congress part ii. copyright © 2011 cengage source: congressional quarterly, various years

Congress Part II

Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Source: Congressional Quarterly, various years.


When the Democrats regained When the Democrats regained control of the House, the very control of the House, the very liberal John Conyers (ADA score = liberal John Conyers (ADA score = 100%) became chairman of the 100%) became chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in House Judiciary Committee in place of the very conservative place of the very conservative James Sensenbrenner (ADA score James Sensenbrenner (ADA score = 10%). p. 322 = 10%). p. 322

Marcy Kaptur (D., OH) Marcy Kaptur (D., OH) discusses the war on terrorism discusses the war on terrorism in front of thein front of thecapitol. p. 322capitol. p. 322

Stefan Zaklin/EPA/Corbis

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Figure 13.1 Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress


Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, 1999–2000 (Washington, D.C.: Vital Statistics on American Politics, 1999–2000 (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18; 2004 update by Marc Siegal.Press, 2000), table 1-18; 2004 update by Marc Siegal.

Do Members Represent Their Voters?

Representational view–members vote to please their constituents

Organizational View–members

vote to please fellow members of Congress

Attitudinal View–members vote on the basis of their own beliefs


Keith Ellison (D., Keith Ellison (D., MN), the first MN), the first Muslim elected to Muslim elected to Congress. p. 325Congress. p. 325

Craig Lassig/EPA/Corbis

A Polarized Congress

A more ideological perspective has been brought to Congress.

Congress’ most liberal members are Democrats.

Congress’ most conservative members are Republicans.

Voters are closer to the center of political spectrum.


The Organization of Congress: Parties and Caucuses

Party Organization of the Senate

Party Structure in the House

The Strength of Party Structures

Party Unity

Caucuses


Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as House Speaker. p. 331

Zach Seckler/Corbis

Party organization in senate

Chooses one member (greatest seniority) to be pro tempore of Senate

Majority leaderlegislative leader house and senate, assign people to committees

Minority leadersame

Whiphelps party leader stay informed on what members are thinking

Structure in house

Speaker most important, presides over house

Pass legislation that favor their party

Influences what bills are voted on

Whip, in charge of rounding up votes

Figure 13.3 The U.S. Congress


caucuses

Association of members of Congress created to advance a political ideology or regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Page 335, 337

Source: U.S. House of Representatives, 2009.


The Organization of Congress: Committees

Standing Committees

Select Committees

Joint Committees

Conference Committees

House

Senate


Standing committee

Permanentexamples Armed services, Banking, Budget, Education, etc. page 338

Select committees

Appointed for a limited timeexamples aging, intelligence, Indian Affairs

Joint Committees

Both house and senators are on theseexamples economic and taxation

The Organization of Congress: Staff and Specialized Offices

Tasks of Staff Members

Staff AgenciesCongressional Research Service (CRS)General Accounting Office (GAO)Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)


Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Part of library of congress

900 people employed

Look up arguments for and against bills

250,000 questions a year!

General Accounting Office (GAO)

Investigates and makes recommendations for all aspects of government

Ex. Medicare, military, FBI

Employs up to 5,000 people

Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)

100 people

Matters with significant uses of technology, not a big impact

Ex. Build a pipeline to transport coal slurry

Congressional Budget Office

Prepares and analysis of president’s budget, economic projections that are different than the president (give them something to argue about)

Activity

Page 193

# 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12,

Test Answers

1. C, 2. E, 3. A, 5. B, 10. A, 12. D

How a bill becomes a law

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

What are your thoughts/reactions?

Helpful?

Questions?

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Introducing a Bill

Legislative Productivity

Study by Committee

Floor Debate – The House

Floor Debate – The Senate

Methods of Voting


How a Bill Becomes a

Law


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ-DUPnNxns

Bill to the law rap!

http://www.centeroncongress.org/interactive-learning-modules

How a bill becomes a law

Reducing Power and Perks

Pork-Barrel Legislation

Franking Privileges


p. 350 Cartoon by Mark Cullum/The Birmingham News. Reprinted with permission.

Pork BarrelPork=benefits for their districtsPork barrel=piece of legislation containing these benefitsUsed in the 1870sExample rivers and harbors bill=countless dams, bridges, and canals built all over the country to make people happy

Franking privileges

Able to send material through the mail free of charge

Instead of using it to keep constituents informed

Most use it as newsletters and questionnaires

Franking privilege

Do you think the incumbents should be able to send out literature free of charge?

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Representative Peter Skerry

From: Martha Bayles, legislative aide

Subject: The Size of the House of Representatives

The House can decide how big it wishes to be. When it was created, there was one representative for every 30,000 people. Now there is one for every 600,000. In most other democracies, each member of parliament represents far fewer than 600,000 people. Doubling the size of the House may be a way of avoiding term limits.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:

1. Doubling the size of the House would reduce the huge demand for constituent services each member now faces.

2. A bigger House would represent more shades of opinion more fairly.

3. Each member could raise less campaign money because his or her campaign would be smaller.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against:

1. A bigger House would be twice as hard to manage, and it would take even longer to pass legislation.

2. Campaigns in districts of 300,000 people would cost as much as ones in districts with 600,000 people.

3. Interest groups do a better job of representing public opinion than would a House with more members.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision:

Increase size of House?

Do not increase size of House?


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

congress part ii. copyright © 2011 cengage source: congressional quarterly, various years

Documents

cengage slide

congress copyright

taxation slide

organization of congress

indian affairs slide

zach secklercorbis slide

craig lassigepacorbis

cengage source