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Congress III

Congress III. 3/22/2012. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: identify and explain the role of formal (congressional) institutions and their effect on policy.

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Congress III

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  1. Congress III 3/22/2012

  2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • identify and explain the role of formal (congressional) institutions and their effect on policy. • to understand and interpret the United States Constitution and apply it to present policy dilemmas. • have a better understanding of why our national government works and why the American system of government is unique.

  3. Office Hours and Readings • Chapter 8 on Congress • Office Hours • Today 12-2 • Monday 10-2

  4. A Good year for the Republicans 2010

  5. A Historical Perspective

  6. Factor 1: Who isn’t there No Bush No Obama

  7. Factor 2 Issues favored the GOP • Economy Trumps Everything and GOP has the Edge • Health Care is a push • No One Cares about Afghanistan

  8. Midyears as Referendum on the Economy

  9. Factor 3 Mid Year Elections Serve as Referendums on the President • President Obama is not unpopular (e.g. Bush 2006) • But he is not popular either (e.g. Clinton 1998) • The Result is the Dems lose seats

  10. Factor 4: Midyear Elections favor the Outparty • Turnout decreases among president’s party • Bandwagon effect is less among independents • Angry voters more than satisfied voters

  11. The House Results • GOP Gets • 100% of leaning GOP Seats (29) • 30 of 42 Tossups • 6 “safe/leaning” Democratic seats

  12. The Senate Results • The Democrats Hold • The Tea Party takes 3 seats, but loses 3 other

  13. Looking Ahead 2012

  14. In The House • 435 House Seats • Many are held by rookies • Democrats need 46 seats to take it back

  15. In the Senate • 33 Senate Races • The Class of “2006” • The GOP needs 4 seats (51) • There are 10 Toss-ups

  16. What Can Happen? • Obama wins big • Obama has a personal victory • A Republican wins

  17. The Defining Features Congress

  18. Bicameralism • The Defining Feature of our Congress • Most parliamentary systems have only 1 branch

  19. The House vs. The Senate House Senate More consensual Weaker committees, policy generalists Loose Control of floor informal and unlimited debate • More hierarchical • Stronger Committees and more policy specialists • Strict control of the floor • Debate is more formal, limited and controlled

  20. Very Formal • No Personal Attacks • Outrage in Congress • Compared • UK  • Australia • Outrage in Korea • Everywhere Else

  21. The House Leadership Positions

  22. The Speaker of the House • John Boehner (R-Ohio) • Elected From the Majority Party • Leads the Debate • Assigns Committee Positions

  23. House Minority Leader • Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) • Leader of the minority party (currently the Democrats)

  24. House Majority Leader • Eric Cantor (R-VA) • Represents the GOP on the Floor • Assists the speaker

  25. Majority and Minority Whips • Promote Party unity • Assist with policy and leadership

  26. Senate Leadership

  27. President of the Senate • The Vice-President • Breaks Ties in the Senate • Not Much Else

  28. The President Pro-Tempore of the Senate • Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) • Mostly a ceremonial position • Third in-line for the presidency • Had to wait since 1959 to get the job

  29. Senate Majority Leader • The power position in the Senate • Harry Reid (D-NV) • Leads the Democratic Party

  30. Senate Minority Leader • Mitch McConnell (R-KY) • Leads the Republicans

  31. Voting and representation in congress

  32. Party Rules the Day • You sit with your party • You vote with your party • 60% are straight party votes • Members support their party <75% of the time

  33. Other Guides to Voting • Local Interests • Voting as a trustee • Logrolling

  34. Voting in the House • A Majority of votes moves legislation (218) • You get a minimum winning coalition • Omnibus Legislation

  35. Voting in the Senate • 51 votes in theory, 60 in reality • Filibuster • Cloture • Reconciliation

  36. The Final Steps • Must Pass both Houses in Identical Form • Conference Committee • Sign or Veto • Finally Becomes Law

  37. Committees and the committee system

  38. Why Committees • Division of Labor • Participation • Specialization

  39. The Role of Committees • Process all the work • Filter Legislation • Where most legislation dies

  40. Standing Committees • Permanent entities • 19 in the House • about 42 per committee • 16 in the Senate • 20 per committee • Membership reflects party proportion.

  41. Other Committees • Conference Committee • Joint Committees • Select Committees

  42. Subcommittees • Within a standing committee • Provides more expertise, but slows things down

  43. Not all committees are created equal

  44. You want to be a chair • Selected by party leaders • Chairs wield vast power • PACS give money to chairs and ranking members

  45. Committee Types • Reelection Power • Prestige/power within the body • Policy

  46. Committees- Good and Bad • In the House • In the Senate • What you don’t want

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