American Government: Roots and Reform, 2014 Election Update, 12e O'Connor | Sabato | Yanus Copyright...

American Government: Roots and Reform, 2014 Election Update, 12eO'Connor | Sabato | Yanus

Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011Pearson Education, Inc.

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6Congress

Scott J. Ferrell/ Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images



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Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution.

Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection.

6.1

6.2

Learning Objectives 6



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Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress.

Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress.

6.3

6.4




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Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, the courts, and the people.

6.5

6.6




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Roots of the U.S. Congress

Bicameral legislature House

Representatives based on population Two-year term

Senate Two from each state Six-year term

6.1



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How long are members' terms? 6.1

Steve Jacobs/The Post-Star/AP Images



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TABLE 6.1 What are the powers of Congress?

6.1



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Eligibility and Apportionment Members of the House

Twenty-five years old and a citizen for at least seven years

Senators Thirty years old and a citizen for at least nine years

Census Conducted every ten years

6.1



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Key Powers

Make laws Both House and Senate must pass bills.

Raise and spend revenue

Impeachment

Other powers "as necessary and proper" to carry out the functions of Congress

6.1



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TABLE 6.2 What are the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?

6.1

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TABLE 6.2 What are the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?

6.1



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a. Executive Branch

b. Senate

c. House of Representatives

d. A joint committee of the House and Senate

6.1 According to the Constitution, where must all revenue bills originate?

6.1



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The Members of Congress

Congressional Demographics

Running for and Staying in Office Incumbency Redistricting

6.2



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TABLE 6.3 What is a Typical Day like for a Member of Congress?

6.2



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Congressional Demographics

Better educated than general population Two-thirds of members hold advanced degrees

Wealthier than general population Senate "Millionaires Club"

Recent increases in minority representation

6.2



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Running for and Staying in Office

6.2



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Who are the nonvoting members representing Washington, D.C.?

6.2

The Washington Post/Getty Images



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TABLE 6.4 What are the advantages to incumbency?

6.2



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Redistricting

Follows census State Legislatures redraw districts

Often political in nature Party in power controls the process

Gerrymandering Drawing a district to favor a party or candidate

6.2



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FIGURE 6.1 What is Gerrymandering?

6.2

Bettmann/Corbis



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a. Congress

b. State legislatures

c. Political parties

d. Independent commissions

6.2 Responsibility for redistricting most often belongs to:

6.2



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How Congress Is Organized

Leadership in the House of Representatives Leadership in the Senate The Committee System

6.3



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FIGURE 6.2 How are the House of Representatives and the Senate Organized?

6.3



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Leadership in the House of Representatives

Speaker of the House Most powerful position in the House

Leadership Teams Majority Leader Minority Leader Whips

6.3



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FIGURE 6.3 What is the partisan composition of the 114th Congress?

6.3



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Who was the first female speaker of the House?

6.3

The White House



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Leadership in the Senate

Presiding Officer Majority Leader Leadership Teams

6.3



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The Committee System

Types of committees Standing committees Joint committees Conference committees Select (or special) committees

Committee chairs Committee membership

6.3



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TABLE 6.5 What were the committees of the 113th Congress?

6.3



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a. Standing committees

b. Joint committees

c. Special committees

d. Conference committees

6.3 Which committees are responsible for hammering out differences in House and Senate bills?

6.3



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Powers of Congress

The Law-making Function The Budgetary Function The Oversight Function

6.4



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The Law-making Function

Committee Referral Floor Debate Final Approval

6.4



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FIGURE 6.4 How does a bill become a law?

6.4



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What is the president's role in lawmaking?

6.4

J. Scott Applewhite/AP Images



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The Budgetary Function

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 Establishes levels of spending Reconciliation process to limit debates

Pork and Programmatic Requests

6.4



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TABLE 6.6 What is the timeline for the congressional budgetary process?

6.4



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The Oversight Function

The War Powers Resolution Congressional Review Confirmation of Presidential Appointees Impeachment

6.4



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War Powers Resolution

Passed over President Nixon's veto Requires Congressional approval to

commit troops Limits power of president as commander

in chief

6.4



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Congressional Review Confirmation of Presidential Appointees

Congressional review allows Congress to overrule regulations for federal agencies.

Senate confirms Supreme Court, federal district court, and Cabinet nominations.

6.4



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Impeachment

Power to remove official from office House votes to impeach Senate conducts trial

6.4



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How Members of Congress Make Decisions

Political Parties Constituents Colleagues and Caucuses Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and Political

Action Committees Staff and Support Agencies

6.5



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Political Parties

Influence of political parties on the passage of legislation

Divided government Different political parties control presidency and Congress

Unified government Same political party controls presidency and Congress

6.5



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Colleagues and Caucuses

Logrolling Supporting another member's legislation in exchange

for future support

Special Interest Caucuses Informal groups based on shared interest

6.5



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Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees Research and Data

Provide information to justify members' positions on legislation

Persuade constituents to contact or pressure members

Fundraising PACS

6.5



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Discussion Question

Describe the differences between the two branches of Congress.

What purposes do the different structures of these two chambers fulfill?

6

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