Organization of Congress

Given re-election motive, Congress as an institution will… Be an ombudsman Expresses constituency preferences, not necessarily national preferences Engage more often in legislative activities that help re-election Write bills that contain particularized benefits Serve organized groups more than unorganized groups Express symbolic policy preferences, but not necessarily follow through

Today… What is Congress supposed to do? What are some obstacles in the way? What institutions help Congress meet its responsibilities?

What is Congress supposed to do?

What are Congress’ responsibilities in the Constitutional system? Voice of the people / Representation Make laws Check and balance

Congress’ Constitutional responsibilities To provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States… …Lay and collect Taxes… …Borrow Money; …Regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; …Coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures …Promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, … …To constitute Tribunals (Courts)… …Declare War etc..

The “Elastic” Clause …To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

House special powers Originate all tax bills Impeach (charge) presidents and judges

Senate special powers Try impeachments Confirm ambassadors, public ministers, judges Ratify treaties (2/3 vote)

Why might it be hard for 435 Representatives from different districts (and 100 Senators from different states) to write laws that “provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare?”

Problems Congress faces… Free rider problem: why legislate at all? Coordination problems: managing the agenda Transaction costs: time and effort of legislating Conflict resolution Informational needs

Institutions to overcome obstacles Committee System Party organization Floor Procedure Staff

Committee System

House committees Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and the Workforce Energy and Commerce Financial Services Government Reform Homeland Security House Administration International Relations Judiciary Resources Rules Science Small Business Standards of Official Conduct Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans' Affairs Ways and Means Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Senate committees Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans Affairs

Subcommittees: House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research Jurisdiction : Soil, water, and resource conservation; small watershed program; agricultural credit; rural development; rural electrification; farm security and family farming matters; agricultural research, education and extension services; plant pesticides, quarantine, adulteration of seeds, and insect pests; biotechnology. Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Jurisdiction : Program and markets related to cotton, cottonseed, wheat, feed grains, soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, lentils; Commodity Credit Corporation; crop insurance; commodity exchanges. Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs Jurisdiction : Peanuts; sugar; tobacco; honey and bees; marketing orders relating to such commodities; foreign agricultural assistance and trade promotion programs, generally. Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Dairy, Nutrition and Forestry Jurisdiction : Agency oversight; review and analysis; special investigations; dairy; food stamps, nutrition and consumer programs; forestry in general, forest reserves other than those created from the public domain; energy and biobased energy production; dairy. Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture Jurisdiction : Livestock; poultry; meat; seafood and seafood products; inspection, marketing, and promotion of such commodities; aquaculture; animal welfare; grazing; fruits and vegetables; marketing and promotion orders

The Committee System Helps alleviate free rider problem by serving members’ reelection interests Helps meet informational needs by dividing up the work Committee chairs help solve coordination problems by serving as gatekeepers More specialization in the House because of its size

Floor procedure

A riddle (sort of) How is a carpool different than a bus line?

House floor procedure Limited debate The Rules Committee Open and closed rules The “bus line”

Senate floor procedure No rules committee Unlimited debate –Filibuster –Cloture Rule Complex Unanimous Consent Agreements “The car pool”

How does floor procedure solve some of Congress’ problems? Formal, predictable procedures reduce transaction costs Formal process reduces coordination problems by identifying a “traffic cop” House more rigid and hierarchical Senate rules protect minority interests

Parties

What do parties do? Elect organizational leadership that… Hands out committee assignments Hands out committee chairmanships Controls Rules Committee (Speaker) Influences distribution of pork Can help with campaigns

Party organization: House MAJORITY PARTY Speaker Majority leader Majority Whip (& whips) Conference (all Reeps) Steering committee Policy committee Campaign committee

Party Organization: Senate MAJORITY PARTY President Pro Tempore Majority Leader Asst. Majority Leader (whip) Conference (all Reeps) Policy committee Committee on committees Campaign committee

How do parties solve Congress’ institutional problems? Reduce transaction costs—parties are ready- made coalitions Channel and manage conflict Help meet informational needs More delegation to party leadership in the House because of rules

Other institutions Staff –(provides information) Decorum –(regulates conflict) Seniority system –(reduces incentive to free ride)

Important questions: How do these institutions serve members’ re-election interests? How is the House different from the Senate?

Differences between the House vs. Senate Prominence of constituents and reelection Degree of Specialization Hierarchy Protection of minorities