Legislative Branch

Woll #60 (Mayhew), #61 (Fenno)

(Mayhew) If it is assumed that Members of Congress (MCs) are single-minded seekers of reelection, then we would predict that MCs would devote substantial resources to three basic activities: Advertising (making yourself seen, e.g. franking, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, speeches, interviews), credit claiming (particularistic policies, pork, casework, etc.), and position taking (using role call votes and speeches to stake out a popular position more than to change policy). Mayhew does not actually claim that MCs are motivated exclusively by reelection; his goal is only to deduce the behaviors that we would expect if this assumption were true-behaviors, which incidentally are close to the reality. (Fenno) Members of Congress have three goals: Re-election, internal power and influence on Capitol Hill, and good public policy. In explaining how MCs cultivate trust among their constituents, Fenno focuses on what representatives do in their districts rather than in Washington. He tries to identify the "home styles" that each MC uses to get re-elected as well as their perceptions of their constituency. Fenno argues that Congressmen view their constituencies in four shrinking concentric circles: • The broadest circle is that of the geographic district, encompassing all potential voters and regions; • The next circle consists of the electoral supporters-- who is likely to vote for me? • The next circle is the primary supporters-- who is actually going to do work for me? • The smallest circle is the candidate's family, close friends, and trusted advisers.

Duties of congress people other than lawmaking

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Trustee, delegate, politico, descriptive, substantive representation

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Characteristics of members of Congress

1. The demographics of the average member of Congress are: a. Lawyers, which is expected. b. White Male c. Protestant d. Participated in some form of political issues or policy.

Divided government

A government in which the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by the other. This has become a common occurrence in recent decades as voters have begun to act more independent of parties and have voted split tickets.

Caucus (congressional)

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Many are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.

Constitutional description of Congress

A law making body made of two houses Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two houses - The House of Representatives and The Senate.

Filibuster/cloture

A prolonged debate in the Senate that is intended to kill a bill by preventing a vote on it, any senator that leads a filibuster has the freedom to talk about any topic they so choose - rules of card games, etc. But they cannot take a break (they even often wear diapers).

Checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power.

Woll #58 (Dodd)

According to Dodd committee membership and leadership fulfill Congressman and women's drive for power, as they must fight for reelection in order to stay in the struggle within Congress for "power positions." They also find that reelection, particularly by large margins helps create an aura of personal legitimacy. And, long-term electoral success bestows on a member of Congress the opportunity to gain the experience and expertise, and to demonstrate the legislative skill and political prescience that can serve to justify the exercise of power. Two Advantages: Incumbents have structural advantages over challengers during elections. Also, incumbents have a significant financial advantage over their opponents during re-election. Two Disadvantages: Congressmen or senators who use their position on Committees in the Senate or House to appropriate federal money to their own district or state, and therefore bring increased business and investment to their home area. There is also the disadvantage of having no term limits, meaning that the incumbency advantage allows the same members to maintain their position.

Lanahan #24

Binder describes two causes for Congressional stalemate, 1) intra-branch politics 2) the impact of parties and 3) the consequences of bicameralism. 1) Binder states that unified party control of government does not guarantee compromise necessary for breaking deadlock because the minorities tend to use their voice when their party gains unified control of Congress. 2) As the two parties have polarized and the political center has stretched thin over the recent past, littler evidence indicates that legislative performance has risen in lockstep. Paradoxically, far from ensuring hat voters will be given meaningful choices between competing party programs, the polarization of the parties seems to encourage deadlock. 3) Bicameralism is perhaps the most critical structural factor shaping the politics of gridlock. Bicameralism - rather than the separation of power between the executive and legislative branches - seems most relevant in explaining stalemate in the postwar period. Bicameral differences arise of course because structural differences between House and Senate elections ensure that policy views will not be distributed and aggregated identically in the two chambers. Even when the same party controls both chambers, we cannot assume that the two chambers desire the same policy outcomes.

How/why do congress people get on certain committees

Committee membership is important to Congressman and women because members seek committees that will help them achieve three goals: reelection, influence in Congress, and the opportunity to make policy in areas they think are important.

How a bill becomes a law

Creating laws is the U.S. House of Representatives' most important job. All laws in the United States begin as bills. Before a bill can become a law, it must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President.

Joint Committee

Exist in a few policy areas, such as the economy and taxation, and draw their membership from both the Senate and the House.

Woll #55

Federalist paper 53 illuminates that the Anti-federalists argued that one-year House terms would be more "democratic" or "representative." Madison counters that argument by stating that each representative should get a chance to fit into the job - stating that two-year terms is appropriate. Federalist papers 56, 57, and 58 all argued that the size of the House of Representatives is key to its success, and that the current size was too small to truly be representative of its constituents. Madison countered that the size was appropriate because the objects of concern (areas of legislation) will be limited (# 56). Even at this distance, the House is still closest to the people and two-year terms ensure the House's "dependence" on the people (#57). And, too large of a House would replace reason with passion (#58). The main ideas that the Framers had regarding the U.S. Senate was the Senate's intended role in the system. The Framers wanted Senators to embody certain qualifications, to have them appointed by state legislature, to serve six-year terms, to have a certain number of Senators, to have equality representation, and to have their power (#62). Federalist 63 discusses the delegation of responsibility. Such responsibility must be limited to objects within the power of the responsible party, and in order to be effectual, must relate to operations of that power, of which the constituents can form a ready and proper judgment. This responsible party must be an additional body in the legislative department having sufficient permanency to provide for such objects as require a continued attention, and a train of measures, may be justly and effectually answerable for the attention of those objects. This party became the Senate.

