Ch. 11 - Congress AP Government Mr. Zach
Purpose of Congress: Resolve disputes in public policy Center of policymaking Source of power in govt (controls $$) Members have to be in 2 places at same time Washington to make policy Home state/district to hear from constituents Salary Base $174,000 Majority & Minority Leaders - $193,400 Speaker - $223,500
Benefits Healthcare, retirement, Franking Can mail info to constituents without paying postage Not as important now due to technology Why is pay so high? It s expensive to be in Congress Living quarters in home district & DC Some travel expenses Clothes
Membership in Congress House of Representatives Senate Members 435 100 From Texas 36 2 Qualifications At least 25 years old Citizen for at least 7 years At least 30 years old Citizen for at least 9 years Term/Elections 2 year terms 6 year terms, 1/3 of chamber up for election every 2 years
Congressional Elections When: Tuesday after 1 st Monday in November Incumbents have advantage in elections. Usually win. House 90% of incumbents win, usually with no more than 60% of vote Senate Less likely to win, & if they do, by a narrower margin Advantages for incumbents: We have a record of how they ve voted Economy Good (incumbents win); bad (throw em out) POTUS Coattail Effect some will vote because they support/oppose POTUS Advertising more visible, franking Weak opponents usually scare off stronger opponents
Credit-taking: Casework-activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals Pork Barrel-Fed. Projects, grants, contracts member of Congress can pull into district, state, or local businesses. Party Identification How does one defeat an incumbent? Scandal or corruption helps. Angry voters Reaction to POTUS or his/her party. Local popularity Money money money money money money
The Organization of Congress: Bicameral House of Representatives Proportional seats based on state population Apportionment how seats are divided between states Reapportionment redrawing districts after each census Gerrymandering redrawing districts to favor a party or group Committees Majority controls, minority still has seats Seniority is basis for chairmanships & seats on committees. House Rules Committee Places bill on calendar, sets rules for debate; traffic cop
Senate Two per state More equal in power Filibuster Only in Senate. Opponents of bill use right of unlimited debate to prevent a vote 60 members can vote to end filibuster (cloture) Senate considered more restrained, noble, powerful than House
For Fun Filibuster trivia! Longest filibuster 24 hrs, 18 mins by Strom Thurmond (D) against Civil Rights Act. Longest total filibuster 57 days over Civil Rights Act
Leadership in Both Houses Speaker of the House Runs House, keeps order President of the Senate/President Pro Tempore Runs Senate, keeps order Majority Leader Rallies majority party Majority Whip Helps rally party, helps corral votes Minority Leader Rallies minority party Minority Whip Helps rally party, helps corral votes
The real work of Congress occurs in committees & subcommittees. Committee membership is determined by party & seniority. Chairmanship is a reward from party Standing Committees Five Primary Committees Subject matter committees that handle bills in their subject area Joint Committees Membership from both Houses; some investigate, some handle routine duties Conference Committees Both Houses pass different versions of same bill; committee works out compromise bill Select Committees Temporary or permanent; focused responsibility (ex-select Committee on Intelligence) House Rules Committee Decides what legislation will be able to reach the floor of the House and sets the time limit on debates and how a bill may be amended.
What Happens in Committees? Approximately 11,000 bills introduced each 2 year Congressional term. Given title & name, first reading, sent to committee, then subcommittee. (most bills die here) Researched & rewritten (called mark-up ) Sent to full chamber Second reading; Debate; Committee members work as floor managers to drum up votes Third reading; vote Once passed, committees hold legislative oversight monitor bureaucracy & administration of policy.
How a Bill becomes a Law
Junkets political fact finding trips Taxpayer funded PACs (Political Action Committees)can influence committees. (NRA, Environmentalists, Dairy Farmers, Teachers etc.) Seniority System Longest serving member of committee who is in majority party is chair. Revolt in 1970s by younger members Now: committees can vote for chair, though seniority system is usually followed, especially in Senate
Informal Organization of Congress Congressional Caucuses Group of members sharing an interest or characteristic (ex- Congressional Black Caucus) Congressional Staff They all have a staff. Avg. Rep has 17, avg. Senator has 44 Most serve back in home district or state Congressional Research Service Provides research & non-partisan studies upon request General Accounting Office Reviews activities of Executive branch to see if following congressional intent Investigates efficiency & effectiveness of policy implementation Congressional Budget Office Analyzes budget, makes projections of economy, cost of proposed policies for example the impact of the proposed Health Care bills