1. Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives
Legislature
Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives
This presentation is the property of Dr. Kevin Parsneau for use by him and his current students. No other person may use or reprint without his permission.

2. What is Congress and what does it do?
How does Congress act as a representative body?
How does it pass laws?
What are the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?
What is Congress’s oversight role?
How does it all get done?

3. Bicameralism House of Representatives Senate 435 members
Elected by districts within states
Apportioned by population
2 year terms
Senate
100 members
Elected by whole states
6 year terms with 1/3 elected every 2 years

4. What Does Congress Do?
Represent
Legislate
Oversight

5. Represent Models of Representation Types of Representation
How does the representative see his or her role?
Types of Representation
What are the grounds for claiming to representation?
Constituency Service
What are some practical aspects of representation?

6. Represent Models of Representation “Delegate”—John Stuart Mill
“Trustee”—Joseph Schumpeter
“Politico”

7. The Electoral Connection (David Mayhew)
Sometimes, members of Congress act as delegates and sometimes as trustees depending upon which they believe improves their chance of re-election.
This may seem selfish, but may keep them generally doing what the voters want in the long term.

8. Represent Types of Representation Geographic Ideological
Descriptive (sociological representation)

9. Represent Constituency Service casework
“pork” or “pork-barrel politics”

10. Legislate Types of legislation Bills Joint resolutions
Concurrent resolutions
Simple resolutions

11. Legislate Summary of how a bill becomes a law 1. Introduction
2. Committee/ Subcommittee/ Markup Session
3. Rules Committee
4. Floor Vote
5. Other Chamber
6. Conference Committee
7. President

12. Differences between the House and Senate
House Budgetary Authority
Senate Confirmation Authority
Majoritarian vs. Supermajoritarian
Senate Collegiality
Filibusters and Cloture Votes (3/5ths)
Floor Debates
Power of the Speaker and Majority Leader
Open Rule vs. Closed Rule Debate

13. Congress Oversight Budget Senate Confirmations Committee Hearings
Supreme Court
Executive Officers
Ambassadors
Committee Hearings

14. How do things get done? Division of Labor and Specialization
Committees
Institutional Norms
Seniority
Staff
Leaders

15. How do things get done? Congressional Committees Standing
Special or Select
Joint Committees
Conference Committees

16. Leadership positions Senate President President Pro Tempore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Senate Majority and Minority Leaders
House Majority and Minority Leaders
Senate Majority and Minority Whips
House Majority and Minority Whips

17. Mechanisms of Leadership
Caucuses
Whip system
Rules
Committee assignments
Floor access
Log rolling
Lobbying
Leadership P.A.C.s
Presidential Support

18. Caucus system
Party members in Congress meet together to select party leaders, decide on policies and discuss strategy.
Caucuses help the majority party run Congress and the minority party act as the loyal opposition.

19. Mechanisms of Leadership
Caucuses
Whip system
Rules
Committee assignments
Floor access
Log rolling
Lobbying
Leadership P.A.C.s
Presidential Support

20. A Final Word About: Congress: Representation Legislation Oversight
House of Representatives
Senate
Representation
Legislation
Oversight
Bicameralism and complexity
Organizing and leadership