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Chapter 12

Chapter 12. Congress: The People’s Branch. Congress v. Parliament. Congress * “coming together” Elected Personalities, Positions on issues, overall reputation Independent representatives Principal work is representation and action Parliament “to talk”

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Chapter 12

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  1. Chapter 12 Congress: The People’s Branch

  2. Congress v. Parliament Congress * “coming together” • Elected • Personalities, Positions on issues, overall reputation • Independent representatives • Principal work is representation and action Parliament • “to talk” • Political party puts name on ballot • National Parties • One decision – support or not support national govt. • Party loses support new govt created • Principal work is debate

  3. I. The Structure of Congress • A. A Divided Branch (bicameralism) • Two houses • Separate structure • Own rules • Different record or proceedings • Federalist 51 (James Madison)

  4. I. The Structure of Congress • B. The Powers of Congress (17 express pwrs) • 5 basic categories: • 1. Power to raise, make and borrow money • 2. Power to regulate commerce • 3. Power to unify and expand the country • 4. Power to prepare and declare war • 5. Power to create the federal judiciary

  5. II. Differences of Two Houses • House of Rep (435) • 2 yr term • All open to election (districts) • Strong leadership • More powerful committee leaders • Legislation (majority) • 1st on raising revenues • All amendments to legislation approved in advance • Strict limits on debates • Single member/groups cant debate once bill approved • Senate (100) • 6 yr term • 1/3 open to election (states) • Weaker leadership more freedom to individuals • Equal distribution among committee members • Legislation-unanimous consent • Give advice/consent on presidential appts / treaties • Amendments generally allowed • Flexible limits on debate • Single member can stop action through filibuster

  6. III. Leadership • A. House of Representatives • Leadership different (4 times as large) • 1. Speaker of the House (John Boehner – Ohio) • most powerful leader on Capitol Hill • Recognize who speaks, rule on questions of procedures, appoints members to temporary committees • Elected (filled by majority party) • party caucus (party conference to select party leaders) • Speaker most important voice in determining choices

  7. III. Leadership • 2. Other House officers: • Majority Leader (plan strategy, confers, keep in line) • Minority Leader (usually becomes Speaker when her party gains majority) • Whip (assists each floor leader) 3. House Rules Committee most powerful committee in both houses decides the rules governing length of debates Rule – ticket to the floor Closed rule: prohibits any amendments to bill or only committee reporting bill to make changes Open Rule: permits debate within overall time allocated

  8. III. Leadership • B. Senate • Procedures more informal • Splintered – 100 separate power centers • Senate majority leader • party’s national spokesperson 2. President of the Senate (Vice Pres. Of US) • President Pro Tempore - chair in absence of the vice pres. - most senior member of majority party

  9. III. Leadership • 4. Policy Committee (Party Leaders) • Monitors legislation • Allows individual senators to offer amendments on virtually any topic to a pending bill • Occasionally delays passage long enough to stop it from passing • * Filibuster – unlimited debate (delay Senate proceedings if hold the floor continuously) • * Cloture – curtailing debate put to vote two days after 16 Senators sign petition asking for cloture • 3/5th vote for it – no senator speaks more than an hour • Final vote taken after no more than 30 hours of debate

  10. IV. Congressional Committees • A. Types of Committee • 1. Standing: permanent focuses on a policy area • 2. Special or Select: specific purpose to conduct an investigation • 3. Joint: members of both houses studies an interest to both houses (Library of Congress) and conduct investigations • 4. Conference: members both houses resolve differences in the different versions of same legislation

  11. IV. Congressional Committees • B. Types of Standing Committees • Most important in making laws and representing constituents • 1. Rules and Administration Committees • Rules Committee (HOUSE) – most powerful • 2. Budget Committees • 3. Authorizing Committees • 4. Appropriation Committees • Ways and Means (HOUSE) – 2nd powerful • Appropriation (SENATE) • 5. Revenue Committees • 6. General Oversight Committees

  12. IV. Congressional Committees • C. Choosing Committee Members • 1. Political party controls selection • 2. Selection is very important • 3. Republicans – Committee on Committees • One member from each state that has reps in house • 4. Democrats – Steering and Policy Committee • 5. Senate– both use Steering Committee • Applicant’s preferences, talent and party loyalty, and the needs of district or state • 6. Committee Chair – seniority rule (makes a very big difference on policy) • 7. Special Role of Conference Committees – from both houses that settles differences • 8. Caucuses – informal committees to promote shared legislative interests

  13. V. How A Bill Becomes a Law (HOR) • 1. Introduction (H.R then #) • 2. Committee Action • Subcommittee, full committee, Rules committee action 3. Floor Action House debate, vote on passage 4. Conference Action (once passed by Senate) 5. Final Vote – compromised version 6. President – Pass or Veto 7. Override Veto by 2/3rd both houses

  14. V. How A Bill Becomes a Law (Senate) • 1. Introduction (S. then a #) • 2.Committee Action • Subcommittee, full committee 3. Floor Action senate debate, vote on passage 4. Conference (once passed by HOR) 5. Final Vote 6. President Pass or Veto 7. Override Veto by 2/3rds both houses

  15. VI. The Job of the Legislator • A. Representatives • Delegates: represent views of constituents if even if it is different then their own • Pork Barrel Legislation • Trustees: vote independently based on judgment B. Making Choices (8,000 bills /1,000 votes) 1. Colleagues 2. Congressional Staff 3. Constituents 4. Ideology 5. Interest Groups 6. Party 7. The President C. Congressional Ethics 1. Punish their own 2. 2007 – no gifts from any lobbyist 3. No payment for making speeches, attending an event, or writing an article 4. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 5. Senate Ethics Committee 6. www.opensecrets.org

  16. VII. Congressional Elections • A. Drawing District Lines • Senate (2 from every state) • HOR: national census very important • Reapportionment – assigning congressional seats • 650,000 people per representative • 1910 established 435 districts • Redistricting – redrawing district lines • US Congress change 3 of seats per state • States legislatures have power to determine the district lines Gerrymandering – drawing of lines to benefit a party, group or incumbent

  17. VII. Congressional Elections • B. Advantages to Incumbency • Safe seat : elected office predictably won by one party • Incumbent: current officeholder • Allowed to sent bulk e-mails • Greater access to media • Raising campaign contributions • More experience • Great influence • C. 2010 Congressional Elections

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