1. CONGRESS

2. Overview of Congress
Questions to be answered (leave space to answer them later!):
How long does a term of Congress Last?
How is the House designed to be closer to the people?
What are the qualifications for office for a Senator? A Representative?
How does the size of each house impact the way they operate?
What is representation like in Congress? Is this a good or bad thing?

3. Overview of Congress Terms and Sessions Terms last 2 years
Begins January 3 of every odd-numbered year
Numbered Consecutively (07-09 = 110th)
Adjournment = end of term (both houses must agree)
Two sessions per term/ periodic recesses

4. Overview of Congress Bicameralism = Two houses
House of Reps = closer to people
Elected by the people
Smaller districts
2 year term
Entire body elected every 2 years
Revenue bills must originate in the house
How do these make the House more responsive to the people?

5. Overview of Congress Bicameralism = Two houses
Senate designed to be removed from the people
Originally elected by state legislatures
Elected on an at large basis
6 year terms
1/3 up for election every 2 years = more continuity and stability

6. Overview of Congress House of Representatives A. Size
Determined by congress (435 since 1911)
Elected by districts
Population of state determines # of Reps (increase in Sun Belts decrease in Frost Belt)

7. Overview of Congress House of Representatives B. Fixed terms
Two years/ entire body up for re-election
Term limits ruled unconstitutional in US Term Limits v. Thornton (added a qualification)
Qualifications
25 years old, citizen for 7 years, residency in state

8. Overview of Congress Senate Size: 100 members Term: 6 years
Qualifications: 30 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of state

9. Overview of Congress Compensation
Members set own salary (27th amendment = raise takes effect next term)
Perks: travel allowance, staff, office space, franking privilege, insurance
Legislative immunity
Cannot be arrested or detained while going to or from a session of Congress

10. Overview of Congress Membership
Overrepresentation of white, male, Protestant, upper-class lawyers in their 50s = status quo/conservative bias
Rebuttals to the argument above?

11. Evolution of Congress Questions to be answered:
What were the fears of the founders?
How did they address these fears?
What is the difference between decentralization and centralization in Congress?
What was the House like under “Uncle Joe?”
How did the “Class of 74” change the House?
Which body of Congress is naturally more decentralized?

12. Evolution of Congress Founders Intentions
Feared excessive power in single institution
Fear of Mob rule
Concern about manner of representation
Belief that Congress would be dominant branch of government
HOW DID THE FOUNDERS ADDRESS THEIR
FEARS AND CONCERNS?

13. Evolution of Congress DECENTRALIZATION Weak leadership
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
CENTRALIZATION
Strong central leadership
Restrictions on debate
Few opportunities to stall
Minimal committee interference
Streamlined legislative process
Minimal public scrutiny
DECENTRALIZATION
Weak leadership
Few restrictions on debate
Stalling tactics
Powerful committees
Complicated legislative process
Close public scrutiny

14. Evolution of Congress II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
Strong Centralization in the House
1. Speaker Thomas Reed had strong powers including:
making committee assignments
Appointing committee chairs
Chairing the Rules committee
2. Joseph “Uncle Joe” Cannon continued Reed’s centralization

15. Evolution of Congress II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
Decentralization in the House
1910 Revolt against Joe:
Speaker could no longer make committee assignments
Speaker could no longer appoint chairs
Speaker lost position on Rules Committee
Move towards decentralization
Individuals voted without fear of Speaker
Rules committee gained more power
Committee Chairmen gained power

16. Evolution of Congress II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
Decentralization in the House
Decentralization in the 1970s (Class of 74)
- Individual members gained more power
- More subcommittees
- Power of subcommittee chairs rose (committee chair power declined)
- More staff members
- Reduction in the seniority system

17. Evolution of Congress Developments in the Senate
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
Developments in the Senate
More naturally decentralized
- Fewer members
- no Speaker
- lack a strong Rules Committee
2. Democratization of the Senate with passage of 17th amendment (1913)
3. Concern over length of floor debates
- Use of filibuster
- Cloture vote (3/5 of senators can move to end debate)

18. Evolution of Congress III. Recent Developments 104th Congress in 1994
110th Congress- Election ‘06

19. Incumbency Questions to be answered:
What are the reelection rates in the House? Senate?
What are the advantages incumbents have?
What is reapportionment? How often does it occur?
Who carries out redistricting?
What is packing? What is cracking?
What is the significance of Baker v. Carr? Shaw v. Reno?

20. Incumbency Reelection rate in House 90% Reelection rate in Senate 80%
Relatively few seats are seriously contested
“Permanent Congress”
Election of 1994 (104th) more a call against Dems than incumbents…same goes for ‘06 and Reps, & ‘10 Dems.
But… retirements open up a lot of seats each year

21. Incumbency Specific Advantages Franking privilege Staffers Patronage
Name recognition
Casework
Money, esp. from PACs

22. Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering 1. Reapportionment: Redistribution of 435 seats in the House on the basis of changes in the state populations. a. Reps per state determined by pop. b. Census conducted every 10 yrs. c. Census shows populations changes and seats are allotted based upon new numbers

23. Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering 2. Redistricting: When seats change, district boundaries must change. a. Party controlling state legislature redraws district boundaries. b. Gerrymandering = redrawing boundaries to favor party in power

