CONGRESS

Why Bicameralism?

Compromise Checks & Balances

Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting

Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR

Why is it important? 1. increases or decreases the

number of seats 2. more Rep’s more influence 3. electoral votes

Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines

Gerrymandering Why?

To enhance political party strength Protect incumbents

Who is in Congress?

Personal & Political Backgrounds

WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children

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

Many were lawyers Held previous positions in

government Many make careers out of

office

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

Congressional Elections

Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel &

casework Safe districts - Gerrymandering

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

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.

Job Benefits

Power Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking

Privileges

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”

Non-legislative powers oversight of the executive

branch appointments impeachment

Leadership in Congress

House of Representatives

Speaker of the House- Boehner 1. Presides over the House 2. Appoints select & conference

committees 3. Appoints the rules committee

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

presidency

Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )

Majority & Minority Leader

1. Partisan position picked by individual parties

2. Floor leader & legislative strategist

Majority – Cantor Minority - Pelosi

Majority Leader – Eric Cantor

Minority Leader

Party Whips

1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the

“mood” of the House

Senate

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

Joseph Biden

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

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

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell

Types of Committees

Standing Committee

Formed to handle bills in different policy areas

2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member

Joint Committees

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

Select Committees

Temporary - set up to study specific issues

Conference Committees

Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a

bill

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

Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

HOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE

REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS

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

Logrolling

ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members

Determined By

Qualifications

Length of Term

Special Powers

Congress

The United States Congress

House Senate

Total Members 435 Members 100 Members

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members

Determined By

Qualifications

Length of Term

Special Powers

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives Senate

Determined ByThe 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

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members

Determined ByThe 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

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives Senate

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

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members

Determined ByThe 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

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives Senate

Length of Term 2 years 6 years

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members

Determined ByThe 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 2 years 6 years

Special Powers

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives Senate

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

CongressThe United States Congress

House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members

Determined ByThe 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 2 years 6 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

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?

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

House of Representatives

Speaker of the House

Majority Floor Minority Floor

Majority Whip Minority Whip

Senate

President of the Senate

Majority Floor President pro Temp. Minority Floor

Minority WhipMajority Whip

Bills & Resolutions

Bills

10,000 proposed laws a session

About 6% become law

Two Types

1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or

places

Resolutions

Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution

Joint Resolution

Has the force of law May be used to appropriate

money & propose constitutional amendments

Concurrent Resolution

State position Example – Foreign matters

Resolutions

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

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

Court Cases

Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Political spending is protected by

the 1st Amendment. However, there is sufficient public interest in establishing a level playing field to justify limits

Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must

represent approximately the same number of people as all others

Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial

gerrymandering

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”

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.