Congress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8g1Z5UqP8&list=PL0B48D6833A0FC48A
Goals for today: Re-cap congressional elections &
explain forms of gerrymandering Describe organization of Congress
and impact of that organization Describe leadership positions Discuss role of political parties in
Congress Explain the role of committees Relate Fiscal Cliff to above
Factors Affecting Congressional Elections:
• Redistricting– Types– “Rules”– Supreme Court
• Incumbency Advantage• Factors that diminish impact of incumbency
Know Your Leaders
Organization of Congress
• Bicameral—different characteristics of each body
• Leadership• Role of Party• Role of Committees• Impact of organization
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
Republicans:• Speaker• Majority Leader• Chairman of
Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on
Committees• National Republican
Congressional Committee
• Research Committee
Speaker of the House(John Boehner R-Ohio)
Majority LeaderEric Cantor (R-VA)
Minority Whip
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
Democrats:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of the
Caucus• Steering & Policy
Committee• Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee
Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D-MD)
Assistant Democratic Leader
James Clyburn (D-SC)
SENATE LEADERSHIP
President of the Senate (Vice President)
President Pro Tempore (majority party)
Democrats:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Chairman of Conference• Policy Committee• Steering Committee• Democratic Senatorial
Campaign CommitteeMajority Leader
Henry Reid (D-NV)
President Pro TempPatrick Leahy (D-CTI)
Majority WhipDick Durbin (D-IL)
President of the SenateJoe Biden (VP)
SENATE LEADERSHIP
Republicans:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of
Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on
Committees• Republican Senatorial
Committee
Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R-KY)
Minority WhipJon Kyl (R-AZ)
Role of Party
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/new-faces-in-congress/113th-congress/
Legislative Committees:
• Type of Committees• Roles of Committees• Why is committee
assignment important• http://www.thedailyshow.co
m/watch/tue-december-4-2012/girls-on-the-side
House Standing CommitteesAgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation & WorkforceEnergy & CommerceEthicsFinancial ServicesHomeland SecurityHouse Admin.International Relations
JudiciaryNatural ResourcesOversight and ReformRulesScience, Space, TechSmall BusinessTransportation &
InfrastructureVeterans AffairsWays & Means
Senate Standing CommitteesAgriculture, Nutrition, &
ForestryAppropriationsArmed ServicesBanking, Housing, & Urban
AffairsBudgetCommerce, Science,
TransportationEnergy & Natural ResourcesEnvironment and Public
Works
FinanceForeign RelationsGovernmental AffairsHealth, Education, Labor
& PensionsHomeland SecurityJudiciaryRules and AdministrationSmall Business and
EntrepreneurshipVeterans Affairs
Joint, Select, Conference Committees,
• Joint Committees: Joint Economic, Joint Taxation,
• House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
• Senate Select Committee on Ethics
• House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence
• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
Gen. Michael Hayden is sworn in during a full committee hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Three Functions of Congress
•Representation•Lawmaking•Oversight
The Legislative Obstacle Course
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
The Hopper
"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”
- Woodrow Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFRP67sX8o&feature=related
Fact: About 10,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law.
1. Explain why so few bills become law.
2. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
3. Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not?
Source: http://acswebcontent.acs.org/olga/legissummbilltolaw.pdf
http://www.cspan.org/Events/Congress-Wraps-Up-Debate-on-Health-Care-Repeal/10737418994-3/
How a bill really becomes a law:
• http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/111/hr3590/amendments
• Riders, “Christmas tree” bill, omnibus legislation• Role of leadership—how can push legislation through• ‘log-rolling’• Use of filibuster• President’s role• Role of ‘pork barrel’• http://www.mikewirthart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05
/howlawsmadeWIRTH2.jpg
Types of Legislation
• Public v. Private• Authorization • Appropriations• Sunset Law
Oversight
• http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/06/18/costello.obsession.hearings.cnn?iref=videosearch
• http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-29-2008/the-global-war-in-your-pants
• http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-14-2008/best-damn-sports-hearing
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-2-2010/gaypocalypse-now