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Resources for Week Two Discussion – Meet Your Rep

Before participating in this week’s discussion, “Meet Your Rep,” review these resources:

1. Read this chapter from the text, American Government:

a. Chapter 4 – Congress and Policy Making.

2. Find relevant information about your representative in Congress at both of these websites:

a. The United States House of Representatives (http://www.house.gov/)

First, click on "Find Your Representative" and enter your zip code. Then, click on the rep's name to visit

his or her website. Note your rep’s political party. Then, look for the rep's committee memberships – and

especially subcommittee assignments – to identify policy areas the rep is most actively involved in. If you

cannot find this information on the rep's website, return to the U.S. House main page and click on the

"Representatives" tab. Click on the "Last Name" tab to see an alphabetic list. Next to your rep's name,

will be his or her committee memberships. Click on the "Committees" tab and go to one of your rep's

committees. On that committee's page look, for information about subcommittees and find one that your

rep is assigned to. Be sure to note the policy areas falling within the jurisdiction of the committees and

subcommittees on which your rep serves. Finally, on your rep's website, look for information about his or

her positions on issues or legislation related to the rep's committee or subcommittee responsibilities.

b. OpenCongress (http://www.opencongress.org/)

Find information about the strength of your rep's political partisanship as well as who pays for his or her

political campaigns. Click on the "Representatives" tab and then the "Name" tab. Select the first letter of

your rep's last name. Scroll down the alphabetical listing and click on your rep's name. First, note the

percentage of the time your rep votes in Congress with his or her political party. Scroll down that page to

look for other items of interest about your rep's legislative sponsorships, voting record, media coverage or

videos that might give you more insight into how your rep does his or her job. Then, click on the "Money

Trail" tab under your rep's picture. Explore this page for information about who supports your rep

financially. Click on the various links to find out more details.

3. Read three of these articles found in the Ashford Online Library:

a. Business: Hey Congress, tax the other guy.

Cook, N. (2012, January 19). Business: Hey Congress, tax the other guy. National Journal. Retrieved

from ProQuest (Search All) database.

(This brief article describes conflicting interests in the so-called “business community” in the

constituency of a typical congressional representative.)

b. Outside influence.

Dahlman, C. (2001, January). Outside influence. The Atlantic Monthly, 287(1), 57. Retrieved from

ProQuest (Search All) database.

(This brief article presents a map of U.S. congressional districts that shows the widespread practice of

representatives depending on campaign contributions from sources outside their districts.)

c. Tyranny of the minority.

Frederick, B. (2011, March). Tyranny of the minority: The subconstituency politics theory of

representation. Contemporary Sociology, 40(2), 154-156. Retrieved from ProQuest (Search All) database.

(This short article reviews a book that discusses the powerful incentives for members of Congress to cater

to specific minority interests in their constituencies, even if they are against the majority opinion.)

d. Constituency representation in Congress.

Mayhaw, D. (2011). Constituency representation in Congress: The view from Capitol Hill. Political

Science Quarterly, 126(3), 510-511. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost) database.

(This brief article reviews a book by a political scientist who explains how members of Congress perceive

the constituencies which they represent.)

e. Should outsiders’ money influence elections?

(2008, November/December). Should outsiders’ money influence elections? Tikkun, 23(6), 6. Retrieved

from ProQuest (Search All) database.

(This brief article discusses a report about the extent to which members of the House of Representatives

depend on campaign contributions coming from sources outside of their congressional districts.)