers Held previous positions in government Many make careers out of office

11. Do members represent their voters? Demographically: No Republican members more conservative than avg. Americans Democrat members more liberal than avg. Americans Yes: If they want to get elected

12. Congressional Elections Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel & casework Safe districts - Gerrymandering

13. Table 11.2: Incumbents in Congress Reelected by 60 Percent or More

14. Figure 11.2: Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, 1999-2000 (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18.

15. Job Benefits Power Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking Privileges

16. Powers of Congress Legislative  examples include: to collect taxes, borrow money, to declare war, and to “make all laws necessary and proper”

18. Non-legislative powers  oversight of the executive branch  appointments  impeachment

19. Essay Practice # 1 A. Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature B. Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power C. Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.

20. Leadership in Congress

21. House of Representatives Speaker of the House- Boehner 1. Presides over the House 2. Appoints select & conference committees 3. Appoints the rules committee

22. 4. Assigns bills to committees 5. Second in line for the presidency

23. Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )

24. Majority & Minority Leader 1. Partisan position picked by individual parties 2. Floor leader & legislative strategist Majority – Cantor Minority - Pelosi

25. Majority Leader – Eric Cantor

26. Minority Leader

27. Party Whips 1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the House 3. Keep nose count on important votes

28. Senate Vice President - Biden 1. President of the Senate 2. Presides over the Senate 3. Votes in case of tie

29. Joseph Biden

30. President pro Tempore 1. Ceremonial job 2. Presides when the VP is absent 3. Third in line for the presidency after the Speaker – Dan Inouye

31. Majority Leader 1. True leader in the Senate 2. Recognized first for all debates 3. True leader of the Majority party Majority – Reid Minority - McConnell

32. Harry Reid (D-NV)

33. Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell

34. Types of Committees

35. Standing Committee Formed to handle bills in different policy areas 2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member

37. Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress

38. Select Committees Temporary - set up to study specific issues

39. Conference Committees Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a bill

40. Caucuses Associations of members of Congress created to advocate on behalf of an ideology, constituency, or regional and economic interest Types- Intraparty, Personal interest, Constituency concerns

41. Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

42. How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

43. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

44. Congress The United States Congress HouseSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members

45. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

46. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population

47. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

48. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state

49. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term Special Powers

50. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Length of Term2 years6 years

51. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term2 years6 years Special Powers

52. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Special Powers ▪ Impeaches federal officials ▪ Introduces money bills ▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so ▪ Conducts impeachment trials ▪ Approves Presidential appointments ▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties

53. Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The state’s population: the more people living in the state, the more Representative the state will have. Two from each state, no matter what the size of the state’s population Qualifications ▪ Must be 25 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 7 years ▪ Must be resident of state ▪ Must be 30 years old ▪ Must be U.S. citizen for 9 years ▪ Must be resident of state Length of Term2 years6 years Special Powers ▪ Impeaches federal officials ▪ Introduces money bills ▪ Selects a President if the Electoral College fails to do so ▪ Conducts impeachment trials ▪ Approves Presidential appointments ▪ Ratifies (approves) treaties

54. Journal topic Members of Congress tend to have a particular demographic profile. Is this a matter of concern? Does the preponderance of a particular demographic and professional group compromise the quality of representation provided by the U.S. Congress?

55. HOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS

56. ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW (Partisan) - MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE TO PLEASE COLLEAGUES Logrolling

57. ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE

58. The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress

59. House of Representatives Speaker of the House Majority Floor Majority Whip Minority Floor Minority Whip

60. Senate President of the Senate Majority Floor Majority Whip President pro Temp. Minority Floor Minority Whip

61. Bills & Resolutions

62. Bills 10,000 proposed laws a session About 6% become law

63. Two Types 1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or places

64. Resolutions Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution

65. Joint Resolution Has the force of law May be used to appropriate money & propose constitutional amendments

66. Concurrent Resolution State position Example – Foreign matters

67. Resolutions Used for such things as the adoption of a new rule or procedure

68. Riders to Bills Riders are provisions not likely to pass on its own merit Attached to an important measure certain to pass “Christmas Tree” bill – many riders attached

69. Court Cases Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Political spending is protected by the 1 st Amendment. However, there is sufficient public interest in establishing a level playing field to justify limits

70. Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must represent approximately the same number of people as all others

71. Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial gerrymandering

72. Pork barrel legislation- the practice of legislators obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts – ex. Highway Bill - Don Young (R-AK) $1 billion to his home state - $231 million to build a bridge to a sparsely inhabited marshland - Named “Don Young’s Way”