Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Interest Groups: Business and Religion, Cont’d. Susan B....

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Interest Groups: Business and Religion, Cont’d.

Susan B. Hansen

Introduction to American Politics

Summer 2006


The 1st amendment and religion

• “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

• “Establishment” means government financial or legal support for one particular religion, such as the Anglican Church in Britain.

• Legal issue: balancing the establishment and free-exercise clauses.


Religious Diversity in US

• Many colonists and immigrants came to US seeking religious freedom from the established churches of Europe.

• Competition among the variety of denominations and sects may have led to consumer-friendly churches and greater religiosity in the US.

• Higher levels of church attendance and belief in God than in many other countries


Growth of the Religious Right

• Long history of evangelical and fundamentalist churches in the US

• Before 1970s, focus on individual salvation and personal conversion

• “Potential group” galvanized by the Equal Rights Amendment and the Roe v. Wade decision

• The Religious Right feared the erosion of traditional values in a secular society


Defining the Religious Right

• Orthodox interpretation of religion; hold to traditional beliefs

• Christians who claim to be “born again”

• Literal interpretation of the Bible, Torah, or Koran

• Opposition to tolerance, diversity, or secular humanism

• Can include Catholics, Moslems, and Jews as well as Protestants


Tactics of the Religious Right

• Use of direct mail and TV to solicit contributions and arouse political action

• Organized interest groups: the Moral Majority, Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family

• Endorsement of parties and candidates supporting their values

• Lobbying efforts in Congress, the states, and local school boards

• Alliances with conservative Catholics and Jews


The Religious Right: Textbook Model Citizens?

• They register and vote!

• They are well-informed about issues that concern them

• They know who their representatives are and how they vote

• They are active in grassroots politics and political parties

• They make effective use of churches to educate and mobilize supporters


Policies favored by the Religious Right

• Strong support for Israel site of the expected Second Coming of Jesus

• Opposition to abortion and contraception Against premarital sex

• Teaching the Bible in public schools Especially creationism or intelligent design

• Opposition to secular education Prefer home schooling, vouchers, private schools & colleges

• Support traditional roles for women

• Opposition to homosexuality, gay rights, gay marriage


Other trends in American religion

• Increased religious diversity; growth of Islam and Eastern religions

• Younger people have more secular views

• Organized opposition to the Religious Right by more liberal Christians and Jews

• Public attitudes becoming more tolerant of equality for women, premarital sex, homosexuality, abortion, stem cell research, euthanasia


Interest Group Influence

• Internal Factors: membership, resources, leadership, strategy

• External Factors: countervailing groups, public opinion, party control of Congress or Presidency, media coverage, court rulings


Political Influence of the Religious Right

• Dominance in the Republican Party: grassroots organizations, convention delegates and platforms, primary voters

• High turnout important in the 2002 and 2004 elections

• “Moral” rather than economic issues have dominated the political agenda since 1980

• Faith-based programs and Abstinence Education receive federal funding

• Many more restrictions on abortion

• Presidential candidates talk about God, their faith, & being “born again”


Limits to Influence of the Religious Right

• Less influence in more diverse states/cities and high-turnout elections: Countervailing Power

• IRS denies tax exemption to the Christian Coalition

• Federal judge bans the teaching of intelligent design in public schools

• Legal challenges to faith-based programs and Abstinence Education; violation of Establishment Clause?

• Adverse public reaction to extreme positions on abortion, banning stem cell research, clergy endorsements of candidates, Terri Schiavo case

• Public and media cynicism about “moral” candidates


Chapter 11

Congress


Bicameral LegislatureA legislature with two houses—

such as the House and the Senate

11-1a Bicameralism

House of Representative

sSenate


11-1b House of

Representatives

• Representatives elected every two years

• Per state number of representatives proportional to population based on Census

• Always 435 members (by law, not constitution)


11-1c TheSenate• Senators serve six

year terms

• Each state has two senators – regardless of population

• Vacancies in Senate can be filled through appointment by a state’s governor


Early on, members of

Congress did not stay in Congress long: Cincinnatus

ideal of citizen legislator.

Since then, many members of Congress serve for many years: professional legislators.

11-2 The Evolution of Congress


A permanent committee in Congress with jurisdiction over a specific policy

area. Such a committee has tremendous say over the details of

legislation within its jurisdiction.

Standing Committee


The congressional norm of making the member of the majority party

with the longest continuous service on a committee the chair of that

committee.

Seniority Rule


A closed meeting of members of a political party to discuss matters of public policy and political strategy,

and in some cases, to select candidates for House or Senate

office.

Caucus


Drawing congressional district boundaries to favor one party over the other. Usually done by majority party in state legislature.

Gerrymandering


11-3c The Incumbents’Advantages

ResponsibilityFrankingPrivilege

Resources ofOffice


The right of a member of Congress to send official

mail without paying postage.

Franking


Election money is necessary for:

• Campaign workers

• Pollsters

• District campaign offices

• Advertising

• Travel expenses

• Large “war chest” can discourage potential challengers

Campaign Money


House and Senate Party Campaign Committees

• Concern with partisan control of Congress

• Funnel contributions to open seats or the most competitive districts

• Increasing national party influence over state or district elections


Divided Government

When the president is of one party and the other party has a majority in at

least one house of Congress.


• Influence in power of referral of legislation to committee

• Power of scheduling of legislative debate

• Recognition of members on floor during a debate

• Leader of the majority party

• Ability to give and withhold favors

• Currently Dennis Hastert, R-Il.

Speaker of the House


• Helps schedule

• Helps develop positions on issues

• Speaks for the party on the floor of the House

• Currently Bill Frist

• Leadership’s chief vote counter

• Monitors the mood of the House members

• Informs members of schedule

Majority Leader Majority Whip


Responsible for keeping minority party unified and helping to craft

strategies for the minority party.

Minority Leader

Minority Whip


The tactic of stalling a bill in the Senate by talking

endlessly about the bill in order to win changes in it or kill it. No filibuster allowed on

budget bills.

Filibuster


The procedure to stop a filibuster, which requires a

supermajority of sixty votes.

Cloture


House of Representatives

Member Introduces

Bill

Same version ofthe bill must

pass both Houses

Bill referredto

committee Bill referredto

subcommitteeBill reported

by fullcommittee


Rules Committee Action

Debate and Vote. No action can be taken without a Rule to limit

debates or amendments.


Bill Referred to Committee

Senate

Bill Referred to Subcommittee

Bill Reported by Full Committee


Debate Scheduled by Informal Negotiation

Debate and Vote. Vice president can break ties.


Other Senate Duties

• Confirmation of Supreme Court justices

• Confirmation of Cabinet officers

• Approval of formal treaties

• Conducts the trial if the House votes to impeach; 2/3 vote required to convict.


Conference Committee

• Reconciles bills if the House and Senate versions differ

• Only those who voted for the bill in their chamber can serve; may lead to strategic voting

• House version of bills usually predominates

• Conference bill must then pass both Houses


Overriding a Presidential Veto

• Important check on executive power

• Requires 2/3 majority in both Houses

• More common under divided governments


Other responsibilities of Congress

• Holding hearings on complex or controversial issues

• Power to subpoena documents and require testimony

from the executive branch

• Oversight of bureaucracy and regulatory agencies

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