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CongresS

CongresS. Do They Represent?. House. Senate. 435 Members “close to the people” Elected popularly; every 2 years Constituencies are more homogenous Less apt to seek compromise More partisan More rules Revenue Bills. 100 Members “saucer that cools the tea”

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CongresS

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  1. CongresS Do They Represent?

  2. House Senate • 435 Members • “close to the people” • Elected popularly; every 2 years • Constituencies are more homogenous • Less apt to seek compromise • More partisan • More rules • Revenue Bills • 100 Members • “saucer that cools the tea” • Elected every 6 years, staggered terms (formerly by state legislators) • Constituencies are more heterogeneous • More apt to seek compromise • Less partisan • Fewer rules • Advise and Consent

  3. 113th Congress: A Profile

  4. House of Representatives: • 232 Republicans • 206 Democrats (including 5 delegates and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico) • 3 Vacant Seats • Average Age: • 57 • Occupations: • Business, public service, law • Education: • 93% Bachelor’s Degree • Average Length of Service: • 9.1 years

  5. Senate: • 45 Republicans • 53 Democrats • 2 Independents (who caucus with Dems) • Average Age: • 62 • Occupations: • Law, public service, business • Education: • 99% Bachelor’s Degree • Average Length of Service: • 10.2 years

  6. Overall, Members of Congress • Religion: • 98% are affiliated • 56% are Protestant • 31% are Catholic • 6.2% are Jewish • Other religions represented: Mormon, Muslim, Hindu, Christian Science, Quaker • Gender: • 18.7% are female • Ethnicity: • 8.3% are African American, 6.9% are Hispanic, 2.4% are Asian, 2 members are American Indians • Military Service: • 20% have served or are currently serving

  7. Trends:

  8. Colorado Congressional Districts

  9. Trend 1: Incumbents are usually reelected • Doug Lamborn (since 2006) • Joel Hefley (‘86 – ’06) • District 5 was created in 1973, and has never voted Democratic

  10. Colorado Senators Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)

  11. The Incumbency Advantage • Incumbents are re-elected 90% of the time – Why? • Catering to the constituency • Pork Barrel Legislation • Franking Privilege • Casework • Fundraising is easier • 90% of PAC money goes to incumbents • Redistricting is more favorable to incumbents

  12. Last Five Election Cycles:

  13. Campaign Expenditures, By Decade

  14. PAC Contributions

  15. Fewer Swing Districts

  16. Pitfalls of Incumbency • Paying the price of the presidency – The president’s party generally loses seats in the midterm election

  17. Trend 2: Party leaders have gained more power over time Harry Reid, D/NV Majority Leader, Senate John Boehner, R/OH Speaker of the House

  18. Leadership • House and Senate are organized along party lines • * Indicates that the chamber was not controlled by the president’s party.

  19. HOUSE LEADERSHIP • Speaker of the House • Second most powerful federal official • Speaks first • Recognizes other members • Chooses chairs and committee members on the House Rules Committee • Assigns bills to committees • Assigns members to conference committees • Majority Whip • Generates support for bills

  20. SENATE LEADERSHIP • Majority Party Leader: Most powerful • VP presides over the Senate; breaks ties • President Pro-Tempore presides in the absence of the VP • Largely honorary (held by most senior mp senator)

  21. Trend 3: Most of the work is done in committee/subcommittee

  22. Standing Committees

  23. COMMITTEES • Standing committees are permanent • 35-40 members per committee in the House • Half the size in the Senate • Most have subcommittees = specialization • Select committees • Not necessarily permanent • Joint committees • Members of both houses • Conference committees • Joint committee that works out differences in bills

  24. Committee Jurisdiction • Bills must be referred to the proper committee because each committee has jurisdiction over a certain policy area • Turf wars

  25. Committee Membership • Fixed number of seats • Majority party holds most of them (ratio same as in H or S) • House members serve on 2; Senators 4 • Members are appointed by a special committee • Each committee has a chairperson; usually based on seniority

  26. Committee v. Party • Committees decentralize power; Parties centralize power

  27. Congress does three main things: • Makes laws • Represents • Oversight

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