1. Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive
Magleby & Light
Government by the People
Chapter 11
Congress: The People’s Branch
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2. The People’s Branch
The federal government did not become involved in providing access to college until Congress passed the “G.I. Bill” in 1944
Over the next 50 years, Congress and the president expanded the loan system to make a college/university education almost universally accessible
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3. Congressional Elections
“Members of Congress run for Congress by running against Congress. The strategy is ubiquitous, addictive, cost-free, and foolproof…. In the short run, everybody plays and nearly everybody wins. Yet the institution bleeds from 435 separate cuts.”
-Richard F. Fenno Jr.
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4. Who Elects the Congress
Apportionment
Malapportionment
The allocation of legislative seats to jurisdictions based on population.
Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are apportioned to the states on the basis of their population after every ten-year census.
Unequal numbers of people in legislative districts resulting in inequality of voter representation.
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5. Reapportionment, 2000
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6. The Original Gerrymander
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7. Packing Lumping opposition voters in one area
Gerrymandering
Packing Lumping opposition voters in one area
Cracking Splitting up groups of voters so they do not constitute a majority in any district
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8. Advantages of Incumbency *Video-earmarks*
Franking privilege
Greater access to media
High name recognition
High odds of victory give incumbents a natural fund-raising advantage
Greater experience as candidates
Greater ability to help constituents
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9. Predicting Congressional Elections
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10. A Divided Branch
The architecture and floor plan of the Capitol building in Washington reflect the bicameral division of Congress
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11. The Powers of Congress To raise, make, and borrow money
To regulate commerce
To unify and expand the country
To prepare and declare war
To create the federal judiciary
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12. Differences Between the House of Representatives and the Senate
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13. Leading the House of Representatives
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14. Leading the Senate
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15. Congressional Committees
Types of committees
Authorizing
Appropriations
Rules and Administration
Budget and Revenue
Conference
Choosing committee members
Seniority
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16. Congressional Committees
Bureaucratic Oversight and Investigations
Special committees may conduct investigations or hold hearings, such as Supreme Court confirmation hearings
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17. Congressional Caucuses
Informal committees that allow individual members to promote shared legislative interests
Examples:
Black Caucus
Women’s Issues Caucus
Rural Health Caucus
Children’s Caucus
Pro-Life Caucus
Cuba Freedom Caucus
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18. The Job of the Legislator: Customs and Norms
Until recently, many norms guided the behavior of members of Congress. Members were supposed to specialize in a small number of issues, defer to members with longer tenure in office, never criticize anyone personally, and wait their turn to speak and introduce legislation.
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19. Legislators as Representatives
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20. Making Legislative Choices
Philosophy and political convictions
Voters
Colleagues
Congressional staff
Party
Interest groups
The president
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21. Congressional Ethics
In recent years, much greater scrutiny than in the past
Jack Abramoff: “The man who bought Washington”
Abramoff’s relationship with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) led to DeLay’s resignation in 2006
Since 2007, members of Congress may not accept gifts/meals from lobbyists
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22. How a Bill Becomes Law
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