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Congress
Overriding Questions
Why did the founders create Congress and not Parliament?
How has the role of a Congress-person changed over time?
How does the legislative process impact public policy?
Duties of the Job
1. Legislators who make the laws 2. Committee Members
Screen bills and make recommendations Oversight function of governmental agencies
3. Representatives of their Constituents- Those who elect them
4. Servants of their Constituents 5. Politicians
Much time spent fundraising for future elections
Types of Bills and Resolutions
Bills
Concurrent ResolutionsJointly between the House and SenateNot sent to the President
ResolutionsRule of procedure or amendment to ruleNot sent to the President
RiderAddition to a bill
Congressional Leaders
Majority Leader—the legislative leader of the party holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate
Minority Leader—the legislative leader and spokesperson of the party holding the minority of seats in the House or Senate
Whip—a senator or representative who works with the party leaders to communicate views, solicit support before votes are taken, and keep track of how voting is likely to go
Presiding Officers
Speaker of the House- doesn’t vote Elected from the majority party
President of the Senate-Vice President President Pro Tempore
Elected by the senate from majority party Honorary position based on seniority
Floor Leaders- legislative strategists Whips-
Assist floor leaders – aware of how others will vote
Party Caucus- party meeting Committee Chairman
Seniority Rule-no longer the rule
Incumbents…
Why they win… Name recognition Free mail franking
(publicity) Media exposure service to
constitutients (PORK)
Sophomore surge Gerrymandering
Why they lose… Redistricting Voter Disgust
Yes….more than likely they WIN!
Representatives of the People
Trustees Their ideology
Delegates Their constituent
Partisans Their Political Party
Politicos Combo of the Three
The four voting options:
Centripetal-centralized party, quick efficient action
Centrifugal-Reps vote independent of party, SLOW
Compensation Today, senators and representatives are paid a salary of… $168, 000 a year, Certain members, such as the Speaker of the House and
the Senate’s president pro tem, are paid more. Senate Leadership
Majority Leader - $183,500 Minority Leader - $183,500
House Leadership Speaker of the House - $212,100Majority Leader - $183,500Minority Leader - $183,500
The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage.
How a bill becomes a LAW…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dVo3nbLYC0
Sources-Committees, Congress-people, Executive branch, PACS (interest groups)
Intro-given a number (only 10% make it) Member reads and Speaker refers to com. Sponsor in Senate reads and VP (Pro-tem) refers Senate standing committees 15-20 members and
House standing committee 30-40 members While in COMMITTEE---Research and investigate at
hearings (experts, witnesses, PAC members)
Then what….?
Take action-end there Change and report back (“mark up”)Pigeonhole (force to discharge with 218
votes)
Wait there’s more…
Subcommittees-grew in the 1970’s (House 90, Senate 70)
Rules Committee-rules for debateHouse Floor (re-read with revisions)ChangeVoteDelayOn to Senate
In the Senate-
IntroCommitteeDebateFillibusterCloture (60) senatorsConference CommitteeDa Prez-sign, veto, pocket veto
Congressional Ethics?
1978 Ethics reformAll income must be reportedSurplus funds cannot be used for
personal use
THE TRENDS!
More polarized and ideological than voters
More individualisticMore hospitable to Freshman, heavily
staffed, subcommittee orientedDiversity
Interest Groups
Interest groups are interrelated and also separate organizations
Hyper pluralism…
“Latent causes of factions are thus sown in the nature of men.”
-James Madison, Federalist #10Interest groups have explodedSense of membership (De Tocqueville)
Birth of Interest Groups
1770’s: American Independence1830’s – 1840’s: Religious & Anti-Slavery
Movements1860’s – Trade Unions; Fraternal
Organizations1880’s – 1890’s: Business Associations1900’s – 1920’s: Business & Professional
Associations; Charitable Organizations1960’s: Environmental, Consumer & Political
Reform Organizations
Why Join?
Material Reasons:Incentives, discountsPurposive Reasons:Policy change, ideological beliefs, Public
interest (MADD)
Valuable Functions of Interest Groups
Interest groups raise awareness of public affairs, or issues that concern the people at large.
Interest groups represent people who share attitudes rather than those who share geography.
Interest groups provide specialized information to government agencies and legislators.
Interest groups are vehicles for political participation. Interest groups keep tabs on various public agencies and
officials. Interest groups compete.
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Political parties and interest groups differ in three striking respects: (1) in the making of nominations, (2) in their primary focus, and (3) in the scope of their interests.
The Various Types of Groups:
Business (NAM, C of C) Labor (AFL-CIO, UMW) Agriculture (Amer. Farm Bur. Fed.) Consumer (Consumers Union) Elderly (AARP) Environmental (SC, EDF) show internet resources http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/kfountain/al
pha.html
More on Interest Groups and Parties
Interest Groups v. Parties Interest groups are specialists; the Parties are
generalists Interest groups are tightly organized; the
Parties are loosely organized. Interest groups, unlike Parties, do not wish to
run the government. Interest groups may be extreme; the Parties
must remain moderate.
More Groups...
Professional (AMA, ABA, NEA) Women’s (NOW) Church (National Council of Churches) Ethnic (NAACP, Mexican-American
Legal Defense Fund, Organization of Chinese Americans)
Influencing Parties and Elections
Political Action Committees (PACs) raise and distribute money to candidates who will further their goals.
More on Lobbying…
Lobbying carries beyond the legislature. It is brought into government agencies, the executive branch, and even the courts.
Nearly all important organized interest groups maintain lobbyists in Washington, D.C.
Lobbyists at Work
Lobbyists use several techniques:They send articles, reports, and
other information to officeholders.
They testify before legislative committees.
Other ways they work…
They bring “grass-roots” pressures to bear through email, letters, or phone calls from constituents.
They rate candidates and publicize the ratings.
They make campaign contributions.
They give you gifts!
They have celebrities endorse them!
They make it easy for you to donate money!
History of Interest Groups
Industrial Revolution created unions Civil Rights creates NAACP Gov’t Policy-people for or against Social Movement Public Interest (single interest)-AARP Interest groups became embedded in
American Politics in the early 1950s and 1960s
Can’t outlaw them… 1st Amendment
Regulate/Restrict…1946 to 1996! Lobbying Disclosure Act
“Overlapping Membership”…so...
The best way to “control” them is to join them!!!
Efforts to Control Groups:
Regulating Interest Groups
First Amendment Protection Political speech & Petition of Government
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act: 1946 Required registration and quarterly financial reports
Supreme Court restricted its application to direct contact with Congressmen
‘Grassroot’ activity was not restricted Lobbying Disclosure Act: 1995
Tightened registration and disclosure requirements Broader definition of Lobbyists