Conference Committee

Formed when the Senate and the House pass different versions of the same bill (which is common) and iron out the differences to create a compromise bill.

Influences on congress people (What influences their vote?)

Four factors that influence the decisions of Congress members are the President, the party leadership, the constituents, and their colleagues. The President has the power to set the nation's agenda and to appeal directly to the American people to support his/or her position; members know that if they vote against the President's position on an item they will be asked to defend their opposition by both the public and the press and they must consider the possible ramifications of their vote from the Administration. Both the majority and minority leadership of Congress make certain that their Members fully understand the party's positions on particular issues - on major issues, it is common to see a majority of one party voting one way while the majority of the other party takes the opposite position. The members are keenly aware that they have a responsibility to reflect the viewpoint of the majority of their constituents, or the majority constituents in their District or State will find someone else in the next election that will represent them. Members may promise their vote to a colleague, knowing that they may need a favor from that colleague on another matter.

Standing Committee

Handle bills in different policy areas and each house of Congress has one.

Party polarization

Indicated by votes in which a majority of voting Democrats oppose a majority of voting Republicans.

Hamilton

Lee Hamilton wishes that 10 things about Congress were taught more, those ten things are: That Congress is the most important link between the American people and their National Government. Congress does indeed have a major impact on people's everyday lives. Congress was designed to move slowly, not to move quickly and efficiently. The legislative process is dynamic and complex. The country needs more politicians Members of congress behave better than people think. Members of congress do pay attention to their constituents. Citizens play an essential role in making Congress work. Congress needs a lot of improvement.

Select Committee

May be temporary or permanent and usually have a focused responsibility.

Framer's intent in setting up Congress the way they did

Need for Information - division of labor, specialization (committee system). Coordination - give more power and agenda control to party leaders. Conflict Resolution - create stable legislative coalitions (political parties) and enforce conformity.

Pork, earmarks, etc.

Pork: Benefits for districts of Congress Earmarks: Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

Congressional oversight

Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy.

113th Congress Leaders (and the ones that continued into the 114th) in the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader: Harry Reid (NV -D) Democratice Whip: Richard Durbin (IL -D) Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (KY -R) Republican Whip: Cornyn John (R-TX)

Requirements to be members of Congress

Senators: 30 years, citizens for at least 9 years, residents of the state from which they were elected House of Representative: 25 years, citizens for at least 7 years, residents of the state they represent.

113th Congress Leaders (and the ones that continued into the 114th) in the House.

Speaker of the House: John Boehner (2011-Present) Majority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (CA-R) Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi (CA -D) Republican Whip: Steve Scalise (LA -R) Democratic Whip: Steny Hoyer (MD -D)

Woll #63 (Bayh)

The Senate's problems, which Evan Bayh identifies, are a strident partisanship, unyielding ideology, a corrosive system of campaign financing, gerrymandering of House districts, endless filibusters, holds on executive appointees in the Senate, dwindling social interaction between senators of opposing parties and a caucus system that promotes party unity at the expense of bipartisan consensus. Solutions: Changing personal chemistry, more interaction in a non-adversarial atmosphere. Lessen the impact of the Citizens United decision through legislation to enhance disclosure requirements, require corporate donors to appear in the political ads they finance and prohibit contractors or bailout beneficiaries from spending money of political campaigns. Congress should consider incentives, including public matching funds for smaller contributions, to expand democratic participation and increase the influence of small donors relative to corporations and other special interests. Reform a practice increasingly abused by both parties, the filibuster. He proposes that filibusters require 35 senators to sign a public petition and make a commitment to continually debate an issue in reality, not just in theory. Meaning those who obstruct the Senate should pay a price in public notoriety and physical exhaustion - lead to a decline in filibusters. Filibusters should be limited to 1 hour for any piece of legislation. And, the number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster should be reduced to 55 from 60.

Who helps congress people? How?

The types of Congressional staff are personal and committee staff. Personal staffers spend their time on casework and providing services to constituents. The committee staffers organize hearings, research legislative options, draft committee reports on bills, write legislation, and keep tabs on the activities of the executive branch.

Powers of Congress

Write and pass laws. Regulate commerce. Control federal taxation and spending. Coin money. Declare war. Override presidential vetoes. Approve amendments to the Constitution. Oversee the executive branch. Impeach the president.

Differences between House and Senate

http://www.laits.utexas.edu/gov310/CO/keydif/