US Congress Chapter 13 AP Government

Plays a big part in Who Governs? Different than a Parliament US Congress Plays a big part in Who Governs? Different than a Parliament

Differences Congress Parliament Aligned to party and Prime Minister Elected as part of the party Debate laws/ policy Independent votes, of party and of President Elected independently of the party Make laws/policy

6 era’s of the House 1. House has more power than Senate 1800’s 2. Jacksonian’s create cleavage 1830’s (slavery) 3. Speaker takes control by 1900 4. Committee/Chairperson power 1920’s 5. Elected Chairs, not appointed 1960’s 6. Reduced committee power 1990’s

College degree Protestant Upper-middle class The average member is… White 50’s Married Male College degree Protestant Upper-middle class Long term residents Incumbents

Organizational-As the party wants Attitudinal-Their own mind Voting on a Bill Organizational-As the party wants Attitudinal-Their own mind Representational-As voters in the state/district want

Members are more polarized than citizens Align with caucuses/cleavages House Power Members are more polarized than citizens Align with caucuses/cleavages Speakers recently gained power Party has some influence -especially in leadership appointments

House Leadership Speaker of the House is leader of majority party and presides over House Majority leader and minority leader: leaders on the floor Party whips keep leaders informed and round up votes Committee assignments and legislative schedule are set by each party

Senate Power Less party control than in the House More decentralized/independent Committees have the most power

Senate Leadership President pro tempore presides; this is the member with most seniority in majority party (a largely honorific office) Leaders are the majority leader and the minority leader, elected by their respective party members

Senate Leadership Party whips: keep leaders informed, round up votes, count noses Each party has a policy committee: schedules Senate business, prioritizes bills Committee assignments are handled by a group of Senators, each for their own party

Get to Work #1 job is passing legislation Major help from personal staff Page 346 Help from CRS, GAO, CBO

Staffs Constituency service is a major task of members’ staff Legislative functions of staff include devising proposals, negotiating agreements, organizing hearings, and meeting with lobbyists and administrators Members’ staff consider themselves advocates of their employers

Incumbency Privileges Franking Pork-barrel credit Tax credit for DC home/apartment Non-libel/Non-arrest status Travel expenses Lobbyist “perks”

Faster response to terrorism Faster response by intelligence community Post 911 Faster response to terrorism Faster response by intelligence community USA Patriot Act Continuity Commission recommendations