It could probably be shown with facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal...

It could probably be shownwith facts and figures that there

is no distinctly American criminal class except for Congress – Mark Twain

Congress

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 11 | 2

Madison’s Model

• Logic of two chambers

– Logic of elections

– Logic of constituents, popular and state

– Logic of specifying tasks


Revolutionary Change in Congress

• Four factors of importance– Individual members and their districts– Committees– Parties– Leadership

• Pre-1995 the factors were in descending order, Post-1995 they switched


Congressional Committees

• System whereby most of the work in Congress is done by smaller groups

1. Standing,

2. Conference,

3. Select, and

4. Joint


Policy and Finance Power in Congress


Committee System

– Developed expertise– Developed iron triangles: alliances between

legislator, lobbyists and bureaucracy– Mini version of the Chamber allowing

members to work out differences in committee rather than in a battle on the chamber’s floor


Parties in Congress: HOUSE

• Republican Conferences select-– Speaker, Majority Leader, Majority Whip– Budget Committee, Rules Committee,

Committee on Committees – Policy which along with Committee on

Committees make assignments for all party members.

• Democratic Caucuses– Structure similar for Democrats but don’t

elect Speaker.– Do elect Minority Leader, Minority Whip etc.


Parties in Congress: SENATE

• Party Conference (Caucus)– Party leader, party whip, Campaign

Committee– With NOMINATIONS FROM Party LEADER

Caucus elects members to Budget, Policy, and Steering Committee

– Party Leader assigns persons to Party’s Select Committee

• Worst Job in Senate? No power, no vote, political limbo.


Summary of Congressional Leadership

• Speaker of the House of Representatives

• Majority Leader

• Minority Leader

• Majority Whip

• Minority Whip

• Chairs of important committees e.g. budget, policy and steering.


How a Bill Becomes a Law (pg.330)


THE GINGRICH REVOLUTION

• Committee system only a shell– Party leadership selects committee members– Party leadership select chairs of committees

and sub committees– Selection not on seniority, expertise, or party

contribution but loyalty to leadership– If leadership doesn’t like committee position-

by passes committee with “task forces” that propose legislation and place on floor


The Permanent Campaign

• Another change in Congress since the 1970 is a de-emphasis on legislation and a permanent emphasis on running for office.

• This permanent campaign requires a continuous influx of money which reinforced the power of party leaders.

• With a concentration of decision making power and money Congress became awash in scandals.


The Incumbent Advantage


Congress and the Presidency

• Budgetary politics

• Foreign policy

• Oversight– Review by committees of the operations of

executive branch agencies


SURVEY- In a Republic...

1. Do the ends justify the means?

– Mean’s matter equally OR mean’s don’t matter

2. A representative’s first consideration when voting on legislation should be?

• Constituents

• Position of his/her political party, or

• Party leadership’s agenda

3. Trading a vote in Congress for campaign support is appropriate?

– No or Yes


SURVEY- In a Republic...(2)

4.Trading a vote in Congress in one area e.g. support for agri-bill in exchange for another e.g. housing is appropriate?

– Yes or No

5. Political leaders are able to build consensus around a bill if its merits outweigh its shortcomings.

– Yes, consensus is indicator of merit– No, belief in consensus is ideal not

practical in large legislature


SURVEY- In a Republic...(3)

6. Federal administrators with information about a bill under consideration by Congress should provide information– Yes, in all cases—no exceptions– Yes, in most but some limited exceptions– No, Executive determines what is provided to

Congress.

7. All hearings, votes and decisions of Congress should be taped and televised.– Yes– Only major pieces should be taped/televised– No, publish in Congressional Record only.


Survey Feedback

1. Means v. Ends2. First Consideration should be…3. Vote for Campaign support4. Vote for Vote5. Consensus ideal v. impractical6. Administrator information 7. Congressional Coverage


The Price of Victory

15 minute tape on Congressional decision regarding Prescription Drug legislation

Date post:	16-Jan-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	christopher-fletcher
View:	220 times
Download:	0 times

It could probably be shown with facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal...

Documents