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Congress Intro

Congress Intro. Play the game!. Why become a Congressman?. Power Influence public policy Money $174,000 a year Receive generous retirement and health benefits Government funded healthcare and retirement plans. Who becomes a Congressman?. Lawyers

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Congress Intro

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  1. Congress Intro Play the game!

  2. Why become a Congressman? • Power • Influence public policy • Money • $174,000 a year • Receive generous retirement and health benefits • Government funded healthcare and retirement plans

  3. Who becomes a Congressman? • Lawyers • Allow flexibility for running for office in Congress and funding from law firms • District Attorneys • Many individuals are career politicians.

  4. Who’s not in Congress? • 113th Congress • 435 Men • 98 Women (according to Washington Post) • 102 veterans • 7 Openly Gay • 1 Hindu, 1 Buddhist • As of 2010 • 10% of members African American • 24 members are Hispanic.

  5. Who do they represent? • Descriptive representation: representing constituents mirroring a Congressman’s personal characteristics. • Substantive representation: representing interest groups

  6. Elect Me! • Incumbents: an individual holding office. • 2012: President Obama was the incumbent • 90% of House incumbents win reelection • Senators have an advantage but more vulnerable • More diverse voter base • Higher profile opponents.

  7. Incumbent Advantages • Why do incumbents have advantages? • 1. Voters know how representatives vote. • 28% of people know who their representative is. • 2. Advertising • Staying visible and using “franking” privileges to stay in contact with constituents • 3. Credit Claiming • Casework: Helping constituents get what they think they deserve • Pork Barrel: federal projects and grants available to colleges local businesses and local governments.

  8. More Advantages • Position Taking • Taking stances on issues make a Congressman either more electable or less depending on their districts • Weak Opponents • Lack of adequate campaign funding

  9. Cuantocuesto? • 07-08 Campaign Spending = $2 Billion • House average winner = $1.7 million • Senate average winner = $8.5 million • Opponents of incumbents at a steep disadvantage • Party identity helps incumbents as well • 90% of those with party identities vote for House members that belong to that party.

  10. How to defeat the monster? • Challengers are often defeated due to being naïve • Unaware of the costs and challenges • Ways to defeat incumbents: • Scandal or corruption of an incumbent • Redistricting • In new district boundaries, incumbents may lose supporters

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