Chapter 11: Congress. Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall Reapportionment, 2000 Texas had 28 as per 1990...

Chapter 11: Congress

Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Reapportionment, 2000

Texas had 28 as per 1990 Census


A Divided Branch

The architecture and floor plan of the Capitol building in Washington reflect the bicameral

division of Congress


Who Elects the Congress

The allocation of legislative seats to

jurisdictions based on population. Seats in the

U.S. House of Representatives are

apportioned to the states on the basis of their

population after every ten-year census.

Unequal numbers of people in legislative districts resulting in inequality of voter

representation.

Apportionment Malapportionment

The Original Gerrymander

Gerrymandering This term dates back

to the early 1800s when Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry won passage of a redistricting plan that created a salamander shaped district drawn to help his party win another seat.



Gerrymandering

Packing Lumping oppositionvoters in one area

Cracking Splitting up groups of voters so they do not

constitute a majority in any district


The Texas Redistricting Battle

House Majority Leader Tom Delay worked with Republican state legislative leaders to increase the number of Republican congressional districts in Texas..

Supreme Court ruled that the plan was, for the most part, constitutional, however….district 28 was redistricted due to dilution of latino vote.

Redistricting\planC01374_MAP4291629801011.png Congress Fall 2009 Chp. 11\LEAGUE OF UNITED

LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS et.doc Redistricting\red100.pdf

How many women Members are there in the U.S. Congress today?

In the House there are 75 female Representatives. The Senate has 17 females. These are the highest numbers of women Members in the history of the Congress.

Of the 17 female Senators, 13 are Democrats and 4 are Republicans. Of the 75 female Representatives, 58 are Democrats and 17 are Republicans.

Two of the women House members are sisters: Loretta Sanchez and Linda Sanchez, both Democrats from California.

What is the salary for Senators and Representatives?

House Members and all Senators .......... $169,300

House and Senate Majority & Minority Leaders ......... $188,100

Speaker of the House ............................................ $217,400

House of RepresentativesLeadership

Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi

Majority Leader: Steny Hoyer

Majority Whip: James Clyburn

Minority Leader: John Boehner

Minority Whip: Eric Cantor

Ohio

Virginia

Maryland

South Carolina

California

Democrats

Republicans

Senate

President of Senate: (Vice President/Joe Biden)

President Pro Tempore: Robert Byrd

Majority Leader: Harry Reid

Minority Leader: Mitch McConnel

Assistant Minority Leader: Jon Kyle

Delaware

Virginia

Nevada

Kentucky

Arizona

Who are the oldest Members of Congress and who are the youngest and what is the average age?

Members have gotten older! The average age of a House Member is now 56 years and for a Senator, 61.7 years.

Seven states have only one Representative, due to their low population. These Members represent their entire state and are formally known as "at-large" Members:

(1) Alaska(2) Delaware(3) Montana(4) North Dakota(5) South Dakota(6) Vermont(7) Wyoming

Which state has the most Representatives in Congress? Which has the least?

The number of representatives each state has is based on population of the state overall, with a total ceiling of 435 Members allowed in the House. That formula means that today, each Member of the House represents about 650,000 people.

Here are the top ten states: (1) California (53 Members)

(2) Texas (32)(3) New York (29)(4) Florida (25)(5) Pennsylvania (19)(6) Illinois (19)(7) Ohio (18)(8) Michigan (15)(9) New Jersey (13)(9) North Carolina (13) (9) Georgia (13) (10) Massachusetts (10)

In the current Congress, the 111th, there are:

African-American Members: 39 in House; 1 in Senate.

Hispanic-American Members: 24 in House; 3 in Senate

Asian-American Members: 6 in House; 1 in Senate

Native American Members: 2 in House; 0 in Senate

From Table 12.3

How Congress is Organized to Make Policy

The House 435 members, 2

year terms of office. Initiates all revenue

bills, more influential on budget.

House Rules Committee

Limited debates.

The Senate 100 members, 6

year terms of office.

Gives “advice & consent”, more influential on foreign affairs.

Unlimited debates. (filibuster)

American Bicameralism–Bicameral: Legislature divided into two houses.

