2. CONGRESS

3. Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances

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

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

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

9. Who is in Congress?

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

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

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

13. 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

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

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

16. 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.

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

18. Powers of Congress Legislative Article 1 section 8  examples include: to collect taxes, borrow money, to declare war, and to “make all laws necessary and proper”

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

21. Leadership in Congress

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

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

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

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

26. Majority Leader – Eric Cantor

27. Minority Leader

28. Party Whips 1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the House

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

30. Joseph Biden

31. President pro Tempore 1. Ceremonial job 2. Presides when the VP is absent 3. Third in line for the presidency after the Speaker – Patrick Leahy

32. 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

33. Harry Reid (D-NV)

34. Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell

35. Types of Committees

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

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

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

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

41. 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

42. Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

43. How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

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

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

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

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

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

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

50. 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

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 Length of Term Special Powers

52. 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

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 Term Special Powers

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

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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?

59. The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress

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

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

62. Bills & Resolutions

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

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

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

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

67. Concurrent Resolution State position Example – Foreign matters

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

69. 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

70. 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

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

72. Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial gerrymandering

73. 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”

74. 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.