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Congress finished

Congress finished. 11/11-12/09. How Congress Decides. Constituency Interest groups Party discipline Weighing Many Influences. Constituency. Most congressmen want to be re-elected Choices will be scrutinized by opponents in later elections

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Congress finished

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  1. Congress finished 11/11-12/09

  2. How Congress Decides • Constituency • Interest groups • Party discipline • Weighing Many Influences

  3. Constituency • Most congressmen want to be re-elected • Choices will be scrutinized by opponents in later elections • Citizens don’t even need to pay attention in order for them to affect their representatives decisions

  4. Interest Groups • Interest groups often play a role in mobilizing constituents to make their views known to congress. • Interest groups impact congress through the congress’s use of the gatekeeping power. • Congressmen add or subtract parts of bills at committee level which is much less visible and harmful to their campaigns in the future than changing their mind for a floor vote

  5. Party Discipline • Party vote-a roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50% of the members of the members of one party take a particular position and are opposed by at least 50% of the members of the other party. • Roll-Call votes- votes in which each legislator’s yes or no is recorded • How do party leaders influence decisions? • Committee assignments • Access to floor • The whip system • Logrolling • The presidency

  6. Ways to influence • Committee assignments • Party leadership help to get members assigned to favorable committee assignments • Access to the floor • Floor time is allocated by party leaders in both houses • The Whip System • A communications network in each house of congress. Whips poll the membership to learn their intentions on specific legislative issues and assist the majority and minority leaders in various tasks • Logrolling • A legislative practice wherein reciprocal agreements are made between legislators, usually in voting for or against a bill. In contrast to bargaining, logrolling unites parties that have nothing in common but their desire to exchange support • The Presidency = money and notoriety

  7. What else do they do? • Advice and Consent: Special Senate Powers • The President has the power to make treaties, appoint executive officers, ambassadors, and federal judges- but only “with the Advice and Consent of the Senate” (Article II, Section 2) • For treaties a 2/3 majority is needed, for appointments a simple majority • Harriet Miers • Impeachment • House brings charges and Senate tries officials • Can be President, VP, or other executive officials • Simple majority to charge, 2/3 to convict in senate

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