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The Congress III

The Congress III. 10/31/2011. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government

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The Congress III

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  1. The Congress III 10/31/2011

  2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government • identify and explain the role of formal (congressional) institutions and their effect on policy.

  3. Office Hours and Readings • Chapter 8 on Congress • Office Hours • Tuesday 8-12 • Wednesday 8-10:30

  4. The Defining Features Congress

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

  6. 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

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

  8. The House Leadership Positions

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

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

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

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

  13. Senate Leadership

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

  15. 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

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

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

  18. Voting and representation in congress

  19. 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

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

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

  22. Voting in the Senate • 51 votes in theory, 60 in reality • Filibuster • Cloture • UCA’s • Reconciliation

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

  24. Committees and the committee system

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

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

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

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

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

  30. Not all committees are created equal

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

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

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

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