24. Incumbency Special Advantage: Gerrymandering Origins of term:
19th century Governor Elbridge Gerry redrew lines himself with some having such strange shapes, they looked like salamanders.
Party in Power keeps power by:
“Packing”- concentrate opposition population in few districts
“Cracking”- Disperse opp. Party throughout state to dilute their impact

25. Incumbency Special Advantage: Gerrymandering Effects of Gerrymandering
Party in power, STAYS in power
Safe seats are created
Odd-shaped districts
“Majority-Minority” districts created by racial gerrymandering

26. Incumbency Redistricting Requirements:
Districts must be as near equal in population as possible
Baker v. Carr, 1962 “one man, one vote” principle applied to state leg districts to correct overrepresentation of rural areas.
Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 applied principle to House districts
District lines must be continuous
Racial gerrymandering is prohibited (Shaw v. Reno, 1993). Race may not be the primary factor in drawing district lines (Miller v. Johnson, 1995)

27. Gerrymandering

28. Gerrymandering

29. Leadership in Congress
Questions to Answer
What are the main leadership positions and what are their responsibilities?
How do Democrats in Congress appoint members to committees? Set their agenda?
How do Republicans in Congress appoint members to committees? Set their agenda?

30. Leadership in Congress- House
Speaker of the House- John Boehner
Presides over House
Appoints select and conference committees
Appoints Rules Committee members and Chair
Assigns Bills to committees
Second in line for Presidency

31. Leadership in Congress- House
Majority Leader- Eric Cantor
Partisan Position- chosen by party members
Floor leader/ legislative strategist
Minority leader-
Nancy Pelosi

32. Leadership in Congress- House
Majority Whip- Kevin McCarthy
Assistant floor leader
Inform leaders on mood of the House
Keep count on important votes
Persuade party members to vote with party
Minority whip = Steny Hoyer

33. Leadership in Congress- Senate
VP- Joe Biden
President of the Senate
Presides over Senate
Votes in case of a tie
Ceremonial Job

34. Leadership in Congress- Senate
President Pro Tempore- Daniel Inouye
Ceremonial Job
Presides in Absence of the VP
Third in line for the presidency

35. Leadership in Congress- Senate
Majority Leader- Harry Reid
True leader in Senate
Recognized first for all debates
Leads majority party
Influences committee assignments
Influences agenda with Minority leader (Mitch McConnell)

36. Leadership in Congress- Senate
Minority Leader and party whips function the same as they do in the House
Minority Whip Mitch McConnell

37. Party Committees- Senate
Assigning Party Members to Standing
Committees
Democrats use the Steering Committee
Republicans Use the Committee on Committees

38. Party Committees- Senate
Scheduling the Agenda
Democrats use the Policy Committee
Republicans use Policy Committee

39. Party Committees- House
Assigning Party Members to Standing
Committees
Democrats use the Steering and Policy Committee
Republicans Use the Committee on Committees

40. Party Committees- House
Scheduling the Agenda
Democrats use the Steering and Policy Committee
Republicans use Policy Committee

41. Committees Questions to Answer
Where is the real work of Congress done?
Why is it important to get on the right committee?
Who assigns members to committees?
What are the powers of the chair?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the seniority system?
What are the four types of committees? What is the purpose/ function of those committees?

42. Committees Core of Congress where bills are considered
Committees allow members to specialize in policy areas and become experts
Congressional division of labor achieved through committees
Committee chairs act as "gatekeepers“
Standing committees have fixed membership, officers, rules, staff, and offices
Majority party sets rules and chooses officers
Majority party always has most committee members
Jurisdiction is defined by subject matter of legislation

43. Committees Committee functions: Handle legislation
Conduct investigation of exec. Branch on an as-needed basis
Conduct oversight of exec. Branch agencies on an ongoing basis.

44. Committees Selection of members: Selection of Committee chairs
Importance of getting on the right committee (where you can best represent your constituents)
Assigned by Steering committee or Committee on Committees
Party with majority in Congress has majority of seats on committee
Selection of Committee chairs
Secret ballot in party caucus or conference of leaders.
Seniority rule generally followed.
Advantages of seniority rules: experience, stability, expertise.
Disadvantages of seniority rules: conservative bias/status quo, rural bias (why would this be the case?)

45. Committees
Standing committees are the permanent committees of Congress. They have both legislative and oversight powers.
House Standing:
Rules (most powerful of all)
Ways and means (deals with tax bills)
Appropriations (spending)
Budget
Armed Services

46. Committees
Standing committees are the permanent committees of Congress. They have both legislative and oversight powers.
Senate Standing:
Finance (tax bills)
Appropriations (spending)
Budget
Foreign Relations (prestigious) Treaty and ambassador work
Judiciary: screen judicial nominees

47. Committees Conference committees: Other Committees
Temporary committees comprised of members of both houses
Develop compromise language for a bill when versions differ
After conference committee sends bill back - no amendments are allowed and bill is generally passed
“Third House of Congress”
Other Committees
Select: temporary purpose in House
Joint: Both houses for temporary purpose

48. Committees- examples Committee on judiciary checks Justice Department
Committee on commerce checks Commerce Department
Committee on national security checks Defense Department
95 percent of the 10,000 bills introduced die in committee
Committee chair is from majority party
Schedules hearings
Selects subcommittee members
Appoints committee staff