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UNITED STATES CONGRESS

UNITED STATES CONGRESS. The most important deliberative body in the history of the world. HISTORY. Two Chambers Senate House of Representatives. HISTORY Senate. Two Senators from each State 26 Senators Now: 100 Senators

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UNITED STATES CONGRESS

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  1. UNITED STATESCONGRESS • The most important deliberative body • in the history of the world

  2. HISTORY • Two Chambers • Senate • House of Representatives

  3. HISTORYSenate • Two Senators from each State • 26 Senators • Now: 100 Senators • Originally: Senators Selected by the State Legislatures (U.S. Constitution Article 1 § 3) • Changed by 17th Amendment in 1913: The Senate of the United States shall be com- posed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof …

  4. HISTORYHouse of Representatives • Elected by Popular Vote • Each State gets at least one Representative • One additional Representative for every 30,000 people • Total of 65 Representatives

  5. WHAT WOULD THE HOUSE LOOK LIKE TODAY? • Current US Population: 309,183,463 • @ 1 Representative per 30,000 people: • Total Representatives: 10,306 • What if we gave the least populous state one representative & used that as the ratio for representatives? • 1789 the least populous State was Delaware (population 30,000) which got 1 representative • 2010 the least populous State was Wyoming (population 568,300) which got 1 representative • Using the least populous State ratio, Total Representatives: 544

  6. WHY ARE THERE 435 REPRESENTATIVES? • Number set in 1911 • Size of the House Chamber • How are Representatives Chosen • Apportionment formula: • State legislatures draw the Districts • Voters elect Representatives

  7. WHY DOESN’T CONGRESS WORK? • Apportionment • High Cost of Campaigns • Low Voter Turnout

  8. APPORTIONMENT • State Legislature Draws the Lines • How? • Gerrymandering: to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.

  9. APPORTIONMENT • 2012 Congressional Districts

  10. APPORTIONMENT • 2002 Proposed Congressional Districts

  11. APPORTIONMENT • 2002 Passed

  12. APPORTIONMENT • 1992 Congressional Districts

  13. APPORTIONMENT • Why do State Legislatures Gerrymander Legislative Districts? • Who does Gerrymandering protect? • Does it work?

  14. 2012 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS

  15. RULE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES • Intervention in a complex system tends to create unanticipated and often undesirable outcomes • Why? • 1. Ignorance (It is impossible to anticipate everything, thereby leading to incomplete analysis) • 2. Error (Incorrect analysis of the problem or following habits that worked in the past but may not apply to the current situation) • 3. Immediate interest, which may override long-term interests • 4. Basic values may require or prohibit certain actions even if the long-term result might be unfavorable (these long-term consequences may eventually cause changes in basic values) • 5. Self-defeating prophecy (Fear of some consequence drives people to find solutions before the problem occurs, thus the non-occurrence of the problem is not anticipated.)

  16. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF GERRYMANDERING • All incumbents have “safe” seats • Consequently • Incumbents have no incentive to serve the people of their home district • Incumbents have no incentive to make Congress “work” • Congress becomes a career

  17. HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNS • Fund raising for the next election begins the day after the last election. • Federal Election Commission (FEC) Rules Require All Elected Officials to File Fund Raising Disclosures Every Six Months

  18. HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNS • John Boehner, (R) Ohio • Raised $9,074,335 • Spent $7,239,533 • 2012 spent $86.04 / vote • Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia • Raised $168,911 • Spent $133,222 • 2012 spent $2.08 / vote

  19. HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNS • 2014 Average Democrat Incumbent has • Raised $546,277 • Spent $331,280 • 2012 • Average Incumbent Raised $578,311 • Average Challenger Raised $117,087 • 2012 The President spent $16.73 per vote

  20. WHERE DO THE $ GO? • Filing Fees & Compiance with Federal & State Laws • Consultants & Paid Staff • Direct Mail • Internet • Radio • TV • “Volunteers”

  21. WHERE DO THE $ COME FROM • PACs • Individuals

  22. Top 20 PACs by Total Receipts, 2013-2014 Totals include subsidiaries and affiliated PACs, if any. Based on data released by the FEC on January 06, 2014. Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

  23. LOW VOTER TURNOUT

  24. EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY • Population (2010 Census) • 691,893 Total • 526,757 Over 18 • Registered Voters • 383,369 • 73% of Adults

  25. EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2008 • Primary — 84,879 • 22% of Registered Voters • 16% of Adults • General Election — 322,517 • 84% of Registered Voters • 61% of Adults

  26. EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2010 • Primary — 83,414 • 22% of Registered Voters • 16% of Adults • General Election — 212,111 • 55% of Registered Voters • 40% of Adults

  27. EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2012 • Primary — 127,316 • 33% of Registered Voters • 24% of Adults • General Election — 307,228 • 80% of Registered Voters • 58% of Adults

  28. Bibliography • http://ballotpedia.org • http://www.census.gov/2010census/ • http://www.fec.gov • http://www.opensecrets.org • http://sos.ga.gov/elections/ • http://uscode.house.gov

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