Congress

1. Congress Framer’s Concerns • Fear of excessive power concentrated in single institution • Fear of mob rule/Majority Rule • Concern of representation in Congress • Belief Congress would be strongest

2. The Solution (Senate) Bicameral legislature Upper House • More moderating • Prevent “mob rule” • Voice for small states Great Compromise Lower House (House) Closer to the people!

3. Term of Congress Begin Jan 3 Odd-numbered years Lame duck period? • 105th Congress: 1997-1999 • 106th Congress: 1999-2001 • 107th Congress:2001-2003 2 years Two regular sessions per term Adjournment: end of a term

4. Characteristics of the House • 435 members • 25 years old/ 7 years residency of the state • 2 year terms • Single districts (closer to the people) • GerrymanderingCensusredistircting • More formal/structured (House Rules Committee) • Revenue bills (tax)

5. Senate More removed • 100 members • Originally chosen by state legislatures • 6 year term 1/3 of Senate up for re-election every two years Why stagger 1/3 at a time? • 30 years old/ 9 years residency • More informal • Filibuster • Confirmations • Ratify treaties

6. Influence on Members of Congress Representational view • Staffers • Interest groups • President • Media Others Attitudinal Organizational

7. Leadership Positions Speaker of the House President Pro-Tem Minority Leader Party Whips Majority Leader Committee chairmen

8. Phases of the House Speaker of the House Thomas Reed Joe Cannon 1889-1910 (period of strong centralization) • Made committee assignments • Appointed committee chairmen • Chaired Rules Committee • Refused stalling tactics

9. Decentralization of the House 1910 House Revolt • Stripped of right to make committee assignments • Stripped of right to appoint committee chairmen • Stripped of right of position of Rules Chairman Power of committee chairmen rose • Set agenda • Content, ones to report out • Seniority rule developed

10. Decentralization in the 1970s Increase in power of individual members Power of subcommittee chairmen increased while committee chairmen decreased Subcommittees increased Attack on seniority system

11. Recent developments 104th Congress Republican Congress Contract with America

12. Developments in the Senate Effect of slavery • Late 1820’s—after Civil War • Party unity shattered in the House: (South vs North) • Senate escaped disunity during same period • (Senators from slave-owning states exactly equaled the number from free states) More Democratic 17th Amendment

13. Organization and developments Senate No Rules Committee More decentralized Less formal

14. Membership in Congress Overrepresentation • White Men • Protestant • Upper-middle class (lawyers) Rebuttals • More women and minorities lately • 109th Congress: 42 B, 24 H, 68 W (House) • Senate: 1B, 2 H, 14 W

15. Duties of the Speaker Presides over the House Second in line after V.P Appoints select and conference committees Appoints Rules Committee members Assigns bills to committees

16. Resolutions Simple Resolution Joint Resolution Concurrent Resolution

17. Criticisms of Congress Logrolling Pork Barrel Ear marks Reciprocity Impact?

18. Congressional Caucuses Groupings of members of congress sharing the same interests Goal is to shape agenda Democratic Study Group Congressional Black Caucus Women’s Caucus Wednesday Group Boll Weevils (CDF) NE/Mid-West Congressional Coalition

19. Impeachment House: Formal Charge Senate: Tries the impeachment

20. The Committee System Real work done in committees And sub-committees Functions Handle legislation Conduct investigations of executive branch on as needed basis Conduct oversight of executive branch agencies on an on-going basis

21. Selection of Committee Members Important to be on the right Committee! National Aspirations? Or Help your constituents. Keep your seat!

22. Selection Process • Steering Committee • Committee on Committees Majority in House=Majority on Committee Chairman VS Ranking member

23. Selection of Committee chairmen Substantial power • Set agenda • Hire staff • Membership on subcommittees Secret Ballot & Seniority system 104th Congress

24. Decentralization 1970’s Reforms Secret ballot Hearings open to the public Can chair only one committee

25. Types of Committees Standing Committees Senate House Finance Appropriations Foreign Relations Judiciary Budget Ways and Means Appropriations Budget Armed Services House Rules • Most powerful • Floor debate rules • Closed v. Open

26. Conference Committees Temporary, members from both houses. House Different versions of the same bill Pass each house Senate Iron out differences Final version will be exact same for both houses to vote on

27. Select Committee • Members from single house • Temporary • Study an issue • Conduct an investigation Watergate Joint Committee Similar to Select Committee &

28. How a Bill Becomes a Law 1. Introduction • Less than 10% actually pass • Most originate in the executive branch • Either house, except for revenue bills • Two step legislative process: Authorization Appropriation

29. 2. Committee Action • Need “correct” committee • Pass: Bill is reported out to full house for consideration • Kill • Amend (markup session) • Pigeonhole: Postpone indefinitely: most frequent fate of bills Discharge Petition

30. 3. Floor Action House Impact of rules committee Open or closed rules Committee of the Whole (House only) (For introduction of bill  Saves time) Vote on bill Quorum

31. Senate Floor Action Filibuster: • Cloture • Double tracking Non-germane amendments Christmas Tree Bills

32. Voting Methods Voice Vote Teller Vote Division Vote Electronic Vote Roll Call Vote

33. 5. Presidential Action Sign Ignore Veto (Law or Pocket Veto)

34. Line Item Veto Clinton v. NY Impact ?

35. 80% 90% Incumbency Advantage Why? Staffers Franking Privilege Patronage $ Casework Name Recognition Gerrymandering

36. Gerrymandering State Legislature Redraws district lines Packing Cracking Party in power (state) stays in power. CensusPopulationshiftreapportionstate redistricting

37. Effects of Gerrymandering Party in power (state) stays in power. "Safe Seats" Strange Shapes Based on Race Gerrymandering Racial “Majority-minority” districts

38. Redistricting Requirements Wesberry v. Sanders Baker V. Carr Applied to national “House” districts State districts No Malapportionment Shaw V. Reno Contiguous