1. 3 Branches of Government

2. Once Upon a Time… …there were 3 little branches of government…

3. The Legislature

4. NUTS & BOLTS

5. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements

6. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People

7. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral

8. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral The “Power of the Purse”

9. The Legislature NUTS & BOLTS Constitutional Requirements The Mind of the People Bicameral The “Power of the Purse” The “Art of the Possible”

10. The Legislature  Majority and Minority Leaders  President  President pro tempore  Speaker  Whips

11. The Legislature  “I’m just a Bill…”  Committee shenanigans  Discharge petition (House)  Quorum  Open & Closed Rules (House)  Amendments v. Riders  Cloture (Senate)  Double Tracking & Holds (Senate)

12. The Legislature  Assignment of Committees  Exclusive  Major  Minor  Select Senate p. 347House p. 349

13. The Legislature  AKA “The Broken Branch”  How did it get this way?

14. The Legislature  AKA “The Broken Branch”  How did it get this way?  Ineffective at solving the biggest problems

15. The Legislature  AKA “The Broken Branch”  How did it get this way?  Ineffective at solving the biggest problems  Non-stop Fundraising

16. The Legislature  AKA “The Broken Branch”  How did it get this way?  Ineffective at solving the biggest problems  Non-stop Fundraising  Possibilities for Corruption ( Franking )

17. The Legislature  AKA “The Broken Branch”  How did it get this way?  Ineffective at solving the biggest problems  Non-stop Fundraising  Possibilities for Corruption (Franking)  Avoidance of Reforms

18. The Legislature  Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions

19. The Legislature  Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions  They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests

20. The Legislature  Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions  They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests  They endlessly debate

21. The Legislature  Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions  They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests  They endlessly debate  Usually end up in Compromise

22. The Legislature  Congressmen worry over their constituents’ opinions  They fret over the ideas and opinions of Special Interests  They endlessly debate  Usually end up in Compromise  Voters HATE all of these.

23. The Legislature  Why do Congressmen act as they do?  Representational View (Delegate)  What if there are conflicting views in your area?  Closeness results in C. doing his own thing  No one is really watching  Providing services will make voters forget  Party loyalty will make others forget

24. The Legislature  Why do Congressmen act as they do?  Organizational View (The Party Man)  Party explains almost everything  Ideological affinity  Go with “the knowledge”

25. The Legislature  Why do Congressmen act as they do?  Attitudinal View (Trustee)  Ideological differentiation  “The Disappearing Center”  Lack of Political interest and efficacy  Clear division on major issues  May indicate a true “disconnect”  Less representative than ever

26. The Legislature  Why did the Framers put this branch first?  Why do we keep reelecting such bums?  Why has Congress become so polarized?  Are they “disconnected” from American reality?  Do we actually understand what the Framers intended for Congress?  Does anyone actually track their Congressman’s voting record?

27. The Legislature REALITIES: Congress never has been what the Founders conceived. Parties are too unified against each other. “Congress” is not supposed to be “Parliament”. The House is just too big.

28. The Legislature REALITIES: Incumbents win handily Democrats have dominated but are more divided 1990 Census Changing South

29. The Legislature REALITIES: ad Hominem voting Growth of Caucuses Increased Earmarks Pork-Barrel Legislation

30. The Legislature REALITIES: Continuing concern about Gerrymandering

31. The Legislature  Questions remain:  Why is there no “Liberal Coalition”?  Why has the average age risen in the past 20 years?  Why has there been a shift with fewer lawyers and more businessmen over the past 20 years?  Why has the number of representatives with military experience decreased so much?

32. The Legislature  Chart on page 336  Why did the number of Blacks and Hispanics in the Senate remain constantly low while the number of women soared?  1 + 1 in 1971; 2 + 4 in 2015 whereas Women = 2 in 1971, 20 in 2015

33. The Legislature  Chart on page 336  How do we explain the much larger growth of minorities in the House?  1971 = 12 Blacks, 5 Hispanic, 13 Women  2015 = 46 Blacks, 32 Hispanic, 84 Women

34. The Legislature  Chart on page 336  Is there an explanation for the timing of the growth of women members in the House?  13 in 1971  29 in 1991  47 in 1993  59 in 2005  74 in 2007