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Congress Background & Power.

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Presentation on theme: "Congress Background & Power."— Presentation transcript:

1 Congress Background & Power

2 Which of the following institutions do you trust the most?
Congress the presidency the Supreme Court Discussion: Most students usually respond that they trust the president or the Court the most, and as the next slide shows, polling in the last couple of decades has consistently rated Congress’s job approval lower than the other two branches. This is interesting in two respects. First, members of Congress are routinely reelected at very high rates. Second, Congress is “the people’s branch.” This clicker question can be used to launch a discussion on what students’ impressions of the Congress are and to use those impressions to discuss the Congress as we move through the various subtopics in this unit.

3 Institutional Approval Ratings Gallup, July 10–14, 2013
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job? Approve: 15 percent Disapprove: 78 percent Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? (tracking poll) Approve: 46 percent Disapprove: 46 percent Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job? Approve: 43 percent

4 Attitudes toward Congress
Members of the public hold the institution in very low regard but love their individual representatives. If the Federal bureaucracy makes a mistake, the senator’s or representative's office tries to resolve the issue for the constituents. Therefore, what most Americans actually see of Congress is the work of their own representatives in their home states.

5 Why was Congress created?
Created to work for local and for the nation. Founding fathers believed most power should be held by the legislature. Evidence Article 1: structure, powers, and operation of Congress. Bicameral legislature: Senate and House of Representatives.

6 Why was Congress created?
The two chambers reflected the social class bias of the founders. Wanted to balance interest and numbers of the common man with the property interests of the land owners, bankers and merchants. Art 1, Sec 2 and 3: House elected by “the people”, Senate chosen by state legislature. 17th Amendment (1913), Senators chosen by people

7 Why was Congress created?
The logic of the separate constituencies and interests is reinforced by terms. House elected every 2 years. Senate elected for 6 years. Terms are staggered. 1/3 face election every 2 years. Age House= 25 yrs old, Live in state. 7 yrs a citizen. Senate= 30 yrs old, Live in state. 9 yrs a citizen.

8 House Senate Members chosen from local districts Members chosen from whole state 2 year term 6 year term Originally elected by voters Originally (1913) elected by state legislatures May impeach (indict) federal officials May convict federal officials of impeachable offenses Larger (435) Smaller (100) More formal rules Fewer rules and restrictions Debate is limited Debate extended (filibuster) Less prestige and less individual notice More prestige and media attention Originates bills for raising revenues Advise/consent on appointments and treaties Local or narrow leadership National leadership More partisan Less party loyalty.

9 Size and Rules House- 435 Senate-100
Delegates from D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. Lots of rules because of it’s size Senate-100 Looser rules Obvious in the rules governing debate on the floor. Senate permits extended debate on all issues that arise before it. House operates within a system that has the Rules Committee proposing time limit on debate. House acts faster on legislation than the Senate.

10

11 House of Representatives Chamber

12 Senate Chamber

13 The Powers of Congress

14 The Schizophrenia of the Constitution
Both highly specific and extremely vague The first 17 clauses of Art. 1, Sec 8, specify most of the enumerated powers of Congress, (powers given directly to them). They are…

15 Powers of Congress Right to impose taxes and import tariffs.
Borrow Money Regulate interstate commerce and international trade Establish procedures for naturalizing citizens. Make laws regarding bankruptcies. Coin, print money and regulate its value. Establish standards of weights and measures.

16 Powers of Congress Punish counterfeiters Establish post roads
Regulate copyrights and patents Establish the federal court system Punish pirates and other committing illegal acts on the high seas. Declare war (most important foreign) Raise and regulate an army and navy. Call up and regulate the state militias… To enforce laws, suppress insurrections, repel invasions Govern Wash. D.C.

17 Non-legislative Powers
House of Representatives (incoming) elects president if no electoral majority Propose amendments with 2/3 majorities from both houses House of Representatives may impeach; Senate tries (2/3 majority vote to convict) Senate approves presidential appointments (majority vote) and treaties (2/3 majority vote) ADVICE AND CONSENT OVERSIGHT – investigate/monitor the other branches, executive agencies

18 Meeting of Congress Both houses meet for a term of two years
Makeup of congressional terms determined by congressional elections every two years Terms begin on January 3rd of odd-numbered years 2014 Elections in November 4th, 2014 114th Congress begins term on January 3, 2015 Special sessions President may call Congress in times of emergency situations or significant political developments Pearl Harbor in December 1941

19 Evolution of Congress From 1789 to 1932, Congress virtually dominated the federal government Exceptions under Jackson, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, and Wilson From 1932 to the present the President has become the focus of federal government power and authority In conjunction with expansion of government with FDR’s New Deal programs Media coverage

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