1. Congress The Legislative Branch Article I

2. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter 12: Congress The Representatives and Senators Congressional Elections How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy The Congressional Process Understanding Congress Summary

3. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives The Representatives and Senators LO 12.1: Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans. Congressional Elections LO 12.2: Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes in congressional elections.

4. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy LO 12.3: Compare and contrast the House and Senate, and describe the roles of congressional leaders, committees, caucuses, and staff. The Congressional Process LO 12.4: Outline the path of bills to passage and explain the influences on congressional decision making.

5. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives Understanding Congress LO 12.5: Assess Congress’s role as a representative body and the impact of representation on the scope of government.

6. The Representatives and Senators LO 12.1: Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans. The Members Compensation Duties To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

7. The Representatives and Senators The Members 535 Members – 100 Senators and 435 Representatives. House members – At least age 25 and U.S. citizens for 7 years. Senators – At least age 30 and U.S. citizens for 9 years. All members must reside in state from which they are elected. LO 12.1 To Learning Objectives

8. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Compensation About $175,000 Benefits Travel allowance Insurance Staff allowance Postage (franking) Protection from arrest

9. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Duties Legislator Committee member Constituent rep Constituent servant Politician

10. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congress We are currently in the 113 th Congress Congress

11. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.1

12. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Representatives and Senators The Members (cont.) African Americans make up about 10% of the House members and 13% of the total population, and 2 Senators are African American. (Special Elections) Hispanics make up 5% of the House members and 15% of the total population, and 3 Senators are Hispanics. To Learning Objectives LO 12.1

13. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Representatives and Senators The Members (cont.) Asian Americans – 9 House members and 2 senators. Native Americans – 1 House member. Females make up more than 50% of the population, but only 18% of the members of Congress with 78 in the House and 20 senators. To Learning Objectives LO 12.1

14. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 114 th Congress Senate R – 54Old - 45 D – 4453 I – 2 House R – 246Old - 234 D – 188201

15. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Representatives and Senators The Members (cont.) Descriptive representation is representing constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics. Substantive representation is representing the interests of groups. To Learning Objectives LO 12.1

16. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.1

17. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Representatives and Senators Why Aren’t There More Women in Congress? Fewer women than men become major party nominees for office. Women with children run for office less than men because of child care responsibilities. Women are less likely than are men to run when they perceive their odds to be poor. To Learning Objectives LO 12.1

18. House of Representatives Total: 435 members Apportioned(distributed) among the states Each state has at least one: Cali. has the most (2009) with 53 Census every 10 years- reapportioned after every census.

19. Redistricting If a state is to gain or lose seats after the census, the State legislature is charged with drawing new congressional districts –A method is gain political power is to draw district to your parties advantage Gerrymandering is the creation of unusually shaped districts that favor the party in power

20. Apportionment

21. Pa Congressional Districts

22. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 113 th Congress Pa Reps Allyson Schwartz 13 th – Patrick Meehan – 7 th - Jim Gerlach – 6 th - 13 th 13 th

23. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 113 th Congress Pa Reps Brenden Boyle 13 th – Patrick Meehan – 7 th - Ryan Costello – 6 th - 13 th 13 th

24. Redistricting “One Man, One Vote” –Baker v Carr, 1962 Federal courts began hearing redistricting cases –Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964 Size of Georgia's Congressional district ranged in size SC – size violated equal protection clause, “One Man One Vote”

25. Redistricting In 1982 – push to create district to help racial minorities. –Shaw v. Reno, 1993 White votes in NV challenge a racially drawn district SC – Race may be one factor in determining boundaries, but it cannot be a major factor.

26. Congressional(House) Elections Every 2 years, even numbered years Single membered district Each rep. represents about 600,000 citizens, or constituents

27. Senate 100 members total, 2 from each state 6 year term (1/3 Elected every 2 years)

28. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections Who Wins Elections? Incumbents – Those already holding office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win. House elections – 90% of the incumbents seeking reelection win and most of them win with more than 60% of the vote. LO 12.2 To Learning Objectives

29. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.2

30. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbency Advertising – Ads in newspapers and on television. Credit Claiming – Servicing the constituency through casework and pork barrel. Position Taking – Voting and responding to constituents’ questions. Franking Privilege To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

31. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.2

32. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbency (cont.) Weak Opponents – Not well known or well qualified and lack experience and organizational and financial backing. Campaign Spending – The typical incumbent outspent the typical challenger by a ratio of more than 3 to 1 in Congressional races in 2008. To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

33. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections Role of Party Identification Most Congress members represent constituencies in which their party is in the clear majority. Most people identify with a party, and they reliably vote for their party’s candidates. About 90% of voters who identify with a party vote for the House candidates of their party. To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

34. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections Defeating Incumbents One tarnished by scandal or corruption becomes vulnerable to a challenger. Redistricting may weaken the incumbency advantage. Major political tidal wave may defeat incumbents. To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

35. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections Open Seats Greater likelihood of competition. Most turnover occurs in open seats. To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

36. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congressional Elections Stability and Change Incumbents provide stability in Congress. Change in Congress occurs less frequently through elections. Difficult for citizens to “send a message to Washington” To Learning Objectives LO 12.2

37. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy American Bicameralism Bicameral Legislature – A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska’s are bicameral. LO 12.3 To Learning Objectives

38. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.3

39. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy American Bicameralism (cont.) House Rules Committee – The committee in the House that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House. Rules Committee is responsive to the House leadership because the Speaker of the House appoints the committee’s members. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

40. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy American Bicameralism (cont.) Filibuster – A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

41. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Congressional Leadership Speaker of the House – An office mandated by the Constitution and chosen by the majority party. Majority leader – The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, or the party’s manager in the Senate. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

42. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Leaders in the House of Representatives Leaders

43. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Leaders in the Senate Leaders

44. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Congressional Leadership (cont.) Whips – Party leaders work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers for votes on bills favored by the party. Minority Leader – The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

45. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Congressional Leadership (cont.) President of the Senate – The United States Vice President. Vice presidents can vote to break a tie. Modern vice presidents are active in representing the president’s views to senators. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

46. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Congressional Leadership (cont.) Despite their stature and power, congressional leaders cannot always move their troops. Power in both houses of Congress is decentralized. Leaders are elected by their party members and must remain responsive to them. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

47. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Committees and Subcommittees Standing committees – Subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas. Joint committees – Few subject matter areas with membership drawn from House and Senate To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

48. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.3

49. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Committees and Subcommittees (cont.) Conference committees – Formed when the Senate and the House pass a bill in different forms to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill. Select committees – Created for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

50. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Committees and Subcommittees (cont.) More than 9,000 bills are submitted by members in the course of a two-year period. Every bill goes to a committee, which has virtually the power of life and death over it. Legislative oversight – How the Congress monitors bureaucracy. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

51. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Committees and Subcommittees (cont.) Committee assignments help members get reelected, gain influence, and make policy. New members express committee preferences to party leaders. Those who have supported their party’s leadership are favored in the selection process as parties try to grant committee preferences. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

52. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Committees and Subcommittees (cont.) Committee Chair – Dominant role in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills on the floor. Seniority System – Members who have served on the committee the longest and whose party is the chamber majority become chair. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

53. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Caucuses: The Informal Organization of Congress Caucus (congressional) – A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Caucuses are composed of members from both parties and from both houses and their goal is to promote the interests around which they are formed. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

54. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy Congressional Staff Personal staff – They provide constituent service and help with legislation. Committee staff – They organize hearings, and research and write legislation. Staff Agencies – CRS, GAO, and CBO provide specific information to Congress. To Learning Objectives LO 12.3

55. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process Bills About 9,000 bills are introduced in each Congress. A bill is a proposed law, drafted in legal language. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the Congress can introduce a bill. LO 12.4 To Learning Objectives

56. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process How a Bill Becomes a Law Bill Introduction – By a member. Committee Action – Subcommittee hearings and committee rewrites. Floor Action – Votes, debates, and amendments offered. Conference Action – Compromise bill to iron out differences. Presidential Decision – Sign bill into law or veto bill. To Learning Objectives LO 12.4

57. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.4

58. How a Bill Become a Law http://kidstube.com/play.php?vid=1923

59. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process Presidents and Congress: Partners and Protagonists Presidents attempt to persuade Congress that what they want is what Congress wants. Presidents have many resources to influence Congress. Presidents must win at least 10 times and their leadership of Congress is at the margins. To Learning Objectives LO 12.4

