CONGRESS

Why Bicameralism? Compromise Checks & Balances

Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR

Why is it important?  1. increases or decreases the number of seats  2. more Rep’s more influence  3. electoral votes

Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines Gerrymandering Why?  To enhance political party strength  Protect incumbents

Who is in Congress?

Personal & Political Backgrounds WASP Mid 50’s (middle-aged) Married w/ children

Table 11.1: Blacks, Hispanics, and Women in Congress,

Many were lawyers Held previous positions in government Many make careers out of office

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

Congressional Elections Incumbents usually win Why? Advertising – name recognition Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel & casework Safe districts - Gerrymandering

Table 11.2: Incumbents in Congress Reelected by 60 Percent or More

Figure 11.2: Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18.

Job Benefits Power Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement Office space Congressional Staff Travel allowances & Franking Privileges

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”

Non-legislative powers  oversight of the executive branch  appointments  impeachment

Leadership in Congress

House of Representatives Speaker of the House- Boehner 1. Presides over the House 2. Appoints select & conference committees 3. Appoints the rules committee

4. Assigns bills to committees 5. Second in line for the presidency

Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )

Majority & Minority Leader 1. Partisan position picked by individual parties 2. Floor leader & legislative strategist Majority – Cantor Minority - Pelosi

Majority Leader – Eric Cantor

Minority Leader

Party Whips 1. Assistant floor leader 2. Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the House

Senate Vice President - Biden 1. President of the Senate 2. Presides over the Senate 3. Votes in case of tie

Joseph Biden

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

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

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell

Types of Committees

Standing Committee Formed to handle bills in different policy areas 2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member

Joint Committees Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress

Select Committees Temporary - set up to study specific issues

Conference Committees Temporary Members from both houses hammer out differences in a bill

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

Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

HOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE REPRESENTATIONAL VIEW- (Delegates) - MEMBERS VOTE TO PLEASE THEIR CONSTITUENTS

ORGANIZATIONAL VIEW (Partisan) - MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTE TO PLEASE COLLEAGUES Logrolling

ATTITUDINAL VIEW (Trustees)- IDEOLOGY AFFECTS A LEGISLATURES VOTE

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress HouseSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By Qualifications Length of Term Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Determined By The 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

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The 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

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate 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

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The 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

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Length of Term2 years6 years

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The 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 Term2 years6 years Special Powers

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate 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

Congress The United States Congress House of RepresentativesSenate Total Members435 Members100 Members Determined By The 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 Term2 years6 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

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?

The U.S. Congress: The U.S. Congress

House of Representatives Speaker of the House Majority Floor Majority Whip Minority Floor Minority Whip

Senate President of the Senate Majority Floor Majority Whip President pro Temp. Minority Floor Minority Whip

Bills & Resolutions

Bills 10,000 proposed laws a session About 6% become law

Two Types 1. Public – entire nation 2. Private – certain people or places

Resolutions Three types – Joint resolution, concurrent resolution and Resolution

Joint Resolution Has the force of law May be used to appropriate money & propose constitutional amendments

Concurrent Resolution State position Example – Foreign matters

Resolutions Used for such things as the adoption of a new rule or procedure

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

Court Cases Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Political spending is protected by the 1 st Amendment. However, there is sufficient public interest in establishing a level playing field to justify limits

Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 Court ruled that each district must represent approximately the same number of people as all others

Shaw v. Reno 1993 Ruled against racial gerrymandering

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”

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.