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The Constitution and Congress

The Constitution and Congress. 17.251/17.252 Fall 2004. Road map. Pre-constitution Politics of the constitutional convention Key features of the Constitution pertaining to Congress. Pre-Constitution. Self-governance came over to American from East Anglia Colonies had legislatures SJC

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The Constitution and Congress

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  1. The Constitution and Congress 17.251/17.252 Fall 2004

  2. Road map • Pre-constitution • Politics of the constitutional convention • Key features of the Constitution pertaining to Congress

  3. Pre-Constitution • Self-governance came over to American from East Anglia • Colonies had legislatures • SJC • House of Burgesses

  4. The First Congress • Continental Congresses, 1774-1781 • Council of independent state governments • Coordinate state action • Attempted to provide national services • Post Office • Foreign Affairs • Etc.

  5. The Second Congress • Congress of the Confederation, 1781-1789 • Authorized under the Articles of Confederation • Basic structure • Equality of states • Congress was the “united states in Congress assembled” • Weaknesses • Lack of popular moorings • Lack of compulsion on states or individuals • Weak floor rules • Committees given no special standing

  6. Va. plan Ct. comp= Consti. The Politics of the Constitutional Convention • 1787 • General flow of the Convention ≠ mstates Equality of rep.  (NJ plan) mstates = - Nationalism/centralization +

  7. What the Compromise Gave Us • Virginia • Population-weighted representation • Unicameral legislature • National nullification Strong national government • Congress elects Senate & President • N.J. (Status quo) • Equal representation of states • Coalition, not nation • Congress elects President (no Senate) • State sovereigntyShared sovereignty

  8. The people State legislature Senate House of Reps. President Va. Plan The Constitution: The Schematic N.J. Plan

  9. Key Features of the Constitution for Congress • Membership • Powers • Free trade and one foreign policy • Congress and the president sovereign • House and Senate autonomous as institutions • Walk through constitutional features

  10. Walk through Article I

  11. S Q H Formal analysis of bicameralism Bicameralism  greater “power” to more “conservative” body Q S H WS(Q) WH(Q) W(Q) =WH(Q)  WS(Q) Bicameralism  “gridlock WH(Q) WS(Q) W(Q)= empty

  12. Presidential veto: “Tricameralism” P Q S H WS(Q) WH(Q) WP(Q) W(Q) =WH(Q)  WS(Q) If president is on one side of the status quo and both chambers are on the other side, tricameralism induces gridlock

  13. Presidential veto: Tricameralism P Q S H W(Q) =WH(Q)  WS(Q) WP(Q) If the president is within the win set of the two chambers, the president is a “conservative” force

  14. The effect of the “presentation clause” Q P S H If Congress proposes If the president proposes

  15. No bill with ½ requirement Q P S Strategic bill 1 with 2/3 requirement P Q S* S Adding the veto pivot Bill 1 No bill 1 with 2/3 requirement P Q S* S

  16. What difference it makes: Bush Bond Biden Miller

  17. What difference it made: Clinton Feinstein Snowe Hatch

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