1. Beyond Legislation: What Else Does Congress Do?

2. Today Constituency Service Oversight Investigation Impeachment
Advice and Consent

3. Constituency Service
Critical tool for reelection – part of the “incumbency advantage”

4. Oversight
The “flip side” of the hearings during the legislative process
Making sure your laws are being enforced the way you want them to be enforced
If they’re not
Amend the law to make your intent more clear
Change/cut/increase funding

5. Investigations
Must be related to an area in which you might conceivably legislate, but scope can be broad
House Un-American Activities Committee and communism
House Government Reform Committee and steroids in baseball
Subpoena witnesses, jail for contempt

6. Impeachment President, VP, Executive Officials, Federal Judges
Two steps
Impeachment by House of Representatives
Majority required for impeachment
Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson actually impeached
Trial by the Senate (w/ Chief Justice presiding)
2/3 vote required for conviction
No president has ever been removed by this means
Can only remove someone from office, no other penalty

7. Advice and Consent – The Role of the Senate
Presidential appointments require Senate consent
Majority approval required
Federal judges
All “major” executive officials
Treaties also require Senate consent
2/3 approval required
Presidents frequently bypass by using an executive agreement instead