Congress review

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Chapter 13 Congress

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Structure of Congress

House Senate

Membership 435 (by population)

100 (2 per state)

Term of Office 2 years, all elected at once

6 years, 1/3 staggered terms

Constituencies Smaller, by district

Larger, entire state

Prestige Less More

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Organization

■ Bicameral (two chamber) legislature

■ House of Representatives

■ Senate

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One of the most powerful Speakers of the House, Henry Clay, is shown here addressing the U. S. Senate around 1850.

Library of Congress

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Organization■ Meet for two year terms beginning on

January 3 of odd-numbered years; each term divided into two one-year sessions

■ President may call special sessions in case of National Emergency

■ Each house has its own leadership and rules

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Election to Congress■ apportionment - distribution among

states based on population ■ reapportionment - redistribution of

Congressional seats after census ■ congressional districting - drawing of

Congressional districts by state legislatures

■ gerrymandering - drawing of Congressional districts to favor one party

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Getting Elected to the Senate■ Members originally chosen by state

legislatures in each state ■ 1913 - 17th Amendment allows for

direct election of senators by the people of the state

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Incumbency Effect■ name recognition ■ credit claiming ■ casework for constituents ■ franking privilege - send official mail

using members signature as postage ■ media exposure ■ fundraising abilities ■ experience in campaigning ■ voting record

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Term Limits■ Several states have passed

legislation establishing term limits for member of Congress

■ The Supreme Court ruled that neither states nor Congress may impose terms limits without a Constitutional Amendment

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Leadership of House■ Speaker of the House - presiding

officer, most powerful member of House, assign bills to committee, control floor debate, appoint party members to committees

■ Majority leaders assists the Speaker ■ Minority leader speaks for the

minority and organizes opposition

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Leadership of Senate■ US Vice President is the presiding officer

of the Senate; may not debate, only votes to break a tie

■ President Pro Tempore - senior member of majority party presides in the absence of the Vice President

■ Majority leader is the most influential member of the Senate

■ Minority leader performs the same role as the House minority leader

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Committee System■ Most work done in committee, allows

to divide work, study by experts, and speed up passage of legislation

■ Chairpersons selected on Seniority System (usually majority party member having the longest length of service)

■ Committee Membership reflects the party distribution of each house

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The Organization of Congress: Committees!■ Standing Committees - permanent and

deals with specific policy ■ Select Committees - temporary, for

specific purpose ■ Joint Committees - made up of members

of both Houses ■ Conference Committees - temporary

committee of members of both houses to resolve differences in a bill

■ Caucus - informal group with common purpose Copyright © 2013 Cengage

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The Organization of Congress: Staff and Specialized Offices

!■ Tasks of Staff Members (work for

members of Congress, committees, and agencies)

■ Staff Agencies • Congressional Research Service (CRS) • General Accounting Office (GAO) • Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) • Congressional Budget Office (CBO)


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Roles of Members of Congress■ policy maker - make policy through

passage of legislation ■ representative - represent constituents

■ delegate - members vote on the wishes of constituents rather than personal opinion

■ trustee - listen to constituents, but vote based on own opinion

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Roles of Members of Congress

■ constituent servant - help constituents with problems

■ committee member - serve on committees

■ politician/party member - support their party’s platform and get reelected

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Privileges■ allowance for offices in district/state ■ travel allowance ■ franking privilege ■ immunity from arrest while

conducting congressional business ■ immunity from libel or slander suits

for their speech or debate in Congress

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Powers of Congress■ Legislative - lawmaking

■ Expressed - Listed Article I, Section 8 ■ Implied - necessary and proper, or

elastic clause ■ Limitations on powers - denied in

Article I, Section 9 and the 10th Amendment

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Powers of Congress■ Nonlegislative - duties other than

lawmaking ■ Electoral - House selects President if no

electoral majority (270) ■ Amendments ■ Impeachments - House brings charges,

Senate has trial ■ Executive Power - appointment and

treaty approval ■ Investigative/oversight - reviews

policies and programs of Executive

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How a Bill Becomes a Law■ Introducing a Bill ■ Legislative Productivity ■ Study by Committee ■ Floor Debate – The House ■ Floor Debate – The Senate ■ Methods of Voting


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How a Bill Becomes a Law


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Legislative Tactics■ Caucuses may form voting blocks ■ Bills die in Committee ■ Filibuster (unlimited debate) / cloture

(limit to filibuster) - both Senate only ■ Pork-Barrel Legislation - provide funds/

projects to home state/district ■ Logrolling - giving support to gain support ■ Riders - Additions to legislation which

have no connectionCopyright © 2013 Cengage

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Legislative Tactics■ Amendments - additions or changes ■ Lobbying - trying to influence

members of Congress ■ Conference Committee - may affect

wording and final intent ■ Legislative Veto - rejection of

Executive Branch action that was deemed unconstitutional in 1983

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Influences on Congress

■ Constituents - the people they serve ■ Staff/other lawmakers ■ Party ■ President ■ Lobbyists and Interest Groups

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