Political Science
Congress
Functions of Congress
to make law (lex, legis: legislature)
to debate & deliberate (parler: parliament)
to represent (re-present)
to act as a watchdog (oversight)
to serve constituents
Who Are They? The 115th Congress - Majorities
House: 240 Republicans, 194 Democrats, 1 vacancy
Majorities
Senate: 46 Democrats, 52 Republicans, 2 independents
US Demographics
Women: 51+%
Black: 12.85%
Latino: 15.1%
Asian: 4.43%
Native American: 0.97%
Pacific Islander: 0.18%
Total Minority: 33.53%
Senate Demographics
House Demographics
The 115th - part 4
Top occupations
Public Service/Politics 191/44 (H/S)
Business 178/29
Law (0.2% in work force) 156/50
Education 77/20
Education
Advanced degrees: 234/57
Bachelor’s or Associate’s degrees: 184/22 (27% of age 25+ of Americans with Bachelor’s degrees)
No degree: 13/0
Foreign births: 18 in House, 5 in Senate; (12.4%)
Education (from 114th)
Bachelor’s degree (27% of age 25+)
94% House
100% Senate
Advance degrees:
Senate 74%
House 64%
Doctoral: 24 (#)
Associate’s degree only: 8 (#)
High school diploma only: 20 (#)
Congress – Wealth (US median net worth per household $80,000 (2013))
Why do they get reelected?
pork, franking privilege, paid staff, travel allowances; media access for incumbents
Redistricting of House
Are They Representative?
Descriptive representation:
No
But:
Desire for election encourages a ‘delegate’ orientation
Do members of Congress make law in the interests of the people?
Policy follows opinion 2/3 of time
Benjamin Page article
Congressional Committees
Party Committees: mainly committee assignments
Special/Select: temporary, special purpose
Joint: bicameral membership
Conference: to resolve bicameral conflicts
Standing: by far the most important
Standing Committees
permanent
fixed membership, leadership, staff
specific jurisdiction
not intended to be representative of all possible interests
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Filibustering in the 20th Century
Filibustering in the 20th Century
Problems
The Problem of Amateurism: vast executive, puny legislative
Congress’s bureaucracy
staff
specialization
Problems
The Problem of Corruption
accepting money, favors for votes
rare compared to other countries
Corruption Perception Index/Transparency International
Congressional responses to corruption
censure: reprimand, reduce seniority, strip chair, fine
expulsion (only 4, all from House)
The Problem of Corruption – cont’d
ethical standards
financial disclosure
honoraria forbidden
1 year limit on lobbying Congress after leaving, etc.
Narrow definition of corruption overlooks the huge flood of money since Citizens United
Problems - part 4
The Problem of Fragmentation: decentralization puts power into committee and subcommittee chairs
Fragmentation – cont’d
central coordination becomes difficult: herding cats
Fragmentaion creates access points for influence
House Committees: 107th