1 / 22

Congress

Congress. POSC 121 Braunwarth. U.S. Congress. Theories of Representation. Delegate: Representative votes according to wishes of her constituents Trustee: Representative votes according to her conscience and best judgment Which is more appropriate?

bernad
Télécharger la présentation

Congress

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Congress POSC 121Braunwarth

  2. U.S. Congress

  3. Theories of Representation • Delegate: Representative votes according to wishes of her constituents • Trustee: Representative votes according to her conscience and best judgment • Which is more appropriate? • Which would the Federalists and the anti-Federalists favor?

  4. Theories of Representation • Delegate might seem more democratic but wouldn’t a representative have better information and a better understanding of the situation? • Isn’t there another way? • Politico: Representative votes as Delegate on issues vital to reelection and as Trustee on all other issues • Probably what most typically occurs

  5. House of Representatives Two-year terms: always running for re-election Smaller Districts: more likely to be dominated by whims of local majority Much more Reactive More “Rough and Tumble” More partisan fights Gridlock often leads to personal character attacks

  6. U.S. Senate • Six-year terms: can take a more long-term perspective • Statewide Districts: greater variety of groups and interests • More insulated and thus more concerned with interests of nation as a whole • More Collegial • Both houses practice the norm of courtesy

  7. Committee Work • Most work in Congress occurs in Committees • This is where legislation is “marked up” and testimony is heard • Partisan majority is determined by majority in the larger house • Committees cover particular subjects and are staffed by representatives with interests in those areas • Standing committees are permanent, ad hoc committees are created as needed. • Organization by topic increases expertise and facilitates work with lobbyists • Committees have professional staff with expertise in the relevant area • There are a lot of “turf” battles over who has responsibility for various issues, • people respect each others turf through norm of reciprocity

  8. How a Bill Becomes a Law • This is a long, difficult process • Bills must jump through a lot of hoops • hearings, lobbyists, and legislators at the subcommittee, committee, and the floor • then the same thing in the other house • differences must be worked out in Conference • the president must then sign it into law • I’m Just a Bill • The central point is that it is easier to stop legislation than pass it • Congress will also add “riders” to unrelated bills

  9. The Filibuster • Check out the "Planet Money" radio show on the topic of the filibuster. • Is the filibuster a good thing? • The following slide has some ideas to get you started. 

  10. - Should the filibuster be reformed?  If so, how? - Does the filibuster, and corresponding congressional gridlock, contribute to the poor public perception of Congress and should that matter? - Is it better for the legislative branch to work more or less efficiently?  Why? - Does this topic have any implications on whether our government better represents the interests of the masses or the elites?   - Do practices such as these make our government more or less democratic?

  11. “All Politics are Local” or“Why we hate Congress but love our Representative” • According to polls, Americans hold Congress in low esteem as an institution • But, they re-elect their representatives at very high rates (over 95% in the House, close to 90% in the Senate) • Why? • Incumbents have a lot of advantages • What are they?

  12. Incumbency Advantages • Fundraising: As the legislator they have more opportunities to raise campaign funds • Name Recognition: Are the Representative • Spend a lot of time in their Home District • Mail Frank: Representatives can send mail to constituents at no cost to themselves • Casework: When they help constituents with problems they generate goodwill • Pork: Bring federal $ and programs to the District • Logrolling/Norm of Reciprocity: can work with other legislators to support each others’ legislation

  13. The Survival Game • These advantages may seem unfair or disingenuous but, • “Before you can save the world, you have to save your seat” • You end up with 535 (100 Senators and 435 Representatives) independent operators who got elected on their own and feel beholden to no one but their district • This makes it very hard to govern as a group

  14. Personal Politics • There are a number of sources of gridlock • 535 independent power bases • Checks and Balances and Divided Government • Hyperpluralism • Partisanship, etc. • Add a media system that is geared to cover scandal, negativity, and personal attacks • You’ve got a situation where policy and partisan debates often turn personal

  15. RIP Process • Revelation of impropriety • Investigation by Congress and media • Prosecution as appropriate • Basically, ideological frustration is expressed in personal attacks • Can you think of any examples? • What is the effect on the public • Demoralization and Cynicism

  16. RIP The Big Questions: • Should the media show more restraint in exploring the private lives of government officials? • Must public figures and government officials give up their rights to privacy once they choose a public career? • What about improprieties directly related to your position?

  17. CA Assembly • 80 Seats • Smaller Districts • 2 Year Terms • Rough-and-tumble • led by Assembly Speaker

  18. CA Senate • 40 seats • Larger Districts • 4 Year terms • More Independence • More Prestige • More Deliberative • led by President pro tempore who shares power with the rules committee • Until 1960s, elected by county (gave more power to Northern CA)

  19. Proposition 140 • Until the mid 1960s CA had a part-time amateur legislature • 1966: Jesse Unruh ushered in a Professional Legislature • Attracted talented individuals who could gain knowledge and experience • Necessary to meet California’s increasingly complex Demands (6th largest economy in the world)

  20. Propostion 140 • 1990: Prop 140 Term Limits • three 2-year terms in Assembly • two 4-year terms in Senate • Cut retirement benefits and legislative staff • Ensured a lack of experience in Sacramento and more power to unaccountable interest groups and staff • Why Term Limits? • Voter frustration and cynicism

  21. Consequences of Prop 140 • Ad hoc-racy? Can’t vote for who you want • Less experience, who will pick up the slack? • Staff and Lobbyists (are not elected) • Legislators more worried about next office • Less cohesion as legislators worry about running against each other in the future

More Related