TSDM-12TSDM-12Congress

Source: NWC Faculty edited by Dr. Coty Keller

04/21/23 1NWC/TSDM

Global ElementsGlobal ElementsU.S. ElementsU.S. Elements

State / Local

PolicyPolicyDecision/ActionDecision/Action

ComplexComplexInteractionsInteractions

Congress Executive/Interagency

JointStaff

COCOMs

DoD

Media

Others

States

SovereigntyInt’l Law / NormsReligion IdeologyCulture

Media

Non-StateActors

Others

Authority/Authority/ResponsibilityResponsibilityMissionMissionResourcesResources

KnowledgeKnowledgeIndividualIndividualInstitutionalInstitutional

Staff EnvironmentStaff Environment

LeaderLeader

BossBoss

Staff OfficerStaff Officer

NGOs

Nations

Org.Org.BehaviorBehaviorCultureCultureFiltersFilters

ProcessProcessOp. FactorsOp. FactorsStructureStructure

Public

IGOs

LawSocietyCulture

Services

Congress is important in all Military Decision-making

04/21/23 2NWC/TSDM Dr. Coty Keller

Congress and the Constitution

JMP Elements:JMP Elements:

• AuthorityAuthority

• MissionMission

• Structure

• Process

Article I: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States…

Congress Shall….• Represent

• Legislating, Lawmaking

• Tax & Spend

• Declare War

• Raise & Support Armies

• Provide & Maintain a Navy

• Oversight and Investigations

• Propose Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

• Advise and Consent (Senate)

• Impeach and Remove Federal Officials

• Make Laws as Necessary & Proper…

• AuthorityAuthority

• MissionMission

• Structure

• Process

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House-Senate Makeup

House• 435 members• Based on population• 2-year terms• 25 years old, 7 year

citizen• Salary: $165,200+• Formal• More Partisan

Senate

• 100 members• 2 per state• 6-year terms• 30 years old, 9 year

citizen• Salary: $165,200+• Casual, “The Club” • Less Partisan

• Authority

• Mission

• StructureStructure

• Process

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Congressional Leaders

Senate Majority Leader

President Pro Tempore

Minority Leader Minority Leader

House Speaker

Majority Leader

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Eric Cantor (R-VA)

Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

John Boehner (R-OH)

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CONGRESSIONAL STAFFCONGRESSIONAL STAFF

KnowledgeKnowledgeIndividualIndividual

InstitutionalInstitutional

Personal StaffPersonal Staff Professional Professional StaffStaff

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How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

Bill Is Introduced in The Senate

Bill Is Introduced in The House

Referred to House

Committee

Changes Voted on by Full Committee

Referred to Senate

Committee

Referred to Subcommittee

Referred to Subcommittee

Changes Voted on by Full Committee

Full Senate Debate and

Vote

Full House Debate and

Vote

Conference Committee

House Approves

Senate Approves If the President signs the bill, it

becomes public law

Rules Cmte

Rules Cmte

Parliamentarian Speaker

• AuthorityAuthority

• Mission

• Structure

• ProcessProcess

• Products

ProcessProcessOp. FactorsOp. Factors

StructureStructure

America’s Love Hate Relationship with Congress

‘10 - 85%

‘10 - 84%

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CONGRESS AND THE MILITARY

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• Article I, Section 7 – All Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

• Article I, Section 8 – The Congress shall have the power to...

•provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.

•Declare War

•To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money shall be for a longer Term than two Years

•To provide and maintain a Navy

•To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces

•Provide for calling forth the Militia to execute laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions

•To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia

•To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States or in any Department or Office thereof.

The Constitution Gives Congress the Authority to Regulate the Military

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Clash of Organizational Cultures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0CprVYsG0k&feature=related

“Congress does not understand the military well and the converse is also true.” Admiral William Crowe

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Federal Budget Process & Products(No Military Programs are funded without Authorization & Appropriation Bills)

Budget CommitteesHouse Budget Committee

Senate Budget Committee

Concurrent Budget Resolution

Authorization CommitteesSenate Armed Services Committee

House Armed Services Committee

Defense Authorization Act

Appropriations CommitteesSenate Appropriations Committee

House Appropriations Committee

Defense Appropriations Bill

Conference CommitteesResolve Differences

Establish limits on broad spending categories for the Authorization / Appropriation Committees and monitors them to ensure caps are not exceeded

Approve programs –allow them to exist– and detail policy and funding objectives. Does not commit funds but may set funding expectation

Provide funds necessary for authorized defense spending programs

Reconciles House & Senate bills

• AuthorityAuthority

• Mission

• Structure

• ProcessProcess

• AuthorityAuthority

• Mission

• Structure

• ProcessProcess

Source: CSBA 2010

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Service HQ LL Staff• Authorizing Cmtes + all other inquiries

• Appropriations Cmte-specific staffers

Specified CommandSpecified Command

Unified CommandUnified Command

CAG / personal staff

CAG / special staff / personal staff

Often only small staff and one part of larger portfolio, most active around hearing time for posture statements, etc. (spring)

Handle all Congressional inquiries and requests – requires larger staff (@80-100 per Service)

Asst Sec of Defense for Legislative Affairs (ASD-LA)

• Responsible directly to the SecDef

• Manages, controls, directs + monitors communications and activities Congress and elements of DoD, including OSD, JCS, Armed Services + Defense Agencies

Legislative Liaison HierarchyKnowledgeKnowledge

IndividualIndividualInstitutionalInstitutional

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Chief of Legislative AffairsRear Admiral Tom Copeman

KnowledgeKnowledgeIndividualIndividual

InstitutionalInstitutional

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/ola/ola.html

The Chief of Legislative Affairs (CLA) is the Secretary of the Navy's principal staff assistant for discharging the legislative functions and responsibilities of the Department of the Navy (DoN), with the exception of liaison with the Appropriations Committees, which is, by law, vested with the Comptroller of the Navy. CLA directs the Office of Legislative Affairs and reports directly to the Secretary and to Chief of Naval Operations.04/21/23 16NWC/TSDM

Take Aways

• Congress directly impacts everything DoD does and procures or hopes to do or procure; How

• Congress operates distinct from the Executive Branch;

• Understanding how Congress functions and why it functions that way is essential to effective decision and policy support

04/21/23 NWC/TSDM 17