One-Person, One-Vote RuleOne-Person, One-Vote Rule• Means that a vote in one Means that a vote in one

district carries the same district carries the same weight as a vote in any other weight as a vote in any other voting districtvoting district

ApproximatelApproximately how many y how many people are people are there in a there in a voting voting district?district?650,000650,000

What is gerrymandering?What is gerrymandering?

•When the majority party When the majority party redraws voting districts to redraws voting districts to their advantagetheir advantage– Impacts leadership in both Impacts leadership in both the House & Senatethe House & Senate

How Congress WorksHow Congress Works

A Bill v. A Law

BillBill - - a proposed a proposed new law new law introduced introduced within a within a legislature that legislature that has not yet been has not yet been passed, enacted passed, enacted or adoptedor adopted

Types of BillsTypes of Bills• public billpublic bill – a proposed legislative bill – a proposed legislative bill

that deals with matters of general that deals with matters of general concern and applicationconcern and application

• private billprivate bill – – a proposed legislative bill a proposed legislative bill that deals with specific private, that deals with specific private, personal, or local matters rather than personal, or local matters rather than general affairsgeneral affairs

• appropriation billappropriation bill – – a legislative motion a legislative motion authorizing the government to spend authorizing the government to spend moneymoney– Must start in the HouseMust start in the House

A Bill v. A Law

LawLaw - - a bill or a bill or act passed act passed by a by a legislative legislative bodybody

Mr. Smith Goes to Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonWashington

And introduces a billAnd introduces a bill

LegislatorLegislator

Committee Committee MemberMember

PoliticianPolitician

Makes lawsMakes laws

Screens billsScreens billsProvides oversightProvides oversight

RepresentativeRepresentative

Provide services Provide services to & help to & help constituents constituents with problems with problems

PartisanPartisanParty loyalty – Party loyalty – support party support party agendaagenda

Get re-electedGet re-electedMake dealsMake deals

How should I vote? My constituent

s first or my

country???

Floor Floor vote on vote on the the Energy Energy Bill!Bill!

A Congressman’s Balancing ActA Congressman’s Balancing Act

Who do Congressmen Who do Congressmen Represent?Represent?

DelegateDelegate• Duty to Duty to

represent “the represent “the folks back folks back home” and vote home” and vote based on the based on the will of their will of their constituents constituents

TrusteeTrustee• Duty to vote Duty to vote

according to their according to their own conscience own conscience and view of what and view of what is best for the is best for the district, state or district, state or nation as a whole nation as a whole

SummarySummaryWhen members of Congress vote on When members of Congress vote on a bill, should they be a bill, should they be delegatesdelegates first: (vote based on what her/his first: (vote based on what her/his constituents want) OR a constituents want) OR a trusteetrustee first first (vote based on their conscience and (vote based on their conscience and do what they think is right for the do what they think is right for the country as a whole)? country as a whole)?

– Explain your response.Explain your response.

Navigating the Legislative Navigating the Legislative Obstacle CourseObstacle Course

Step 1: An Idea for a Bill Step 1: An Idea for a Bill

Sources:Sources:

Step 2: Writing & Introduction of BillStep 2: Writing & Introduction of Bill

Senate:Senate:• Bill formally Bill formally

read aloud on read aloud on floorfloor

• Bill then given Bill then given to clerk to clerk

• Referred to Referred to committee by committee by Steering Steering CommitteeCommittee

House:House:• Bill dropped in hopperBill dropped in hopper• Referred to committee Referred to committee

by the Speakerby the Speaker

Sen. Smith introduces bill on the Sen. Smith introduces bill on the Senate floorSenate floor

~ ~ Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonMr. Smith Goes to Washington

Step 3: Committee ActionStep 3: Committee Action• House & Senate committees House & Senate committees

conduct public hearingsconduct public hearings• Experts testify Experts testify • Markup of billsMarkup of bills• Committee vote: Committee vote:

report favorably, report favorably, unfavorably, unfavorably, or table bill or table bill

House Armed Services House Armed Services CommitteeCommittee

Step 4: Floor Action - SenateStep 4: Floor Action - Senate• Party leaders Party leaders

schedule bills for schedule bills for floor debate on the floor debate on the calendarcalendar

• Unlimited debateUnlimited debate• FilibusterFilibuster - member(s) - member(s)

keep talking to block keep talking to block debate on a billdebate on a bill

•ClotureCloture vote by 3/5 of vote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end Senators (60) can end filibusterfilibuster

• Floor vote: Roll Call, Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Standing, Voice

Senator Strum Thurman still holds Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest filibuster the record for the longest filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights ActRights Act

Step 4: Floor Action - HouseStep 4: Floor Action - House

•Rules CommitteeRules Committee schedules bills schedules bills on calendar & decides whether on calendar & decides whether amendments may be addedamendments may be added

• Limited debateLimited debate• Floor vote: Floor vote:

Recorded, Recorded, Standing, Standing, VoiceVoice

Step 5: Approved Bill Step 5: Approved Bill Crosses Over to Other HouseCrosses Over to Other House

• Approved bill Approved bill must pass must pass each chamber each chamber by a simple by a simple majoritymajority

Step 6: Conference CommitteeStep 6: Conference Committee

• Members from each chamber Members from each chamber meet to reconcile differences meet to reconcile differences in the two billsin the two bills

Senate-House Conference Committee Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the 2003 Healthy works out details of the 2003 Healthy

Forest Restoration ActForest Restoration Act

Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Final Version of the BillFinal Version of the Bill

Step 8: President Considers BillStep 8: President Considers Bill

President can:President can:1.1. sign the bill sign the bill

into law into law

2.2. veto bill veto bill

3.3. pocket vetopocket veto

Note: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote Note: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote in each house; only 4% of vetoes have in each house; only 4% of vetoes have

been overriddenbeen overridden

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law.150 are signed into law.

1.1. Explain why so few bills become law.Explain why so few bills become law.

2.2. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

3. Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not?

Title: Imagine there’s no Congress Artist: Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-GazetteDate: 6/06/07 Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/

Title: Breaking the Filibuster is not EnoughSource: http://www.republicanvoices.org/may_2005_newsletter.html

Artist: RJ MatsonDate: 6/14/07Source: http://themoderatevoice.com/category/politics/political-cartoons/

Source: http://bigpicture.typepad.com/ Date: 5/6/06