Consider : What is the most significant influence on an MoC ?

1. Consider: What is the most significant influence on an MoC? Homework: Assignment #6 for tomorrow; quiz and test Friday

2. AP Government and Politics Chapter 6 The “Feel” of Congress: Representation and Decision-making

3. What Does “Representation” Mean? • “Represent”: to act in place of or on behalf of someone else • “Constituency”: the group on whose behalf the legislator acts

4. Representation in Congress • A historical question in US history since 1789: • Is the primary concern of a representative the interests of the whole nation or those of his/her constituency? • In traditional political science, two models of representative function of Congress have been offered: • Trusteemodel – elected representatives are obligated to act in accordance with their judgment as to what policies are in the best interests of society • Delegatemodel: elected reps are obligated to carry out the wishes of those who elected them to office. • Politico – a little bit of both, depending on the situation

5. Influences on Decision-Making • Later political research offers at least 3 theories why MoCs vote the way they do: • Representational view • Members want to get re-elected and therefore vote to please their constituents • In what situations might this view be most likely? • What might make this view weak or less reliable? • Organizational view • Members respond to cues provided by their fellow members; party is the single most important of these cues, but interest groups/PACs may also be important • In what situations might this view be most likely? • From which group inside Congress do members often take cues on how to vote on bills? From which group outside of Congress? • Attitudinal view • Position that ideology impacts a members vote; members are more ideological in their thinking • Because there are conflicting pressures, members are free to vote their ideologies. • On which type of issues will this be most strong? Most weak?

6. Questions to Consider • Which of the three theories above (Rep, Org, Att) do you believe is practiced by most members during campaign season? • Would you expect the longer term of Senators to result in a different mode of representation? • Which of the three theories do you most endorse? • Which would you endorse as an MoC? Why might this be different? • If you wanted an MoC to choose the representational model, how could you make that happen? • If representatives are voting with their party, does this necessarily mean they are less likely to be representing their constituents’ attitudes?

7. Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist 6.5 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_Constitution_v2.html

8. How Members Make Decisions 6.5 • Political Parties • Constituents • Colleagues and Caucuses • Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees • Staff and Support Agencies

9. Political Parties Influence of political parties on the passage of legislation Divided government Different political parties control presidency and Congress Unified government Same political party controls presidency and Congress 6.5

10. Constituents 6.5 • People who live, work and vote in a member’s district • Vote with about 2/3rds of the time • Wedge issues

11. Colleagues and Caucuses 6.5 • Logrolling - Supporting another member’s legislation in exchange for future support • The widest accepted origin is the old custom of neighbors assisting each other with the moving of logs. If two neighbors had cut a lot of timber which needed to be moved, it made more sense for them to work together to roll the logs. In this way, it is similar to a barn-raising where a neighbor comes and helps a family build their barn, and, in turn, that family goes and returns the favor, helping him build his. • Special Interest Caucuses • Informal groups based on shared interest

12. Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees 6.5 • Research and Data • Provide information to justify members’ positions on legislation • Persuade constituents to contact or pressure members • Fundraising • PACS

13. Staff and Support Agencies 6.5 • Congressional staffers • Agency staffers • Committee staffers