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Structure of CongressStructure of Congress
Objective:• Understand how Congress is organized
Bell Ringer:List the qualifications for serving in Congress as set forth in theConstitution. In your opinion, are there other qualifications thatshould be applied to holding office in Congress? For example,should lawmakers have certain legal or technical training? Whyor why not?
Agenda:Congressional structureCompensationElections/gerrymandering
Homework:Letter signedRead Chapter 10 Sections 2 and 3Outline each
Structure of CongressStructure of Congress
Objective:• Understand how Congress is organized• Analyze the theories of representation
Bell Ringer:Congress is a frequent target of criticism in the media and elsewhere. Yet the text says that the members of Congress are on the whole hardworking and able people. How can you explain the existence of these two opposing viewpoints?
Agenda:Members of CongressTheories of Representation
Homework:Read Chapter 10 Section 4Chapter Assessment #1 - 23
Structure of CongressStructure of Congress
Objective:• Identify the leadership positions in Congress and who currently holds
these positions• Understand how committees in Congress are organized• Analyze how committees operate
Bell Ringer:Choose three Congressional powers and indicate why the Framers gave these powers to Congress rather than the states.
Agenda:Congressional LeadershipCommittees in Congress
Homework:Use the Study Guide to prepare for your testA Day = April 30B Day = May 1
Bicameral Legislature “upper house” elected by state legislature and each state
having equal representation
“lower house” elected by the people and membership based on population
all states (except Nebraska) have followed this model in their state legislatures
in many other nations with bicameral legislatures the upper house is largely ceremonial
the hope was that it would keep government from infringing upon citizen’s rights
Congress Each term lasts for two years
New sessions start at 12:00 p.m. on January 3rd of every odd-numbered year (Congress can however select a different day to convene)
We are currently in the 111th session of Congress
Special sessions may be called only by the President to deal with emergency situations
Neither House of Congress has a cap on the number of terms a member may serve
House-Senate Differences House
435 members; 2 yr terms
Low turnover Speaker bill referral
hard to challenge Scheduling/rules
controlled by majority party with powerful Rules Committee (controls time of debate, amends., etc)
Senate 100 members; 6 yr
terms Moderate turnover Referral decisions
easily challenged Scheduling/rules
agreed to by majority & minority leaders
House-Senate Differences
House Debate limited to 1
hour Members policy
specialists Emphasizes tax &
revenue policy More formal &
impersonal
Senate Unlimited debate
unless cloture invoked
Members policy generalists
Emphasizes foreign policy
More informal & personal
Congressional MembershipEthnically, socially, economically the make-up of Congress
is not actually representative of the general population.
In general members of Congress are: White males in their early 50’s Married Two children Christian Protestant The vast majority have college degrees and many have
advanced degrees A large number were lawyers
Source: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demographics.tt
Age Groups
Source: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/demographics.tt
Party
Gender Ethnicity
Demographic Profile of the 111th Congress
Structure of Congress
Objective: Understand how Congress is organized Analyze the theories of representation
Bell Ringer:Read the article “Replacement Congress” Do you think the mass replacement of representatives through special election under the circumstances in this article would be approved of by the Framers? What is another option that could be considered?
Agenda:Theories of RepresentationLeadership in CongressCongressional Committees
Homework: Chapter 11 Part 2 Overview Quiz next class
Role of Congress Make laws
Represent the interests of their constituents
Serve on committees
Serve their constituencies
Politicians
Theories of Representation
Members of Congress tends to fit into one of four
categories when it comes to decision making.
Partisanship Theory/Organizational View: Feel that people voted for them because of their political
beliefs Tend to vote the way their particular party does The party’s goals are the end
Theories of Representation
Trustee Theory/Attitudinal View:
Decide each political situation based on its own individual merit
Lead and inform
Do what is right
It is the end, not the process that is important
Theories of Representation
Delegate Theory/Representational View:
View themselves as agents of those who elected them
Do as voters request
It is the process, not the end that is important
Theories of Representation
Politicos Theory:
Strive to combine elements of the two into their decision making
Try to balance their views, with the views of their constituents and their party’s views
The process used and the ends achieved are important
Party UnityParty Unity
• Lower today than 100 years ago, but…..
