THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS June 18th Inside Congress -- The Two Houses Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses? –different basis of representation representation

THE THE UNITED STATES UNITED STATES

CONGRESSCONGRESSJune 18thJune 18th

Inside Congress -- The Two Inside Congress -- The Two HousesHouses

• Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses?– different basis of representationdifferent basis of representation

• representation of constituencies versus representation of constituencies versus representation of statesrepresentation of states

• different weight of states in each housedifferent weight of states in each house



– different electoral time-framedifferent electoral time-frame• House of Representative House of Representative

– constant campaign mode – responsive to current political constant campaign mode – responsive to current political demandsdemands

• SenateSenate– more removed from immediate political pressuremore removed from immediate political pressure

– can take long-term viewcan take long-term view



– different electoral time-framedifferent electoral time-frame

– each plays a different role and represents each plays a different role and represents different interestsdifferent interests


• House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives– unique powersunique powers

• introducing money billsintroducing money bills

• SenateSenate– unique powersunique powers

• ratification of presidential appointmentsratification of presidential appointments• ratification of treatiesratification of treaties

• both play a role in routine law-makingboth play a role in routine law-making

The Dynamics of Congressional The Dynamics of Congressional Law-MakingLaw-Making

• Inside CongressInside Congress– Within Each HouseWithin Each House

– Between the HousesBetween the Houses

• Congress and the PresidentCongress and the President

Inside Congress -- Inside the Inside Congress -- Inside the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

• Factors Effecting Voting in the House Factors Effecting Voting in the House of Representativesof Representatives– party influenceparty influence

– district influencedistrict influence

– ideological influenceideological influence

– special interest influencespecial interest influence

Inside Congress -- Inside the Inside Congress -- Inside the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives• weak party discipline weak party discipline

– individual members are more open to individual members are more open to outside influenceoutside influence• responsiveresponsive• can be controlled by outside interestscan be controlled by outside interests

– importance of log-rollingimportance of log-rolling• broad benefits, compromisebroad benefits, compromise• hard to get things donehard to get things done• sometimes described as briberysometimes described as bribery

Party Unity – House of RepresentativesParty Unity – House of Representatives

HOUSE SUPPORTHOUSE SUPPORT

RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsBoehner, OHBoehner, OH 99%99% Coyne, PACoyne, PA 99%99%

Bonilla, TXBonilla, TX 99%99% Filner, CAFilner, CA 99%99%

Callahan, ALCallahan, AL 99%99% Schakowsky Schakowsky CACA

99%99%

Crane, ILCrane, IL 99%99% Solis, CASolis, CA 99%99%

Oxley, OHOxley, OH 99%99% Brown, OHBrown, OH 98%98%

Party Unity – House of Representatives Party Unity – House of Representatives (Support for Republicans)(Support for Republicans)

Highest (D) and Lowest (R)Highest (D) and Lowest (R)

RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsMorella, MDMorella, MD 61%61% Traficant, OHTraficant, OH 91%91%

Leach, IOLeach, IO 73%73% Hall, TXHall, TX 75%75%

Shays, CTShays, CT 75%75% Lucas, KYLucas, KY 53%53%

Gilman, NYGilman, NY 76%76% Cramer, ALCramer, AL 50%50%

Johnson, CTJohnson, CT 76%76% John, LAJohn, LA 48%48%

Inside Congress -- Inside the Inside Congress -- Inside the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

• committee systemcommittee system– importantimportant

– dominated according to senioritydominated according to seniority

Inside Congress -- Inside the Inside Congress -- Inside the SenateSenate

• the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial PrivilegesPrivileges

• Cloture and the FilibusterCloture and the Filibuster

• the committee systemthe committee system

Party Unity – The SenateParty Unity – The Senate

SENATE SUPPORTSENATE SUPPORT

RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsAllard, COAllard, CO 98%98% Dayton, MNDayton, MN 99%99%

Helms, NCHelms, NC 98%98% Reed, RIReed, RI 99%99%

Kyl, AZKyl, AZ 98%98% Daschle, SDDaschle, SD 98%98%

Lott, MSLott, MS 98%98% Kerry, MAKerry, MA 98%98%

McConnell, McConnell, KYKY

98%98% Levin, MILevin, MI 98%98%

Party Unity – Senate (Support for Party Unity – Senate (Support for Republicans)Republicans)


RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsChafee, RIChafee, RI 50%50% Miller, GAMiller, GA 58%58%

Specter, PASpecter, PA 60%60% Nelson, NBNelson, NB 42%42%

Snowe, MESnowe, ME 64%64% Breaux, LABreaux, LA 41%41%

Collins, MECollins, ME 67%67% Baucus, MTBaucus, MT 33%33%

McCain, AZMcCain, AZ 67%67% Cleland, GACleland, GA 22%22%

Inside Congress -- Between the Inside Congress -- Between the HousesHouses

• A Congress Divided?A Congress Divided?

• Differences between the HousesDifferences between the Houses– electoral time-frameselectoral time-frames

– representational concernsrepresentational concerns

– dynamics of operationdynamics of operation

• balancing different interestsbalancing different interests

Congress and the PresidentCongress and the President

• Formal Powers of CongressFormal Powers of Congress

• United vs. Divided GovernmentUnited vs. Divided Government– frequency and causes of divided governmentfrequency and causes of divided government

– effects of divided governmenteffects of divided government

• The President and His PartyThe President and His Party

• The President and the “Other” PartyThe President and the “Other” Party

Party Unity – House Presidential SupportParty Unity – House Presidential Support


RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsPaul, TXPaul, TX 49%49% Hall, TXHall, TX 86%86%

Morella, MDMorella, MD 53%53% Lucas, KYLucas, KY 81%81%

Leach, IOLeach, IO 60%60% Traficant, OHTraficant, OH 81%81%

Gilman, NYGilman, NY 62%62% John, LAJohn, LA 69%69%

Ramstad, MNRamstad, MN 65%65% Cramer, ALCramer, AL 67%67%

Party Unity – Senate Presidential SupportParty Unity – Senate Presidential Support


RepublicansRepublicans DemocratsDemocratsChafee, RIChafee, RI 84%84% Miller, GAMiller, GA 82%82%

Snowe, MESnowe, ME 84%84% Breaux, LABreaux, LA 77%77%

Specter, PASpecter, PA 13%13% Landrieu, LALandrieu, LA 74%74%

Collins, MECollins, ME 12%12% Nelson, NBNelson, NB 74%74%

McCain, AZMcCain, AZ 91%91% Baucus, MTBaucus, MT 71%71%

Documents

THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS June 18th Inside Congress -- The Two Houses Why Two Houses?Why Two Houses? –different basis of representation representation