1. Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government
Lecture & Discussion 3: Congressional Behavior

2. Enduring Understanding
The republican ideal in the United States is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

3. Objective(s)
To explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government.

4. Do Now
Read the infographic “In Congress as well as Public, the Center Increasingly Cannot Hold” and respond to the prompts.
Describe the data presented.
Describe a pattern or trend in the data
Draw a conclusion about the pattern or trend.

6. A Profile: 115th U.S. Congress

7. A. Congressional Profile
Most members of Congress are...
middle-aged
White
Protestant
male
lawyers

8. A Look at Our Representatives
U.S. House GOP members celebrating passage of legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare (ACA) with American Health Care Act (AHCA)

9. A. Congressional Profile
Review your profile of Congress to answer the following questions.
Viewed simplistically, how might the make-up of Congress impact public policy
Given the traditional make-up of Congress, what factors might account for the diversity of views among seemingly similar people over the years?

10. B. Political Polarization
Data shows Congress has become more politically polarized in past few decades
Ideological separation between Democrats and Republicans has resulted in gridlock
Question…What has contributed to the divide?

11. C. Contributing Factors
Role Conception
representational view: members vote as “delegates” based on the clear view of his or her constituents related to a specific issue
organizational view: members vote as “partisans” or along party-lines to demonstrate goodwill towards his or her colleagues

12. C. Contributing Factors
Role Conception
attitudinal view: members vote as “trustees” based on his or her own ideological beliefs or convictions
politico: members combine the roles of “delegate,” “partisan,” and “trustee” to act as a “practical” politician
Evidence shows attitudinal view is becoming more prevalent as more ideological members are elected into office contributing to political polarization in Congress

13. C. Contributing Factors
Incumbency
serving in Congress has become a career
“professional politicians” have become increasingly “out of touch with the people”

14. C. Contributing Factors
Incumbency
most incumbents running for reelection win in “safe” districts with over 55% of the vote due to :
high visibility
franking privileges
Incumbent reelection rates in “safe” districts enable elected officials to behave in a more ideological manner contributing to political polarization in Congress
low voter turnout
gerrymandering
credit for district improvements
capacity to fundraise

15. A Look: Congressional Reelection

16. C. Contributing Factors
Gerrymandering
the creation of an odd-shaped electoral district in order to favor the candidate of one party
What is a Gerrymander?

17. C. Contributing Factors
Gerrymandering
fragmenting: party in power shapes districts that break the other party’s majority into fragments, thereby denying fair representation
packing: creating a few districts that contain a large majority of the minority party’s voters, leaving the several remaining districts for the party in power to win

18. How Are Districts Drawn?
37 state legislatures draw congressional boundaries
4 states use an independent commission: Arizona, California, Idaho, and Washington
2 states use politician commissions: Hawaii and New Jersey
7 states have only one congressional district each, so do not draw boundaries for the U.S. House of Representatives
- Brookings Now, 2017

19. C. Contributing Factors
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering creates “safe” districts for the two major parties and diminishes the influence of moderates contributing to political polarization in Congress

22. Supreme Court Speaks
Gerrymandering, redistricting, and unequal representation of constituencies have been partially addressed by the Supreme Court.

23. Supreme Court Speaks Directions:
Read the case summaries for Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993).
Respond to the prompts.
Complete a brief for both cases that includes the facts, arguments, decision, opinions, and precedent.

24. Supreme Court Speaks
Baker v. Carr (1962): established the right of federal courts to review the “political question” of state redistricting issues and paved the way for the “one man, one vote” standard of American democracy.
Shaw v. Reno (1993): established that redistricting on the basis of race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause.