bell ringer summarize how the “political machine” and the media were depicted in mr. smith goes...

Bell ringer Summarize how the “political machine” and

the media were depicted in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

In regards to how the media was portrayed, do you think the media is more, less, or just as involved in politics today?

Organization of Organization of Congress Congress

Today we will ….

Objectives

Examine the organization of congress.

Identify the types of committees and their purposes.

Agenda

Vocabulary Guided notes Committee folders Ticket out the Door

Vocabulary Standing Committee: permanent committee in

the House and Senate Select Committee: special committee set up

for a specific purpose for a limited time (House and Senate)

Joint Committee: composed of members from the House and Senate

Seniority Rule: an unwritten rule in the Congress that allows important positions of leadership to be held by those with the longest records of service in Congress.

Two Houses of Congress

House of RepresentativesSenate

Bicameralism

Why is Congress divided into two houses? Because our founding fathers saw

bicameralism as a way to diffuse (spread) the power of Congress, which prevented it from overwhelming the other two branches of government.

NJ Plan & VA Plan!

Congressional Terms

Each term of Congress lasts 2 years. The beginning of each 2 year term is “noon of the 3rd day

in January” of every odd numbered year. So the Congressmen we elected in November 2014

didn’t start until January 3rd, 2015. While each term is 2 years, there are no term

limits in Congress. This means the same Senator or Representative can

stay in Congress for life as long as he/she keeps getting reelected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORVqG3rN5Y&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Salary and Benefits Senators and Representatives make $174,000 per

year.

Speaker of the House makes $223,500 per year

Minority/Majority floor leaders in both houses make

$193,400 per year

They also receive special tax deductions

They receive travel allowances to go back and

forth to Washington

Franking Privilege: Allows them to mail letters

and other materials postage-free by substituting

their signature instead of the postage.

The Politics of Pay Two limits on congressional pay

President veto power Voter backlash

Check for understanding How long is the term for the Senate? the

House? How do you think the lack of term limits and

the franking privilege contribute to the incumbency advantage?

Speaker of the House Chosen by the majority

party Directs business on the floor

during meetings Calls on and recognizes

members wishing to speak Appoints members to Select

and Special committees Can vote but usually

doesn’t, must vote to break a tie

John Boehner (Ohio) (“bay-ner”)

The Senate The Founding Fathers hoped

that the smaller Senate would be a more enlightened and responsible body than the House.

They thought the House would be too often swayed by the immediate impact of events and by the passions of the moment.

“The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body”

The Senate

The Senate is a “continuous body” This means that all of its seats are

never up for election at the same time.

6 year terms give Senators some job security

Since they represent an entire State, they have a huge constituency, which means the people and interests the Senators represent.

President of the Senate Vice President Only constitutional duty

Joe Biden

President Pro Tempore Selected by members

of the Senate Leading member of the

majority party Serves when the VP is

absent Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

Check for understanding What is the leader of the House called?

Who leads the Senate?

Who takes over when he is not present?

Party Leadership in Party Leadership in Congress Congress

Floor Leaders Both houses of Congress are organized along

party lines After the Speaker of the House and President

Pro Tempore, the majority & minority floor leaders in both houses are the most important officers in Congress

Chosen from their members to represent and coordinate the party

Try to steer what happens on the floor to the benefit of their parties

Party Whips Go-betweens between party leaders and party

members Round up members when important votes are

to be taken

Major Roles Congressmen Play Legislators (law

makers) Representatives Committee members Politicians

Representatives of the People Senators and representatives are elected to

represent the people (that means YOU) Delegate or Turstee?

Cast hundreds of votes each session. Some big, some small.

Check for understanding Who elects the Floor Leaders?

What does the Whip do?

Committees

Congress

Senate

House

Senate Committees

House Committees

Joint Committees

Types of Committees

1.) Standing committees

2.) Select or Special Committees

3.) Joint Committees

Standing Committees

Permanent Most are subject-related (Judiciary, Foreign

Policy, Armed Services) Majority party holds majority membership Review, research and revise bills May hold a hearing where they are informed

by experts, question witnesses, view exhibits or photographs, examine material evidence, or observe demonstrations in order to gather information about a bill

Select/Special Committees Temporary Usually set up for a specific purpose & a

limited time Oversight function – to keep things from

going wrong in govt. Investigations

Remember this story?

Joint Committees

Made up of members from both houses Permanent Debate & report on matters concerning

Congress, as a whole Example: Joint Economic Committee

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Committee Chairpersons

Chosen by majority party

Chairpersons are selected by seniority rule

Rule states that the majority party member who has

the most consecutive years in congress has seniority

Duties

Decides when committee will meet

What bills to consider

Whether there will be a public hearing or witnesses

Manages bill when it is reported to whole body

Check for understanding President Woodrow Wilson once noted that

Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work. Explain the meaning of this statement in your own words.

Comparing the Chambers of CongressHouse of Representatives The Senate

Larger body (435 members) Smaller body (100 members)

Shorter term (2 years) Longer term (6 years)

Smaller constituencies (elected from districts within States)

Larger constituencies (elected from the entire State)

Younger members Older members

Less prestige More prestige

Most work done in committees, not on the floor

Work is split more evenly between committees & the floor

Strict rules, limited debate Flexible rules, nearly unlimited debate

No power over treaties/presidential appointments

Approves/rejects treaties & presidential appointments

ClosureTicket out the door – Senators & Represenatives #70