The United States Congress Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Mark Twain

Differences in the House and Senate The House of Representatives More partisan and unified More loyalty to party More structured and organized Majority rules always Limited debate and amendments The Senate Senators more powerful individually Less party-oriented and party-dependent Looser rules of debate and amendments Minority can block the majority (the “filibuster”)

Special Rules of the Senate Unlimited debate Bills brought to floor by consent of party leaders Filibusters (can be ended by a “cloture vote”, 60 votes) The “hold” put on bills “non-germane” amendments “riders”, “Christmas Tree Bills”

Structure of the House The Majority Party Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) Elected by House members Only Congressional office mentioned by the Constitution

Structure of the House The Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D – MD) The Majority Whip James Clyburn (D – SC)

Structure of the House The Minority Leader John Boehner (R –OH) The Whip Roy Blunt (R – MO)

Structure of the Senate President of the Senate: Dick Cheney Duties: presides over the Senate can not vote unless there is a tie rarely present in the Senate *President Pro Tempore replaces, Robert Byrd (D-WV)

The Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – NV) The Majority Whip Richard Durban ( D - IL)

Structure of the Senate The Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R - KY) The Minority Whip Trent Lott ( R - MS)

Party Leadership- Influence on Legislation Assignment of members to committees Assignment of committee chairs Scheduling Agenda setting (rules committee) Party discipline Use of media Recognition on floor Control of electoral support

Member Voting Behavior Three primary theories 1) representational view- members vote to please their constituents 2) organizational view- members primarily respond to cues from colleagues 3) attitudinal view- the member’s ideology determines his/her vote

Congressional Caucuses Rivaling parties in terms of source of policy leadership Types Intraparty- share similar ideology Personal Interest- issue oriented (arts, human rights) Constiutency- share representation of common groups/regions

The Committees Four Types: Standing (permanent), Joint (for investigations) Select (info gathering) Conference (to reconcile different bills from House and Senate)

The Committees Most Important (House) Ways And Means Appropriations Rules Most Important (Senate) Finance Judiciary Appropriations

The Committees Chair Positions: Based on seniority (usually) Majority party holds chairs Power to hold or move bills forward Conducts hearings

The Committees Staff (CRS,GAO,CBO) Does research Gathers information Assigned to committees or to Congress itself

Committees-Elements that Effect Legislative Process Specialization- members develop policy expertise, independence for exec. branch, more attention to legislation, better leg.? Party Representation-reflective of the chamber as a whole, pushes agenda, determines leadership of committee Reciprocity/Logrolling-vote trading, exchanges, speeds process, government does more, more pork (earmarks)

Powers of Congress Non-legislative:Oversight, Investigative (i.e. Watergate)

Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Electoral – chooses president when no majority is achieved in Electoral College

Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Executive – Senate Confirms appointments of the president Also confirms treaties

Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Impeachment: House files charges, Senate acts as jury, Chief Justice presides

Powers of Congress Non-legislative: Amendment: two thirds of House and Senate needed to send amendments to States (3/4 needed for ratification)

Powers of Congress Types Expressed: Article I, Section VIII Implied: “necessary and proper” clause (the “Elastic Clause”)

The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Money Communication with voters “franking” or free mail Service to constituents credit claiming

The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Position-taking name recognition

The Electoral Connection Advantages of the incumbent: Lack of quality opponents Ignorant voters

The Electoral Connection Reasons for defeat:gerrymandering Scandal Redistricting Shifts in the electorate:

The Electoral Connection Usually nonfactors: Foreign Policy Economy “coattails” Can be factors occasionally (2006?)

Resolutions Simple- passed by only one house, effects it only, not signed by Pres., not a law Concurrent- effects both houses, not a law Joint- essentially a law, passed by both houses, signed by the President, most used to propose Constitutional amendments (not signed by Pres.)

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Public Bills- pertains to public affairs Generally Private Bills- pertains to a particular individual, now very rare

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Bill is introduced by a member in House Hello, Bill!

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Bill sent to the Rules Committee, to determine which committee is to work on it (or it can be “pigeonholed”) bill dies

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Sent to the Committee, assigned to a subcommittee (stuck-”discharge petition”) Subcommittee holds hearings, performs studies, and makes revisions (“mark-up”)

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Subcommittee reports it back to full committee Committee can either: amend it and approve it “pigeonhole” it, kill it

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Back to the Rules Committee Sets guidelines on: length of debate amendments, yes or no puts on the calendar

Voting Procedures House of Representatives 1) voice vote- shout yea or nay 2) division vote- stand and are counted (voice/division-names not recorded) 3) teller vote- pass two tellers- yea and nay 4) roll call vote- electronic now Senate Use roll call vote- not electronic

How a Bill Becomes A Law! Full House Debate or Comm. Of the Whole YES – on to the Senate NO – bummer!

How A Bill Becomes a Law! Bill introduced to the Senate by a member Assigned to appropriate committee by Senate leadership (no Rules Committee in the Senate)

How A Bill Becomes a Law! Subcommittee hearings, mark-ups, etc. Report to the full committee

Committee can kill it or pass it Sends it to the Senate leadership to be put on the calendar How A Bill Becomes a Law!

Full Senate debate, filibusters, amendments, final vote If yes: conference committee If no: big bummer!

How A Bill Becomes a Law! Conference Committee made up of both House and Senate members works out differences in the two bills Sent back to original body for final vote No debate or amendments

How A Bill Becomes a Law! Sent to President If signed: IT’S A LAW! If Vetoed: 2/3 vote to override

Influences on Legislation The President Courts Events the media Interest Groups

Influences on Legislation Party Constituents Mean People AP Government classes (not really)