60. How members vote: Trustee Delegate Partisan Politico

61. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process Party, Constituency, and Ideology Party Influence – Party leaders cannot force party members to vote a particular way, but many do vote along party lines. Polarized Politics – Differences between Democrats and Republicans in Congress have grown considerably since 1980. To Learning Objectives LO 12.4

62. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process Party, Constituency, and Ideology Constituency Opinion – On the controversial issues, members are wise to vote based their constituency opinion. Member Ideology – The dominant determinant of member’s vote on most issues is their ideology. To Learning Objectives LO 12.4

63. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman The Congressional Process Lobbyists and Interest Groups 35,000 registered lobbyists represent 12,000 organizations seeking to influence Congress. The bigger the issue, the more lobbyists will be working on it. Lobbyists try to influence legislators’ votes. Congress can ignore, reject, and regulate the lobbyists. To Learning Objectives LO 12.4

64. Expressed Powers Tax – raise revenue Borrowing Commerce – regulate trade Currency Bankruptcy Foreign Affairs and Defense

65. Other Powers of Congress Naturalization Post Office Copyrights and patents Weights and measures Federal Lands Federal Courts

66. Implied Powers Necessary and Proper Clause –Gives powers necessary to carry out expressed powers –“elastic clause” because it stretches the power of Congress

67. Congressional Oversight oversight by the United States Congress on the Executive Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

68. Non-Legislative Powers (Non-lawmaking powers) Amending the Constitution Electoral powers – choose a president Impeachment – Charge a federal official with a crime Executive powers – Senate – “advise and consent” (Vote on) - president on treaties and presidential appointments Investigative powers

69. Duties Legislator Committee member Constituent rep Constituent servant Politician

70. Legislator House

71. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Understanding Congress Congress and the Scope of Government More policies by Congress means more service to constituencies. More programs that get created, the bigger the government gets. Contradictory – Everybody wants government programs cut, but just not their programs. To Learning Objectives LO 12.5

72. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.1 Summary The Representatives and Senators Congress has proportionately more whites and males than the general population, and members of Congress are wealthier and better educated than the average American. Although they are not descriptively representative of Americans, they may engage in substantive representation. To Learning Objectives

73. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.2 Summary Congressional Elections Incumbents usually win reelection, because they usually draw weak opponents, are usually better known and better funded than their opponents, typically represent constituencies where a clear majority share their party affiliation, and can claim credit for aiding their constituents. To Learning Objectives

74. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.2 Summary Congressional Elections (cont.) However, incumbents can lose if they are involved in a scandal, if their policy positions are substantially out of line with their constituents, or if the boundaries of their districts are redrawn to reduce the percentage of their constituents identifying with their party. To Learning Objectives

75. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.3 Summary How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy House is larger, characterized by greater centralization of power in the party leadership, and has more party discipline than the Senate. Senators are more equal in power and may exercise the option of the filibuster to stop a majority from passing a bill. To Learning Objectives

76. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.3 Summary How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy (cont.) Congressional leaders are elected by their party members and must remain responsive to them. Congressional leaders cannot always depend on the votes of the members of their party. Committees consider legislation and oversee administration of policy. To Learning Objectives

77. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.3 Summary How Congress Is Organized to Make Policy (cont.) Committees chairs have the power to set their committees’ agendas. Congressional Caucuses are composed of members of Congress who have a shared interest or characteristic. Personal, committee, and agency staff provide policy expertise and constituency service. To Learning Objectives

78. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.4 Summary The Congressional Process The process for considering a bill has many stages. Presidents try to persuade Congress to support their policies, which usually earn space on the congressional agenda. Parties are more homogeneous and polarized and provide an important pull on members on most issues. To Learning Objectives

79. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.4 Summary The Congressional Process (cont.) Constituencies have influence on congressional decision making on a few visible issues, while members’ own ideologies exert more influence on less visible issues. Interest groups play a key role in informing Congress and sometimes the threat of their opposition influences vote outcomes. To Learning Objectives

80. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.5 Summary Understanding Congress Congress is an elite institution and responsive to the public when the public makes its wishes clear. Congress is open to influence, which makes it responsive to many interests but also may reduce its ability to make good public policy. To Learning Objectives

81. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman LO 12.5 Summary Understanding Congress (cont.) Members of Congress often support expanding government to aid their constituents, generally in response to public demands for policy, but many also fight to limit the scope of government. To Learning Objectives