Congress. AP US Government Spring 2017

Transcription

1 Congress AP US Government Spring 2017

2 Congressional Elections: House vs Senate Constituent: citizen who is represented by a member of Congress House is closer to constitutents House members come from individual districts in states District lines are drawn following a census: redistricting Sometimes the number of representatives given to a state changes: reapportionment Sometimes district lines are drawn in a politically-motivated manner: gerrymandering Packing and cracking

3 Why do incumbents always win? Pictured: Jesse Helms, North Carolina senator from Incumbents... enjoy the franking privilege send bulk s have greater access to the media raise money effectively are more experienced and well-known have effectively served their constituents pork barrel, riders, earmarks

4 Congress: Structure and Powers Bicameralism: in order to control the legislative authority, you mist divide it (Fed. 51) Congress powers: enumerated powers House vs. Senate Differences in terms, number of members, areas represented Differences in powers given to leaders Differences in tasks given: raising revenue vs. advice and consent Think: what is the effect of these differences?

5 Representation in the House Representation in the house is by population 435 seats are divided across 50 states by population Seats are reapportioned every 10 years after the census (reapportionment) California has 53 representatives Who are my representatives? Nanette Barragán, 44th District Maxine Waters, 43rd District Ted Lieu (was Henry Waxman forever), 33rd District Alan Lowenthal, 47th District

6 115th Congress: The House of Representatives The House currently has a Republican majority 237 Republicans, 193 Democrats, 5 vacancies (five resignations, including Xavier Becerra California s new Attorney General)

7 The House of Representatives: Leadership House leaders: speaker, majority leader, minority leader, whips, party caucus Speaker of the House Leader of the house, chosen by caucus (closed meeting) of majority party Responsibilities are administrative as well as institutional House Majority Leader Top assistant to the Speaker Helps to maintain party s legislative program Whip Assistant floor leader; ensures that majority-party members vote as party wishes

8 115th Congress: The Senate The Senate currently has a Republican majority 52 Republicans, 46 Democrats, 2 Independents 2 Independents who caucus with the Democrats: Bernie Sanders (VT), Angus King (ME)

9 The Senate: Leadership The Senate has no speaker The vice president presides over the Senate As a non-elected member, he/she may not participate in debates There is a president pro tempore who presides in the absence of the vice president The most important members are the majority and minority leaders These are party officials, elected by members of their party Ensure that party members attend sessions, support key bills Whips perform same role as in House

10 Congressional Leadership and Committees Most of the work in Congress is done in committees 1. Allow members to divide their work among smaller groups 2. Considers bills and issues; recommends measures for consideration 3. Hold public hearings Different kinds of committees: standing, select or special, joint, conference Standing committees are permanent groups that deal with issues Include Judiciary, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Ethics Subcommittees share tasks within jurisdiction of parent committee Select or Special committees are temporary committees formed for a specific purpose, usually an investigation Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming ( )

11 Congressional Leadership and Committees, Part II Joint Committees are made up of members of Senate and House Either temporary or permanent; generally act as study groups or perform housekeeping tasks Conference committees are temporary committees set up to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of legislation Members come from House and Senate committees that proposed the bill Committee leadership usually goes to member of majority party with longest uninterrupted service on that committee This is called the seniority system Chairpeople of standing committees are among most powerful people in Congress Make decisions about work of committee, which bills they consider, when to hold hearings, manage floor debates Political parties assign members to standing committees

12 Congressional Leadership and Committees, Part III: Leading the House of Representatives The House is bigger than the Senate (435 vs. 100), so different rules and different freedoms Rules limit how long members can speak House leaders have more power than in Senate Speaker of the House is the most powerful leader Assisted by majority leader, whip

13 Congressional Leadership and Committees, Part IV: The House Rules Committee The Rules Committee is the most powerful committee in Congress Decides the rules (terms and conditions) of debate on a matter Sets limits on floor amendments that will be allowed on bills Committee can delay consideration of a bill Think: Traffic officer of the house Rules Committee is run by the majority party

14 Congressional Leadership and Committees, Part V: Leadership in the Senate The Senate has more informal procedures and rulers have less power than in the House Individual senators have more power over lawmaking process Senate leader is the majority leader Senate allows extended debate, which can be ended by a vote of 60 Individual senators can amend a bill ad nauseam Legislative hold: used to delay and stop legislation, nominations Filibuster: unlimited debate; floor is held continuously as a delay tactic Can be ended by cloture: a vote by 60 members to end debate

15 How A Bill Becomes A Law: Vocabulary Rider: a provision on a bill that is unrelated to the subject of the bill Usually added to a bill that is likely to pass Earmark: funds provided for by Congress that are allocated to a specific project or district, often benefitting a single member of Congress Pork-barrel legislation is generally the same; appropriations of funds intended to help a particular district Logrolling: trading of votes by legislators, done to earn support

16 How A Bill Becomes A Law: The Process 1. Legislation is introduced House: placed in hopper Senate: bill introduced during morning hour 1. Assigned a number (something like, H.R. 225 ) 2. Labeled with sponsor s name (original member who introduced bill) 3. Sent to Government Printing Office 2. Bill is taken up in committee 1.Discussion of bill s merit Hearings held, findings reported to full committee 3.Vote by full committee 1.Committee holds mark-up session; may reintroduce bill 4. Committee produces written report, bill is sent to whole chamber In the House, goes to the Rules Committee 1.Committee adopts rules under which bill may be discussed 2.There are ways to bypass the rules committee (like 2/3rds vote) 2.Chairman assigns to subcommittee

17 How A Bill Becomes A Law: The Process, Part II 5. Action is taken on the floor 1. Bill is placed on calendar House: bill is placed on calendar Speaker, majority leader determine what reaches the floor and when Senate: placed on legislative calendar 2. Debate on the bill House: debate limited by Rules Committee s rules 6. Vote on bill Senate: unlimited debate unless cloture is invoked (vote by 60 Senators to end debate) 1. If passed, sent to other chamber unless other chamber has a similar measure under consideration 2. If not passed, it dies :-( 3. If same bill is passed in both houses, then sent to President 4. If different bill is passed, then it is sent to... quorum: call to make sure enough members are present for a vote (218)

18 How A Bill Becomes A Law: The Process, Part III (Conference Committee) 7. Conference Committee Members from each house form a committee to work out differences between bills 2. President does not sign it, and Congress is in session for 10 days 2. Does not become law if, during 10 days, Congress adjourns (pocket veto) If a compromise is reached, Committee writes a report 3. Does not become law if President vetoes Report must be approved by both houses 1. Sent back to chamber where it originated 8. The President 1. Becomes law if President signs it, or 2. Veto can be overriden by 2/3rds vote in both houses 9. BILL BECOMES LAW Assigned an official number

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20 The Job of the Legislator Lawmaking vs. representation (delegate vs. trustee) Delegate represents views of constituents, trustee votes in best interest of nation Why do they vote the way they do? Following the advice of colleagues, and logrolling Heavy reliance on staff, especially with casework Following the advice of the attentive public Following their own ideology Influence of interest groups: information provided, mobilising public pressure Influence of political party: strength of party discipline, voting along party lines,