Congress
U3, C11CongressMajor Differences Between the House and
SenateHOUSESENATELarger body (435 members)Smaller body (100
members)Shorter term (2 years); entire House up for reelection
every two yearsLonger term (6 years); 1/3 of Senate up for
reelection every two yearsSmaller constituencies (elected from
districts within States)Larger constituencies (elected from entire
State)Qualifications25 years oldCitizen of US for 7 yearsInhabitant
of State from which electedQualifications-30 years old-Citizen of
US for 9 years-Inhabitant of State from which electedLess
prestigeMore prestigeLower visibility in the news mediaHigher
visibility in the news mediaStrict rules, limited debateFlexible
rules, nearly unlimited debateMost work is done in committees, not
on the floorWork is split more evenly between committees and the
floorInitiate revenues bills and ImpeachmentApproves or rejects
treaties and presidential appointments; Removal from officeElecting
CongressIncumbency Effect
Congressional elections offer voters chance to show approval of
Congress performance or demonstrate their disapproval
Name recognitionRedistricting: gerrymanderingCasework: services
for constituentsCampaign financing: challengers must spend large
sums of money to run strong campaign against incumbentSuccessful
challengersIncumbents vulnerable: age, lack of seniority, scandal,
unfavorable redistricting
Whom do we Elect?
Typical members of Congress:Upper-class professionalsLawyers and
businesspeopleIncrease in number of minorities
Descriptive representation: view that a legislature should
resemble the demographic characteristics of the population it
representsRacial GerrymanderingShaw v. Reno, 1993
Racial gerrymandering: drawing a legislative district to
maximize chance that minority candidate will win electionShaw v.
Reno: North Carolina 12th Congressional district, attempt to
increase minority representationOutcome: intensive and pervasive
use of race to protect incumbents and promote political
gerrymandering violated 14th amendment2001 case altered ruling
slightly by finding race was not an illegitimate consideration in
drawing Congressional boundaries as long as it was not the dominant
and controlling factorHow Issues Get on the Congressional
AgendaFormal legislative process begins when a member of Congress
introduces a billSomeone must perceive that a problem exists or
that an issue needs to be resolved
Highly visible event focuses national attention on a
problemPresidential support for an issueParty leaders and committee
chairsEfforts of Interest GroupsHow a Bill Becomes a LawSchool
House Rock Im Just a Bill
Congressional CommitteesCommittee TypeDescriptionHouse
ExampleSenate ExampleStanding CommitteePermanent committee that
specializes in particular policy areaJudiciary: jurisdiction over
measures relating to law, courts and judges, immigration,
interstate compactsEnvironment and Public Works: pollution, highway
construction and repair, fisheries, environmentSelect (Special)
CommitteeTemporary committee created for specific purpose;
disbanded after purpose fulfilledHomeland Security: Border patrol,
threats and counter-terrorism, cyber security, emergency
responseSpecial Committee on Aging: retirement, elderly workers,
healthcare for seniorsJoint CommitteeCommittee made up of members
of both House and Senate; concern with particular policy areasJoint
Economic Committee: analyzes countrys economic problemsConference
CommitteeTemporary committee created to work out the differences
between Senate and House versions of a piece of legislationRecovery
and Reinvestment Act Committee: create new jobs and save existing
ones; help the economyRole of Committees
Expertise and SeniorityInfluence in Congress increases with
members expertiseSeniority: years of consecutive serviceSenior
member of majority party becomes committee chairMarkup session:
meetings at which subcommittees and committees debate and amend
legislationImportance of negotiation and compromiseOversight:
process of reviewing agencies operations to determine whether they
are carrying out policies as Congress intendedHearingsRequiring
reports from agenciesInformal: contacts between committee and
agencyPrograms serve constituentsExtension of efforts to control
public policyPluralismLEADERSHIP IN CONGRESSHOUSESENATEPresiding
Officer and Party LeaderPresiding OfficersSpeaker of the
HousePresident of the SenatePresident Pro TemporeParty
OfficersParty OfficersMajority Floor LeaderMinority Floor
LeaderMajority WhipMinority WhipMajority Floor LeaderMinority Floor
LeaderMajority WhipMinority WhipLeadership in Congress:House of
RepresentativesLeadership PositionCurrent
LeaderRoles/ResponsibilitiesSpeaker of the HouseRepresents his/her
districtLeader of the majority partyLeader of the HouseHouse
Majority LeaderSchedule legislation for the floorPlan the
agendaWork to advance the goals of the majority partyHouse Majority
WhipCounts votesWhips up supports for majority legislationKeeps
members focused on party missionHouse Minority LeaderTraditional
roleCampaign for own party
House Minority WhipManages his or her partys legislative program
on the floorKeeps track of legislation; AttendanceLeadership in
Congress:SenateLeadership PositionCurrent
LeaderRoles/ResponsibilitiesPresident of the SenateVote if there is
a tieCeremonial PositionPresident Pro TemporePresident if the Vice
President is not thereHonorary position; most senior member of the
majority partySenate Majority LeaderReal power; schedules
legislation; consult with minority leader about getting bills
through Congress - compromiseSenate Minority LeaderSchedules
legislation with majority leader; compromiseSenate Majority
WhipKeeps track of vote count; rallies support for legislation on
the floorSenate Minority WhipAssist minority leader in coordinating
votes of minority party on issuesRules and NormsRules of Procedure
(parliamentary procedure): scheduling of legislation, when and how
certain types of legislation can be brought to floor, introduction
of amendmentsFacilitate cooperation; tool of
majorityHouseAmendments to bills must be germane (relevant) to bill
at handRules Committee: govern floor debateSenateExcept in
specified instances, amendments that are not germane to bill at
hand can be proposedUnanimous consent to set starting time and
length of debateFilibuster: talk a bill to death; Cloture: means of
limiting debateNorms: unwritten codes of behaviorMembers show
respect for colleagues during deliberationsIndividual members
should be willing to bargain with each otherJunior members of House
and Senate serve apprenticeships and defer to party and committee
elders (change in recent years)Aggressive, impatient, ambitious
junior legislators
Legislative EnvironmentPolitical partiesLimited resources to
influence votingParty leaders and committee chairs help organize
rank-and-file membersPresidentChief LegislatorConstituentsMembers
have to think about what the voters back home wantInterest
groupsSource of useful information for members
Dilemma of RepresentationTrustee: representatives obligated to
consider the views of their constituents; not obligated to vote
according to those views if think misguidedDelegate: legislator
whose primary responsibility is to represent the majority view of
his or her constituents, regardless of his or her own view
