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Congress at Work

Congress at Work . Ch. 7 Sec. 2-4. Making Decisions About Taxes. Constitution gives power to House to start all revenue bills House Ways and Means Committee Most important work on tax law Decides whether on Pres. requests for increase or cuts in taxes Makes rules on who pays how much taxes

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Congress at Work

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  1. Congress at Work Ch. 7 Sec. 2-4

  2. Making Decisions About Taxes • Constitution gives power to House to start all revenue bills • House Ways and Means Committee • Most important work on tax law • Decides whether on Pres. requests for increase or cuts in taxes • Makes rules on who pays how much taxes • Committee’s tax bills debated under closed rule – forbids members from offering any amendments to a bill on the floor  revolt in 1973 • Senate can propose amendments

  3. Appropriating Money • Two step process • Authorization Bill – sets up federal program and specifies how much money will be appropriated for that program • Appropriations Bill – provides money needed to carry out the law congress has passed • Handled by House and Senate Appropriations Committees and subcommittees • Both have 13 dealing with some policy areas

  4. Influence of Voters • Constituents expect lawmakers to put the needs of their district or state ahead of the needs of the nation • Expect reps. to vote on issues along with the majority of their constituents preference • Reps. keep track of constituents opinions • Visits to the district • Messages from home • Surveys and polls • Key supporters

  5. Influence of Parties • Tend to vote with party lines (more than 70% of the time in the House) • Democrats tend to favor social welfare programs, job programs through public works, tax laws helping low income, govt. regulation of business • Republicans tend to favor lower taxes, less spending, state/local govt., limit govt. in economy • Vote party lines on issues they don’t know a lot about

  6. Other Influences on Congress • Pres. influences congress • Use tv to gain public support for bills • Give or with-hold support of lawmakers • Interest groups influence congress • Lobbyists – try to get congress to support legislation favored by the group they represent • Lobbying – efforts to persuade their point of view • Political Action Committees (PACs) – political fundraising organizations established by corporations, labor unions, special interest groups

  7. Handling Constituents Problems • Casework – helping constituents with their problems • Thousands of requests to help in dealing with executive agencies • Caseworkers – staff members who handle constituents problems • Serves 3 important purposes • Helps lawmakers get re-elected • Helps congress oversee executive branch • Way for average citizen to cope with large federal govt.

  8. Helping the District or State • Public Works Bills – congress appropriations for local projects (e.g. bridges, post offices, etc.) • Called Pork Barrel Legislation – congress has dipped into the pork barrel (federal treasury) and pulled out a piece of fat (fed. Project for their district) • Logrolling – agreements by 2 or more lawmakers to support each others’ bills

  9. Helping the District or State • Work to ensure their state gets a fair share of federal grants and contracts • Helps with job creation • Congress doesn’t directly control grants and contracts • Influence executive agencies

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