POL 205 Congress
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This document discusses the legislative branch of the US government. It covers the structure of Congress including the House of Representatives and Senate. Key powers of Congress are lawmaking, appropriations, impeachment, and oversight of the executive branch. The roles of congressional leaders like the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader are outlined. The committee system and process for introducing, considering, and passing bills through both chambers is also summarized.
POL 205 Congress
- 5. Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch.
- 6. Larger chamber Representation by state population Mode of Election People
- 7. Smaller chamber Representation through equality Mode of Election State Legislatures People
- 11. FORMALISTIC REPRESENTATION Accountability and responsiveness Includes: Policy Representation Allocative Representation Casework Casework includes helping constituents with an array of services.
- 12. SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION Represents positive values about politics and govt. DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION Representation includes race, ethnicity, gender Congress looks like America Former President Obama speaks to students in Arlington, VA
- 15. SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION SEN.TAMMY BALDWIN (D-WI) Legislators advocate for particular groups in society Sen. Baldwin could advocate for pro-LGBT policies for all homosexuals in America.
- 17. #1: Lawmaking Enumerated Powers (Article I, Section 8) “Necessary and Proper Clause”, Implied Powers #2:War and Foreign Policy Formal Declarations and Military Operations #3: Regulation of Commerce Monopolies, Labor Unions, Wages, Discrimination #4: Appropriations “Power of the Purse”
- 18. #5: Impeachment “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” House brings charges; Senate conducts trial #6: Oversight Hearings, Feedback, Reports, Investigations #7:Treaties and Appointments Senate ratifies treaties, confirms appointments #8:Taxation All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House.
- 20. Is this a district or state I can win? Can I beat my opponent? Issue of Incumbency Advantage Can I get money to run winning campaign? How are the national trends running?
- 25. Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Presiding officer of the House Leader and chief spokesperson for majority party House Majority Leader: Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Works with Speaker on party agenda Coordinates with committees on legislation House Minority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Highest-ranking minority party member Spokesman for minority and crafts agenda
- 27. President of the Senate: VP Mike Pence Presides over Senate and votes in case of a tie Rarely performs this job today President ProTempore: Chuck Grassley (R-KS) Majority party senator with longest tenure Largely ceremonial position
- 28. MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY) MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY)
- 29. Managing party membership Scheduling Senate business for members Monitoring deliberations on Senate floor Intermediary for Congress andWhite House Representing party/Senate to media
- 31. Congress is organized into committees. Majority party has majority of seats on cmte. Democrats in House Republicans in Senate Committee Chair from majority party Ranking Member from minority party
- 32. Standing Committees Permanent Committees Major Policy Areas (e.g. Budget, Judiciary) Select or Special Committees Temporary Committees (e.g. investigations) Focused on narrow issues Joint Committees Both House and Senate membership Conference Committees Resolve House and Senate versions of passed legislation
- 36. Ideas can come from anywhere: President, Constituents, fellow Congressmen, etc. Member introduces idea in form of a bill They are the bill’s sponsor After bill is introduced, cosponsors can support the legislation
- 38. Importance of Jurisdiction Most bills DIE in committee Bill assigned to a subcommittee Smaller group of legislators who focuses on one part of committee’s issues
- 39. Testimony on content and impact of a bill Main Purposes of Hearings: Draw attention to problem or issue Advantages and disadvantages to bill Express constituents’ questions and concerns
- 40. Subcommittee drafts (marks up) the bill Bill goes back to full committee Committee conducts more hearings and debate on bill If accepted, bill reported out of committee
- 42. To proceed to the House floor, all bills must pass through the House Rules Committee What is a rule? Influence of the majority on Rules Cmte.
- 43. HOLD Prevents bill from being voted on for 24 hours Hold provides: Information on issue Concession from leadership or White House FILIBUSTER Endless speeches on topic Eliminated for executive and judicial branch nominees, including Supreme Court
- 45. Personal Opinion / Judgment Constituent Opinion Interest Groups
- 46. Political Parties The President Logrolling
- 50. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION RESULT FOR BILL President approves bill Bill becomes law President disapproves bill and vetoes it Bill goes back to Congress, where two-thirds majority in each House can override President does nothing with the bill (pocket veto) Automatically becomes law within 10 days OR bill is dead and must be re- introduced in Congress