2. The Legislative Branch Congress

3. U.S. Capitol

4. What is government itself? One of the greatest reflections on human nature. If men were angels, no government would be necessary…James Madison

5. Article I House of Representatives 435 members 2 yr terms Reapportioned every 10 yrs – Redistricting! See Gerry 25 yrs old, citizen for 7, live in state Organized by party – Leaders & Whips Speaker of House – John Boehner (R) Strict Rules Senate 100 members 6 yr terms 30 yrs old, citizen for 9, live in state Organized by party – Leaders & Whips Majority leader – Harry Reid (D) Minority Leader- Mitch McConnell (R) Loose Rules

6. Party Control of Each Chamber 232 Republicans 200 Democrats 3 vacancies

7. Popular Congress?

8. Impact of growing minority groups?

9. Congressional Sessions Last two years Begin Jan. 3rd of the year after the election Usually end Nov. before election – Lame Duck Sessions

10. Powers of Congress Expressed/Enumerated Powers – Tax, Money, Trade, Declare War, Copyrights, etc Implied Powers – “Necessary & Proper” Clause – Paying for things Checks & Balances – Amendments – Impeachment – Appointments – Treaties – Investigatory Powers Hearings

11. Demographics of the 113 th Congress Who Are They? Are they representative of the people?

12. Members of Congress of the 113th Congress – Personal and political background “average” Congress person = white male in his late 50’s Majority are married with children 1/3 of the House and over ½ of the Senate are lawyers Most have previous political experience – local politics, state politics

13. Religion – House & Senate

14. Gender House (%)Senate (%)Society Men354 (81%)83 (83%)49% Women81 (19%)20 (17%)51%

15. Race/Gender RaceHouse (%)Senate (%)Society* White343 (78%)9478.1% Black43 (9%)113.1% Hispanic 37 (8%) 416.4% Asian10 (2%)15.0% American- Indian 2 (less than 1%) 01.2% * Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories

16. Gerrymandered Districts High percentage of one party Candidates must cater to the active (usually fringe) members of party No moderates able to get through primary system 10 Worst Gerrymandered districts

17. Geographic Districts Legislators are elected into single-member districts, where each legislator represents a separate, distinct election district. As held in the 1964, USSC case, Reynolds v. Sims (“one person, one vote”), the Court held that both chambers of a state legislature must be apportioned so that all districts are equal in population. Following every 10 year census, each state must undertake a redistricting process to correct for changes in the populations of the districts. Redistricting : the drawing and redrawing of the boundaries of legislative districts. – Watch short video on redistricting: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/thenews/thegov/story.php?id=19491&package_id=634 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/thenews/thegov/story.php?id=19491&package_id=634 – Can be political!! Read about Iowa’s 2011 redistricting process: http://www.fairvote.org/iowa-s-laudable-redistricting-process-and-the-super-district-alternative http://www.fairvote.org/iowa-s-laudable-redistricting-process-and-the-super-district-alternative

18. Geographic Districts (Cont’d) The U.S. Voting Rights Act (1965) declares that states with a history of electoral discrimination against minority groups must preclear redistricting plans with the U.S. Justice Department or the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia. UPDATE: In August, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Voting Rights Act.

19. Limiting Geographic Districts: Through Gerrymandering Gerrymandering occurs if the lines are redrawn to give a certain party, faction, or ethnic group an advantage Interested in trying it out yourself? Play the Redistricting game: http://www.redistrictinggame.org/index.php?pg=resourceguide http://www.redistrictinggame.org/index.php?pg=resourceguide

20. Gerrymandering: 3 Techniques 1. Dispersing / Scattering/Cracking : 2. Concentrated/Packing : 3. Incumbent Gerrymandering/Pairing :

21. 1. Competitive – HOW IT SHOULD BE!! 2. Sweetheart (incumbent pairing) - redistricts two or more incumbent legislators’ so that both are in the same district, thereby ensuring that one will be elected. 3. Packing (concentrating) occurs if minority’s numbers are great enough when diffused to affect the outcome of elections in several districts. 4. Cracking ( dispersing ) To diffuse a concentrated political or ethnic minority among several districts so that its votes in any one district are negligible

22. Iowa Congressional Districts

23. U.S. Congress (House) Current U.S. Representatives from Iowa Bruce Braley (D) - 1 st - 2007 Bruce BraleyD1 st Dave Loebsack (D) - 2 nd - 2006 Dave LoebsackD2 nd Tom Latham (R) - 3 rd - 1995 Tom LathamR3 rd Steve King (R) - 4 th - 2003 Steve KingR4 th

24. U.S. Senate Chuck Grassley – R – Senior Senator (1981) Tom Harkin – D – Junior Senator (1985)

25. Action or Inaction? An unbiased (or cynical) look at the Logic of Congress* *Yes, that might be an oxymoron, but Congress is full of oxymorons

26. Incumbents Only group of people that have to go to the people and beg for their job year after year Americans view their own Congressional Representatives favorably while overall approval ratings are low Democrats or Republicans Average member of Congress gets a 60-65% approval rating from his or her constituents Government by and for the people?

27. Checks and Balances Executive Branch and Executive Agencies Impeachment, Appointments, Overrides, Judiciary… Appropriation Unique among Nations People are supreme

28. U.S. Capitol Rotunda

29. Differences – House v. Senate Constitutional Requirements – 25 years old, 30 years old – 7 years citizen, 9 years citizen – State requirements – Native Born? Leadership Authority – Seldom challenged, often challenged Committee Responsibility – Very important, often overlooked – “Rules” supreme, “Rules” weak Open Forums – Limited, Encouraged

30. Benefits Salary $165,200+ per year (Leadership more—SOH- $ 212,100 Generous retirement and benefits (health care) Two offices- D.C. and Home District Staff members Franking privileges—work-related mail, FREE Assorted perks; no petty misdemeanors

31. Voting

32. Action Happens Because… Desire to Do the Right Thing Party Control of Both Houses Logrolling – 1991 “Corn for Porn” “Shadow of the Future” – Prisoner’s Dilemma…Modified Desire for Reelection – Help Constituents – Pork

33. Inaction Happens Because… Divided Congress Lame Duck Status Partisan Bickering Desire Reelection – Change Vote to Get Votes – Avoid Looking Bad It Was Designed That Way

34. State of the Union

35. Legislation Passage Appeasing the Chief Legislator i.e.- President Party influences 50% of the time – House partisanship stronger than the Senate – Compromise? – Bipartisanship? Constituency support – Voting records – Issues SIGS and Lobbyists – Restricted by Congress but…

36. Making Policy A collection of “generalists” making policy on specific topics If one needs to know how to vote on a bill, ask a committee person and/or party colleague and/or other House Rules Committee – Traffic Cop controlling the flow of bills establishing rules for each bill and its schedule – Leadership (Speaker of the House/ Majority and “Minority” Leaders) Party caucus and committee assignments Rules Committee members Influence bill assignments to committee

37. Committees

38. Legislation and Oversight Standing Committee – Separate subject matter committees Joint Committee – House and Senate share membership i.e.--taxation Conference Committee – Two bills must become one/ compromise bills Select Committee – Specific reason Assignments – House- two committees and four subcommittees – Senate- three committees and seven subcommittees

39. Committees Committees also perform oversight if and when a bill ever becomes law Committee chairpersons—seniority prevails but majority caucuses now can choose chairpersons Caucuses vs. Party Leadership – Legislators can ban together under an “ideological flag” Black Caucus, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Gun Control, etc.