REPORT 3
e.raymond
11CongressOUTLINE.pptxLegislative Branch
Who are the members of Congress? Compare their characteristics to those of the US population.
What factors influence congressional elections? Why does incumbency play such a large role?
How is Congress organized to make policy? What are the major institutional differences between the House and the Senate?
What are the important roles played by leaders, committees, caucuses, and staff?
What is the process by which a bill become a law? What factors help explain congressional decisions?
Congress 11.1
Congress 11.2
Who are the members of Congress? Compare their characteristics to those of the US population.
The Members
Power and pay: $174,000 (about 3 times the typical American family) and generous retirement benefits. Oh yes, and the potential for a much higher salary once you leave office (as a lobbyist).
Number and Length of Terms
Lower House: House of Representatives – 435 (2-year terms)
Upper House: Senate – 100 members (6-year terms)
Constitutional Qualifications
House: at least 25 years old and be an American citizen for 7 years.
Senate: at least 30 years old and be an American citizen for 9 years.
Makeup of the Congress
Members of Congress look very different than the average American – they are very atypical.
Note the difference between substantive and descriptive representation.
Descriptive: do members mirror the personal, political relevant characteristics of citizens?
Substantive: do members reflect the interests and policy positions of the district citizens?
Congress 11.3
Congress 11.4
What factors influence congressional elections? Why does incumbency play such a large role?
Congressional Elections
Incumbency is a major factor that affects elections to the Congress.
Incumbents have advantages that make them likely to win reelection.
Congress 11.5
Incumbency Advantages in Congressional Elections
Congress 11.6
Sources of incumbency advantage:
Advertising: The goal is visibility and demonstrating to constituents that the legislator is working hard for the citizens.
Credit claiming
Casework
Pork barrel projects: federal money to the district for projects.
Position taking
Weak opponents
Campaign spending
Congress 11.7
How is Congress organized to make policy? What are the major institutional differences between the House and the Senate?
Institutional Features
Bicameral Congress as provided by the Constitution.
Some institutional features are common to both houses – such as the presence of committees that do much of the work.
But there are some key differences, most notably: the House is more centralized and more hierarchical than the Senate.
Congress 11.8
House versus Senate: Some Key Differences
Congress 11.9
Other key institutional differences between the chambers:
The House has a Rules Committee that has a great deal of power. It performs a “traffic cop” function and gives each bill a “rule” that schedules the bill, sets time limits for debate, and can specify the types of amendments that can be offered. The Speaker now appoints the members of this very powerful committee.
Unlike in the House where debate on a bill can be ended with a majority vote, in the Senate, a filibuster is possible. This is “a strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate.” It requires 60 Senators present and voting to invoke cloture to end debate.
Congress 11.10
What are the important roles played by leaders, committees, caucuses, and staff?
Congressional Leadership
HOUSE
Speaker of the House
Majority and Minority Leaders
Majority and Minority Whips
SENATE
President of the Senate, President Pro-Tempore
Majority Leader and Minority Leaders
Congress 11.11
Committees
There are four types of committees:
Standing committees
Joint committees
Conference committees
Select committees
Committee actions:
“mark-up” stage
oversight
Caucuses
Congressional Staff
GAO
CBO
Congress 11.12
What is the process by which a bill become a law? What factors help explain congressional decisions?
How does a bill become a law?
Note the steps in the process.
Bills follow parallel processes in the House and the Senate.
Ultimately, both houses must pass the same version of the bill before being sent to the president.
Congress 11.13
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Congress 11.14
Success or failure determined by a variety of factors
Presidential support.
Political party.
Ideology.
Constituency pressures.
Trustees: legislators should use their best judgement to make policy in the interests of the people.
Instructed delegate: legislators should make policy that mirrors the preferences of their constituents.
Lobbyists and Interest Groups.
Congress 11.15
Increasing Polarization in Congress
11.4
Congress 11.16
Another Way to View Increasing Polarization in Congress
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This figure lays out two paths for how a bill can become a law.
Activity: As a fun introductory exercise, screen the School House Rock video “I’m Just a Bill” available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0. For a more detailed assignment, ask students to prepare, either in the written form of “script” or an actual video, your own supplement that adds to the simple version presented your more sophisticated understanding of committees, congressional decision making, interest groups, and constituencies that actually fashion how bills become laws.
Congress 11.17
Increasing Polarization in the US House: Agreement Between Party Members 1949-2011