Chapter 11: Congress The People’s BranchI. Congressional Elections A. House of Representatives (because

they are up for reelection every 2 years, are more sensitive to the needs of their constituents)

B. Senate (predictable/older/stable) House of Rep. (less

predictable/younger)

C. Drawing district lines 1. House (states with more

people get to have more districts, thus more power in

the House) 2. Reapportionment (every 10

years U.S. Constitution requires a population count/Census.

3. Since 1910 (House at 435)

4. States determine redistricting.

5. Advantages of Incumbency 6. 2008 Congressional Elections:

Democrats won five senate seats and nineteen house seats giving them a majority in both chambers.

7. Earmarks/Pork: “pet projects” Reps/Senators will slip into a bill an earmark for their district or state…perhaps as a favor to a contributor.

II. The Structure and Powers of Congress (In U.S. Constitution/ Article One)

A. A Divided Branch (bicameralism- a two house legislature.

Each chanber meets in its own wing of the Capitol

B. Powers of Congress 1. Enumerated Powers (listed in U.S.

Constitution)

Congressional Elections

The Advantages of Incumbents Advertising:

The goal is to be visible to your voters. Frequent trips home & newsletters are used.

Credit Claiming: Service to individuals in their district. Casework: specifically helping constituents get

what they think they have a right to. Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made

available in a congressional district or state.


The Committees and Subcommittees The Committees at Work: Legislation and

Oversight Committees work on the 11,000 bills every

session. Some hold hearings and “mark up” meetings. Oversight involves hearings and other methods

of checking the actions of the executive branch.

As the size of government grows, oversight grows too.


The Committees and Subcommittees Four types of committees:

Standing committees: subject matter committees handle different policy areas.

Joint committees: few policy areas- made up of House & Senate members.

Conference committees: resolve differences in House and Senate bills.

Select committees: created for a specific purpose.

How Congress is Organized to Make How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyPolicy

The House– Lead by Speaker of the

House - elected by House members.

– Presides over House.– Major role in committee

assignments and legislation.

– Assisted by majority leader and whips.

The Senate– Formerly lead by Vice

President.– Really lead by Majority

Leader- chosen by party members.

– Assisted by whips.– Must work with Minority

leader.

Congressional Leadership


The Committees and Subcommittees Getting on a Committee

Members want committee assignments that will help them get reelected, gain influence, and make policy.

New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders.

Support of the party is important in getting on the right committee.

Parties try to grant committee preferences.


The Committees and Subcommittees Getting Ahead on the Committee: Chairs

and the Seniority System. The chair is the most important position for

controlling legislation. Chairs were once chosen strictly by the

seniority system. Now seniority is a general rule, and

members may choose the chair of their committee.

Chapter 11: Congress

Continuation of Notes


Leading the House of Representatives


Leading the Senate

III. Congressional LeadershipA. House of Rep. (Leadership)B. Senate (Leadership) 1. Real Leader 2. Fillibuster 3. Senate: power to confirm presidential appointments

(Cabinet/justices/federal judges)C. Congressional Committees: the most powerful

committee in both the House and the Senate: House Rules Committee (this committee decides on what goes to the floor for debate/sets limits as to who goes to the floor to debate/persuade)

1. Types of Committees a. Standing Committees (pg. 325) b. Appropriation Committees

(decide how much money government will spend

on certain programs) c. Budget Committees (they decide

where/how to raise $ for the Appropriations Committee

2. Most Prestigious Committees

House of Rep. Senate

Appropriations Appropriations

Rules Armed Services

Ways and Means Finance

Commerce Foreign Relations

3. Committee Leaders

From party in control (the party that holds the majority)

Based on seniority (who has been there the longest) However, the trend is changing and you no longer have to necessarily be a senior to be a leader of a committee.

IV. The Job of the LegislatorA. Legislators as RepresentativesB. Making legislative choices (on the average,

8,000 bills are introduced each session) 1. Controversial Issues (on the

fence or do I make popular/unpopular choice)

2. Colleagues: Discuss/listen/argue/persuade

Logrolling: When a rep. votes like his “friend” only because his “friend” is

going to vote for his bill. (I scratch your back and you scratch mine)

2. Congressional Staff (in D.C. and at home)

3. Constituents (those that he/she represent)

4. Party lines5. Interest Groups

C. Legislative Ethics (Ethics Committees in House and Senate)

V. The Legislative Obstacle Course

There are 23 ways a bill can die How does a bill become a law

An idea for a bill may come from anybody, however only Members of Congress can introduce a bill in Congress. Bills can be introduced at any time the House is in session.

