XI - Congress Flashcards by Gary Zheng

Congress

Legislative branch composed of 535 members responsible for policy making

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Senate

Upper chamber
Designed to represent states equally
Direct popular election
100 members serving 6 year terms

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House of Representatives

Lower chamber
Representation based on population
Direct popular election
435 members serving 2 year terms

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Senate requiremnts

Age 30+
Citizen for 9 years
Must live in the state you decide to represent

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House of Rep requirements

Age 25+
Citizen for 7 years
Must live in the state you decide to represent

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Representation in Congress

Both women & minorities are underrepresented

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Congressional elections tend to be won by

incumbents

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incumbents

Holder of an office or position

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Stats on incumbents

House -> 90% won by incumbents

Elections for Senate tend to be more competitive

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Why is it unusual for incumbents to lose election even though voters disapprove of Congress?

Advertising/ visibility 
Credit claiming
Position taking
Weak opponents
Campaign spending

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Advertising/ visibility of Congress

Members able to freely mail to constituents of a district/ state

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Credit Claiming

Casework

Pork barrel projects

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Casework

Service to individual constituents

Food stamps, paperwork

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Pork barrel projects

Federal money for projects within district or state

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Position taking

Taking a strong position on an issue knowing how most of the constituents feel

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Weak opponents

No funding
No recognition
No experience

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Congressional districts

Typically controlled by one political party

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State legislatures redraw districts

every 10 years based on population census

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District demographics are often redrawn to

ensure safe Congressional seats for party in control

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Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to help ensure a political advantage for one party over another

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Modern Gerrymanders districts

Florida 14th
Illinois 4th
Maryland 2nd
Pennsylvania 7th
Texas 35th

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How to defeat incumbents?

Bad economy, political/personal scandal
Changes in midterms from shifting public mood
Redistricting
Open seat

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Changes in midterms from shifting public mood

The party that holds the presidency tends to lose seats in Congress

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Redistricting

Every 10 years Congressional districts are redrawn to deal with population changes reflected in census

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Open seat

Incumbent is not running for re-elections often due to retirement

Pro incumbents winning re-elections

Experience | Expertise

Con incumbents winning re-election

Career politicians in safe seats

Framer set up a

bicameral legislature

What compromise led to the bicameral Congress?

Connecticut Compromise

In order for a bill to become law, it has to

pass both houses

Enumerated & implied powers of Congress

``` Passing federal budget Raising revenue Coining money Declaring war Passing laws that deal with wide variety of issues ```

Reserved power for House in Representatives

Revenue bills start here | Power to impeach

Rules Committee

schedules when a bill will be voted & amount of debate time allowed

Reserved powers to Senate

Confirmation of many president nomination Ratification of treaties Impeachment trials

filibuster

When an opponent of a bill takes the floor in a debate and keeps talking in order to delay or prevent a vote

Cloture

If 60 Senators vote to halt the debate a filibuster can be ended and a vote will be held

Leadership in Senate

VP-> President President Pro Tempore Majority & Minority leader Majority & Minority whips

Leadership in House of Representatives

Speaker of the House Majority & Minority leader Majority & Minority whips

Congressional leadership positions are chosen by

Political parties

What impact the policy making process?

Chamber rules

Majority leader

Convince own party to vote according to party lines

Whips

communicating between parties to ensure stability

Minority leader

Leader of the party with lesser seats

Committee chairs

Those who head a committee

Speaker of the House

Chosen by majority party Powerful position Main leadership role Appoint Committee chairs

Vice President

Serves as head of Senate | Only votes when there is a tie

Committees

Determine congressional agenda Help create legislation Conduct hearings Debate bills

Standing committees

Deal with bills in different legislative areas

Committees examples

House - Agriculture, Rules, Armed Services, Ethics | Senate - Appropriations, Budget, Veterans' Affairs, Finance

Joint committees

Members from both House & Senate serve

Conference committees

Created to reconcile competing versions of same bill passed by House & Senate

Select committees

Created to deal with specific policy issue

Discharge petitions in House

Way to force a bull out of committee to the house floor for a vote

Why is getting on committee important to Congressional leaders?

Create policy for constituents/ areas they are passionate about Gain influence in Congress Help with reelection

Committee chairs

Influence committees' agenda, schedule, hearing, etc. | Gate keeping role

Seniority system

Largely influential when selecting committee assignments & leadership positions

Informal organization of Congress

is through caucuses

Congressional caucuses

Basically congressional interest groups consisting of members of similar ideology, demographics, geography or interests

Caucuses examples

Congressional Black Caucus | House Freedom Caucus

Caucuses can influence policies by

Working toward advancing policies they support/ towards opposing laws they think are bad

Who support the work of Congress?

Large networks of Congressional staff & interns

Congressional staff & intern responsibilities

Work with constituents, draft legislation, meet with lobbyists, summarize bills, prep legislators for committees, etc.

Who can introduce a bill?

Only a member of Congress

How can the President try to persuade Congress to take up a specific legislative agenda?

Propose bill | Lobby Congressional leaders

How can Congress choose to remain indepedent?

Refusal to confirm appointments of "lame duck" presidents of opposing party

Who holds legislators accountable?

Congressional leaders constituents at ballot box

Polarization of politics

Many votes are split firmly along party lines

Different views of role of representatives

Trustee model Instructed delegates Polico model

Trustee model

Legislators should use their best judgment as to what is in the best interest for the people

Instructed delegate model

Legislatures should match policy choices of their constituents

Politico model

Hybrid of Trustee & Instructed delegates

Lobbyists & interest groups seek to

Influence Congressional leaders

Why is the US a representative democracy?

Large size | Direct democracy is impractical

How is Congress unrepresentative?

Largely elites | Racial, gender, socio-economic groups underrepresented

Members of Congress may

Look out for needs of their constituents vs those of national interest

Logrolling affect

If you help vote for a bill I support, I will vote for a vote you support.

XI - Congress Flashcards

(76 cards)