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America’s Democratic Republic Chapter 11: Congress
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Congress in democratic and 18 th -century republican doctrines How the Constitution shapes Congress How the members of Congress represent their constituents What role money and interest groups play in congressional elections What leaders, political parties, and committees do in Congress How a bill becomes a law Why oversight is important In This Chapter
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18 th -Century Constitutional Foundations of Congress Framers Worried about tyranny, yet Wanted an energetic government able to carry out important responsibilities So...
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 18 th -Century Constitutional Foundations of Congress Empowered Congress Center of law making Powerful Article I, Section 8 Constrained Congress Bicameral Separation of Powers Checks and Balances
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman 18 th -Century Constitutional Foundations of Congress Representation House: based on population Senate: based on equality Federalism
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Representation and Democracy Styles Delegate Trustee Demographics Congress is unrepresentative in terms of Race Gender Occupation
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Representation and Democracy Electoral Connection Constituencies Senate: state House: district Reapportionment: the redistribution of representatives in the sates occurs every ten years and based on national census Redistricting: redrawing the district lines so as to allocate representatives Done at the state level
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Representation and Democracy Electoral Connection Redistricting Gerrymandering Majority–minority districts Money and congressional elections Incumbency Franking privilege Casework Pork
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How Congress Works Committees and Subcommittees Political Parties Party conference Caucus
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Party Voting in Congress Party affiliation is best predictor of voting behavior Bipartisanship
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How Congress Works Leadership House Speaker of the House Majority Leader Minority leader Whip
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How Congress Works Leadership Senate President of the Senate Senate Majority Leader President pro tempore
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How Congress Works Congressional Committee Allow Congress to process flow of business Helps members develop expertise on various issues Enhances members’chances for reelection
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Congressional Committee Types of committees Standing Select Joint Conference
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Getting on committees How? Seniority Preference Ability to assist constituency
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Rules: specific how things should be done and what is not allowed Norms: generally accepted expectations of behavior and how business is conducted
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works The Rules and Norms of Congress Seniority Courtesy Reciprocity
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Differences in House and Senate House More rule-bound Leaders have more power More organized and hierarchical Procedures are more structured Majority party exercises more control Difficult for the individual to stand out
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Differences in House and Senate Senate More open and fluid Senators tend to be independent of their colleagues Lodges less power in its leaders Individual senators and those in the minority party have a more important role than in the House
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How Congress Works Differences in House and Senate Terms to know Unanimous consent Hold Filibuster Cloture
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Legislative Responsibilities How a bill becomes a law Introduction Referred to committee Referred to subcommittee for hearings and markup Committee action Rules committee (House only)
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman How Congress Works Legislative Responsibilities How a bill becomes a law Floor action Floor action Conference committee House action Senate action President for signature Bill becomes law
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How Congress Works Legislative Responsibilities Oversight of Executive Branch Hearings in committees and subcommittees Often visible and dramatic Guided by House and Senate leaders and majority party caucuses Impeachment
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Congress and the Democratic Republic Framers meant Congress to be most “popular” branch, but Checks and balances make it an anti- majoritarian institute Constrained by the executive and judicial branches
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Summary Congress was created as a bicameral legislature with specific powers enumerated by the Constitution Members of Congress do not reflect the demographic characteristics of their constituents Much of leadership in congress is determined by seniority Campaign finance policies give wealthy individuals, groups, and businesses influence over members of Congress through campaign donations
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Question 1 How many chambers or houses are in a bicameral congress? One Two Three Four
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Answer How many chambers or houses are in a bicameral congress? One Two Three Four
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Question 2 When was black representation at its highest percentage in Congress? Directly after Constitutional passage During Civil War Reconstruction During World War II After the 2000 general election
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Answer When was black representation at its highest percentage in Congress? Directly after Constitutional passage During Civil War Reconstruction During World War II After the 2000 general election
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Question 3 After the 2010 election, which party was in power in the House of Representatives? Whigs Democrats Republicans Independents
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Answer After the 2010 election, which party was in power in the House of Representatives? Whigs Democrats Republicans Independents
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Question 4 Who was the first female Speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi Hillary Clinton Sherry Reid Donna Mays
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Answer Who was the first female Speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi Hillary Clinton Sherry Reid Donna Mays
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Question 5 What economic policies will emerge from Congress after the 2010 elections?