Congress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8g1Z5UqP8&list=PL0B48D6833A0FC48A

Goals for today: Re-cap congressional elections &

explain forms of gerrymandering Describe organization of Congress

and impact of that organization Describe leadership positions Discuss role of political parties in

Congress Explain the role of committees Relate Fiscal Cliff to above

Factors Affecting Congressional Elections:

• Redistricting– Types– “Rules”– Supreme Court

• Incumbency Advantage• Factors that diminish impact of incumbency

Know Your Leaders

Organization of Congress

• Bicameral—different characteristics of each body

• Leadership• Role of Party• Role of Committees• Impact of organization

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

Republicans:• Speaker• Majority Leader• Chairman of

Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on

Committees• National Republican

Congressional Committee

• Research Committee

Speaker of the House(John Boehner R-Ohio)

Majority LeaderEric Cantor (R-VA)

Minority Whip

Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

HOUSE LEADERSHIP

Democrats:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of the

Caucus• Steering & Policy

Committee• Democratic

Congressional Campaign Committee

Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Minority WhipSteny Hoyer (D-MD)

Assistant Democratic Leader

James Clyburn (D-SC)

SENATE LEADERSHIP

President of the Senate (Vice President)

President Pro Tempore (majority party)

Democrats:• Majority Leader• Majority Whip• Chairman of Conference• Policy Committee• Steering Committee• Democratic Senatorial

Campaign CommitteeMajority Leader

Henry Reid (D-NV)

President Pro TempPatrick Leahy (D-CTI)

Majority WhipDick Durbin (D-IL)

President of the SenateJoe Biden (VP)

SENATE LEADERSHIP

Republicans:• Minority Leader• Minority Whip• Chairman of

Conference• Policy Committee• Committee on

Committees• Republican Senatorial

Committee

Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R-KY)

Minority WhipJon Kyl (R-AZ)

Role of Party

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/new-faces-in-congress/113th-congress/

Legislative Committees:

• Type of Committees• Roles of Committees• Why is committee

assignment important• http://www.thedailyshow.co

m/watch/tue-december-4-2012/girls-on-the-side

House Standing CommitteesAgricultureAppropriationsArmed ServicesBudgetEducation & WorkforceEnergy & CommerceEthicsFinancial ServicesHomeland SecurityHouse Admin.International Relations

JudiciaryNatural ResourcesOversight and ReformRulesScience, Space, TechSmall BusinessTransportation &

InfrastructureVeterans AffairsWays & Means

Senate Standing CommitteesAgriculture, Nutrition, &

ForestryAppropriationsArmed ServicesBanking, Housing, & Urban

AffairsBudgetCommerce, Science,

TransportationEnergy & Natural ResourcesEnvironment and Public

Works

FinanceForeign RelationsGovernmental AffairsHealth, Education, Labor

& PensionsHomeland SecurityJudiciaryRules and AdministrationSmall Business and

EntrepreneurshipVeterans Affairs

Joint, Select, Conference Committees,

• Joint Committees: Joint Economic, Joint Taxation,

• House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming

• Senate Select Committee on Ethics

• House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence

• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Gen. Michael Hayden is sworn in during a full committee hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Three Functions of Congress

•Representation•Lawmaking•Oversight

The Legislative Obstacle Course

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

The Hopper

"Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.”

- Woodrow Wilson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFRP67sX8o&feature=related

Fact: About 10,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law.

1. Explain why so few bills become law.

2. 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?

Source: http://acswebcontent.acs.org/olga/legissummbilltolaw.pdf

http://www.cspan.org/Events/Congress-Wraps-Up-Debate-on-Health-Care-Repeal/10737418994-3/

How a bill really becomes a law:

• http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/111/hr3590/amendments

• Riders, “Christmas tree” bill, omnibus legislation• Role of leadership—how can push legislation through• ‘log-rolling’• Use of filibuster• President’s role• Role of ‘pork barrel’• http://www.mikewirthart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05

/howlawsmadeWIRTH2.jpg

Types of Legislation

• Public v. Private• Authorization • Appropriations• Sunset Law

Oversight

• http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/06/18/costello.obsession.hearings.cnn?iref=videosearch

• http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-29-2008/the-global-war-in-your-pants

• http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-14-2008/best-damn-sports-hearing

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-2-2010/gaypocalypse-now

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