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CONGRESS
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Why Bicameralism?
Compromise Checks & Balances
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Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting
Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR
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Why is it important? 1. increases or decreases the
number of seats 2. more Rep’s more influence 3. electoral votes
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Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines
Gerrymandering Why?
To enhance political party strength Protect incumbents
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Who is in Congress?
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Personal & Political Backgrounds
WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children
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Table 11.1: Blacks, Hispanics, and Women in Congress, 1971-2002
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Many were lawyers Held previous positions in
government Many make careers out of
office
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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
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Congressional Elections
Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel &
casework Safe districts - Gerrymandering
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Table 11.2: Incumbents in Congress Reelected by 60 Percent or More
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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.
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Job Benefits
Power Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking
Privileges
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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”
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Non-legislative powers oversight of the executive
branch appointments impeachment
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Leadership in Congress
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House of Representatives
Speaker of the House- Boehner 1. Presides over the House 2. Appoints select & conference
committees 3. Appoints the rules committee
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4. Assigns bills to committees 5. Second in line for the
presidency
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Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )
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Majority & Minority Leader
1. Partisan position picked by individual parties
2. Floor leader & legislative strategist
Majority – Cantor Minority - Pelosi
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Majority Leader – Eric Cantor
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Minority Leader
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Party Whips
1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the
“mood” of the House
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Senate
Vice President - Biden 1. President of the Senate 2. Presides over the Senate 3. Votes in case of tie
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Joseph Biden
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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
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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
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Harry Reid (D-NV)
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Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell
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Types of Committees
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Standing Committee
Formed to handle bills in different policy areas
2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member
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Joint Committees
Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress
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Select Committees
Temporary - set up to study specific issues
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Conference Committees
Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a
bill
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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
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Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses
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How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law
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HOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE
REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS
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ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW (Partisan) - MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE TO PLEASE COLLEAGUES
Logrolling
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ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE
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CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members
Determined By
Qualifications
Length of Term
Special Powers
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Congress
The United States Congress
House Senate
Total Members 435 Members 100 Members
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CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives SenateTotal Members 435 Members 100 Members
Determined By
Qualifications
Length of Term
Special Powers
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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
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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
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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
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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
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CongressThe United States Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Length of Term 2 years 6 years
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress
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House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Majority Floor Minority Floor
Majority Whip Minority Whip
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Senate
President of the Senate
Majority Floor President pro Temp. Minority Floor
Minority WhipMajority Whip
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Bills & Resolutions
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Bills
10,000 proposed laws a session
About 6% become law
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Two Types
1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or
places
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Resolutions
Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution
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Joint Resolution
Has the force of law May be used to appropriate
money & propose constitutional amendments
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Concurrent Resolution
State position Example – Foreign matters
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Resolutions
Used for such things as the adoption of a new rule or procedure
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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
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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
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Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must
represent approximately the same number of people as all others
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Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial
gerrymandering
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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”
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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.