There are four basic types of legislation: bills; joint resolutions; concurrent resolutions; and simple resolutions.

A bill's type must be determined. A private bill affects a specific person or organization rather than the population at large. A public bill is one that affects the general public.

After the idea for a bill is developed and the text of the bill is written, a Member of Congress must officially introduce the bill in Congress by becoming the bill's sponsor.

Representatives usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents.

Representatives who sponsor bills will try to gain support for them, in hopes that they will become laws.

Two or more sponsors for the same bill are called co-sponsors.

Bills can be introduced whenever the House is in session.

In the House, bills are officially introduced by placing them in a special box known as the hopper, which is located at the rostrum, or Speaker's platform. In the Senate, a bill is introduced by placing it on the presiding officer's desk or by formally introducing it on the Senate Floor.

In the House, a bill clerk assigns the bill a number. House bills begin with "H.R." Resolutions begin with "H. Res.," "H. Con. Res.," or "H. J. Res," depending what type they are. Senate bills begin with "S."

The first reading of a bill means the bill's title is read on the House Floor. The bill is then referred to a committee for markup.

The Library of Congress then receives an electronic copy of the bill and posts the bill and its status on THOMAS, a public website.

The bill is referred to the appropriate committee. The 19 House standing committees and 16 Senate committees each have jurisdiction over different areas of public policy, such as agriculture, education and the workforce, and international relations.

The bill is placed on the committee's calendar. The committee debates on and marks up the proposed bill,

and may or may not make changes to it. Committee members vote to accept or reject the changes

made during the markup session. If a bill includes many amendments, the committee may

decide to introduce a "clean bill" with a new number. The committee votes on the bill after it has been debated

and/or amended. A committee may stop action, or "table" a bill it deems

unwise or unnecessary.

The bill is referred to a subcommittee, and placed on its calendar.

The bill is carefully studied. The subcommittee may hold hearings to obtain the views of experts, supporters, and opponents.

The bill is tabled when the subcommittee deems it unwise or unnecessary.

If changes are needed, the subcommittee will meet to mark up the bill.

Subcommittee members vote to accept or reject the changes. If the subcommittee accepts the bill, the bill is sent back to the

full committee for approval or rejection. THOMAS, from the Library of Congress website, receives

updates on the status of the bill from the subcommittee and posts the most recent major action on the bill.

The bill is released from the committee, along with a report explaining the provisions of the bill, and is thus ordered reported.

The reported bill is put on one of five House calendars, the Union Calendar and the House Calendar being the most commonly used.

The bill is sent to the House Floor for consideration.

THOMAS, a Library of Congress website, receives updates on the status of the bill from the committee and posts the most recent major action.

The bill is read by title only and put to a vote.

Members in attendance will vote to pass or not to pass the bill.

Members most often vote electronically in the House Chamber using the Electronic Voting System. Members of the Senate cast their votes by non-electronic means.

Roll Call votes cast by the U.S. House of Representatives are recorded in the House Journal, the Congressional Record, and posted on the website of the Clerk of the House.

Members may vote "Yea" for approval, "Nay" for disapproval, or "Present" to record that they were in attendance but chose not to vote.

If a majority of the House votes to pass the bill, the bill is then referred to the Senate to undergo a similar process of approval.

If the President decides a bill is unwise or unnecessary, the President does not sign the bill, but issues an official statement of objections to the bill called a veto.

The President can veto a bill indirectly by withholding approval of the bill until Congress has adjourned sine die. This informal way of preventing a bill from becoming a law is called a pocket veto.

When the President issues a veto, the bill returns to its House of origin.

Objections to the veto are read and debated on the House Floor.

If there are enough objections in the House to the presidential veto, a vote is taken to override, or overrule, the veto.

Total vetoes in U.S. History (2,560) Total overridden (109)

A two-thirds vote or greater is needed in both the House and the Senate to override the President's veto. If two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote successfully to override the veto, the bill becomes a law.

If the House and Senate do not override the veto, the bill "dies" and does not become a law.

Chapter 11: Congress. Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall Reapportionment, 2000 Texas had 28 as per 1990...

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