CONGRESS. Overview of Congress I. Terms and Sessions a) Terms last 2 years b) Begins January 3 of...
-
Upload
franklin-melton -
Category
Documents
-
view
223 -
download
0
Transcript of CONGRESS. Overview of Congress I. Terms and Sessions a) Terms last 2 years b) Begins January 3 of...
Overview of CongressI. Terms and Sessions
a) Terms last 2 years
b) Begins January 3 of every odd-numbered year
c) Numbered Consecutively (11-13= 112th)
d) Adjournment = end of term (both houses must agree)
e) Two sessions per term/ periodic recesses
Overview of Congress
II. Bicameralism = Two houses
A. House of Reps = closer to people• Elected by the people• Smaller districts (Michael C. Burgess)• 2 year term • Entire body elected every 2 years• Revenue bills must originate in the house
Overview of CongressII. Bicameralism = Two housesB. Senate designed to be removed from the
people• Originally elected by state legislatures• Elected on an at large basis• 6 year terms• 1/3 up for election every 2 years = more
continuity and stability
Overview of Congress
III. House of Representatives
A. Size• Determined by congress (435 since 1911)• Elected by districts• Population of state determines # of Reps
(increase in Sun Belts decrease in Frost Belt)
Overview of Congress
III. House of Representatives
B. Fixed terms• Two years/ entire body up for re-election• Term limits ruled unconstitutional in US Term
Limits v. Thornton (added a qualification)
C. Qualifications• 25 years old, citizen for 7 years, residency in
state
Overview of Congress
IV. Senate
A. Size: 100 members
B. Term: 6 years
C. Qualifications: 30 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of state
Overview of CongressV. Compensation
A. Members set own salary (27th amendment = raise takes effect next term)
B. Perks: travel allowance, staff, office space, franking privilege, insurance
C. Legislative immunity
D. Cannot be arrested or detained while going to or from a session of Congress
Evolution of CongressI. Founders Intentions
A. Feared excessive power in single institution
B. Fear of Mob rule
C. Concern about manner of representation
D. Belief that Congress would be dominant branch of government
Evolution of Congress
CENTRALIZATION
1. Strong central leadership
2. Restrictions on debate
3. Few opportunities to stall
4. Minimal committee interference
5. Streamlined legislative process
6. Minimal public scrutiny
DECENTRALIZATION1. Weak leadership2. Few restrictions on
debate3. Stalling tactics4. Powerful committees5. Complicated legislative
process6. Close public scrutiny
II. Conflict over Distribution of Power
Evolution of CongressII. Conflict over Distribution of
PowerA. 1889-1910 Strong
Centralization in the House1. Speaker Thomas Reed had
strong powers including:- making committee
assignments- Appointing committee chairs- Chairing the Rules
committee
2. Joseph “Uncle Joe” Cannon continued Reed’s centralization
Evolution of CongressII. Conflict over Distribution of Power
B. Decentralization in the House1. 1910 Revolt against Joe:
- Speaker could no longer make committee assignments- Speaker could no longer appoint chairs- Speaker lost position on Rules Committee
2. Move towards decentralization- Individuals voted without fear of Speaker- Rules committee gained more power- Committee Chairmen gained power
Evolution of CongressII. Conflict over Distribution of Power
B. Decentralization in the House3. Decentralization in the 1970s (Class of 74)
- Individual members gained more power
- More subcommittees
- Power of subcommittee chairs rose (committee chair power declined)
- More staff members
- Reduction in the seniority system
Evolution of CongressII. Conflict over Distribution of Power
C. Developments in the Senate1. More naturally decentralized
- Fewer members- no Speaker- lack a strong Rules Committee
2. Democratization of the Senate with passage of 17th amendment (1913)
3. Concern over length of floor debates- Use of filibuster- Cloture vote (3/5 of senators can move to end debate)
Incumbency Reelection rate in House 90% Reelection rate in Senate 80% Relatively few seats are seriously
contested “Permanent Congress” But… retirements open up a lot of seats
each year
Incumbency
Specific Advantages Franking privilege Staffers Patronage Name recognition Money, esp. from PACs
IncumbencySpecial Advantage: Gerrymandering
1. Reapportionment: Redistribution of 435 seats in the House on the basis of changes in the state populations.
a. Reps per state determined by pop.b. Census conducted every 10 yrs.c. Census shows populations changes
and seats are allotted based upon new numbers
Incumbency
Special Advantage: Gerrymandering
2. Redistricting: When seats change, district boundaries must change.
a. Party controlling state legislature redraws district boundaries.
b. Gerrymandering = redrawing boundaries to favor party in
power
IncumbencySpecial Advantage: Gerrymandering
Origins of term:19th century Governor Elbridge Gerry redrew lines himself with some having such strange shapes, they looked like salamanders.
Party in Power keeps power by: “Packing”- concentrate opposition population in few
districts “Cracking”- Disperse opp. Party throughout state to
dilute their impact
IncumbencySpecial Advantage: GerrymanderingEffects of Gerrymandering1. Party in power, STAYS in power2. Safe seats are created3. Odd-shaped districts4. “Majority-Minority” districts created by
racial gerrymandering
IncumbencyRedistricting Requirements:1. Districts must be as near equal in population as possible
a. Baker v. Carr, 1962 “one man, one vote” principle applied to state leg districts to correct overrepresentation of rural areas.
b. Wesberry v. Sanders 1964 applied principle to House districts
2. District lines must be contiguous3. Racial gerrymandering is prohibited (Shaw v. Reno,
1993). Race may not be the primary factor in drawing district lines (Miller v. Johnson, 1995)
Leadership in Congress- HouseSpeaker of the House-
Presides over House1. Appoints select and
conference committees2. Appoints Rules
Committee members and Chair
3. Assigns Bills to committees
4. Second in line for Presidency
Leadership in Congress- HouseMajority Leader-
Partisan Position- chosen by party members
1. Floor leader/ legislative strategist
2. Minority leader-
Leadership in Congress- HouseMajority Whip-1. Assistant floor leader2. Inform leaders on mood
of the House3. Keep count on important
votes4. Persuade party members
to vote with party5. Minority whip
Leadership in Congress- SenateVP- President of the
Senate
1. Presides over Senate
2. Votes in case of a tie
3. Ceremonial Job
Leadership in Congress- SenatePresident Pro Tempore-
1. Ceremonial Job
2. Presides in Absence of the VP
3. Third in line for the presidency
Leadership in Congress- SenateMajority Leader-
1. True leader in Senate
2. Recognized first for all debates
3. Leads majority party
4. Influences committee assignments
5. Influences agenda with Minority leader
Leadership in Congress- SenateMinority Leader and
party whips function the same as they do in the House
Committees Standing committees are the permanent
committees of Congress. They have both legislative and oversight powers.
House Standing: Rules (most powerful of all) Ways and means (deals with tax bills) Appropriations (spending) Budget Armed Services
Committees Standing committees are the permanent
committees of Congress. They have both legislative and oversight powers.
Senate Standing: Finance (tax bills) Appropriations (spending) Budget Foreign Relations (prestigious) Treaty and ambassador
work Judiciary: screen judicial nominees
Committees Conference committees:
Temporary committees comprised of members of both houses
Develop compromise language for a bill when versions differ
After conference committee sends bill back - no amendments are allowed and bill is generally passed
“Third House of Congress”
Other Committees Select: temporary purpose in House Joint: Both houses for temporary purpose