• Ideology important variable explaining party voting (members vote with their party 80% of the time)
• Party polarization - vote in which majority of democrats oppose majority of republicans
• Polarization trends:o 1976 HR = 36%; S = 37%o 1995 HR = 73%; S = 69%o 2000 HR = 43%; S = 49%
• The House
• Led by Speaker of the House—elected by House members
• Presides over House
• Major role in committee assignments and legislation
• Assisted by majority leader and whips
Congressional LeadershipCongressional Leadership
• The Senate
• Formally lead by Vice President
• Really lead by Majority Leader—chosen by party members
• Assisted by whips
• Must work with Minority leader
Party LeadershipParty Leadership
• The House
• Led by Speaker of the House—elected by House members
• Presides over House
• Major role in committee assignments and legislation
• Assisted by majority leader and whips
• The Senate
• Formally lead by Vice President
• Really lead by Majority Leader—chosen by party members
• Assisted by whips
• Must work with Minority leader
HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP
Speaker (majority party)
Republicans:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Chairman of the
Caucus• Steering & Policy
Committee• Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee
Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner (R-OH)
Majority LeaderEric Cantor (R-VA)
Majority WhipKevin McCarthy (R-CA)
HOUSE LEADERSHIPHOUSE LEADERSHIP
Democrats:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of
Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on
Committees• National Republican
Congressional Committee
• Research Committee
Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D-MD)
SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE 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 LeaderHarry Reid (D-NV)
President Pro TempDaniel Inouye (D-HI)
Majority WhipRichard Durbin
(D-IL)
President of the Senate
Joe Biden (D-DE)
SENATE LEADERSHIPSENATE 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)
Strength of Party Structure?Strength of Party Structure?
• Measure of party strength:
1. Ability of leaders to control party rules and organization
2. Extent to which party members vote together in the House and Senate
• Senate: less party-centered and leader oriented
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
• Caucuses: The Informal Organization of Congress• Caucus: a group of members of Congress
sharing some interest or characteristic•About 300 caucuses• Caucuses pressure for committee meetings and
hearings and for votes on bills.• Caucuses can be more effective than lobbyists.
CAUCUSESCAUCUSES
• Groups (may be bipartisan) meeting to pursue common legislative objectives
• Rivals to parties in policy formulation• Examples: Democratic Study Group,
Congressional Black Caucus, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, Human Rights, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Out of Iraq Caucus,
Rural Caucus, Travel & Tourism Caucus, House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children
"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”
- Woodrow Wilson
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
1. Consider bills (a.k.a. “mark-up” bills)
A bill with a member’s mark-up notes
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing re: the Department of Defense Budget (May, 2006)
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose
3. Conduct investigations
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Hurricane Katrina (Feb., 2006)
Types of CommitteesTypes of Committees
Standing Committees - permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities• Subcommittees – formed to tackle very specific
tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees Select or Special Committees - groups appointed for a
limited purpose and limited duration Joint Committees - includes members of both
chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks
Conference Committee - includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills
House Standing CommitteesHouse Standing Committees
Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Education & Workforce
Energy & Commerce
Financial Services
Government Reform
House Admin.
International Relations
JudiciaryResourcesRulesScienceSmall BusinessStandards of Official
ConductTransportation &
InfrastructureVeterans AffairsWays & Means
Senate Standing CommitteesSenate Standing Committees
Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
Appropriations
Armed Services
Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs
Budget
Commerce, Science, Transportation
Energy & Natural Resources
Environment and Public Works
Finance
Foreign Relations
Governmental Affairs
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Judiciary
Rules and Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Veterans Affairs
Special, Select CommitteesSpecial, Select Committees
• House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
• Senate Select Committee on Ethics
• House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence
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.
Joint CommitteesJoint Committees
• Joint Economic Committee• Joint Committee on Printing• Joint Committee on Taxation
Joint Committee on Taxation hearing
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
• Getting on a Committee•Members want committee assignments that will
help them get reelected, gain influence, and make policy.
•New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders.
• Those who have supported their party’s leadership are favored in the selection process.
• Parties try to grant committee preferences.
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
• Getting Ahead on the Committee• Committee chair: the most important influencer of
congressional agenda•Dominant role in scheduling hearings, hiring staff,
appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house
•Most chairs selected according to seniority system.•Members who have served on the committee the longest
and whose party controlled Congress become chair
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
How Congress is Organized to Make Policy
• Congressional Staff• Personal staff: They work for the member,
mainly providing constituent service, but help with legislation too.
• Committee staff: organize hearings, research and write legislation, target of lobbyists
• Staff Agencies: CRS, GAO, CBO provide specific information to Congress
How A Bill Becomes LawHow A Bill Becomes LawFact: About 5,000
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
Title: Resolution Artist: Bob GorrellDate: 12/28/06 Source: http://www.gorrellart.com/
Title: Imagine there’s no Congress Artist: Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-GazetteDate: 6/06/07 Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/
Title: Senator Reid Can Handle the TruthArtist: RJ MatsonDate: 6/18/07Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com