chapter nine: the congress. learning outcomes lo 1 describe the various roles played by congress and...
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Chapter Nine: Chapter Nine:
The CongressThe Congress
Learning OutcomesLO 1 Describe the various roles played by Congress and the
constitutional basis of its powers.
LO 2 Explain some of the differences between the House and the Senate, and some of the privileges enjoyed by members of Congress.
LO 3 Examine the implications of apportioning House seats.
LO 4 Describe the committee structure of the House and the Senate, and specify the key leadership positions in each chamber.
LO 5 Discuss the process by which a bill becomes law and how the federal government establishes its budget.
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The Nature and Functions of CongressBicameralismThe Lawmaking FunctionThe Representation Function
The trustee view of representationThe instructed-delegate view of
representation
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Senator Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) receives an award from the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN). The network is a project of the International Republican Institute, which in turn is sponsored by the Republican Party. The WDN is active in sixty-one nations. Why might U.S. political parties sponsor nonprofit organizations to work around the world?
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The Nature and Functions of CongressService to ConstituentsThe Oversight FunctionThe Public-Education FunctionThe Conflict-Resolution Function
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The Nature and Functions of CongressThe Powers of Congress
Enumerated powersPowers of the SenateConstitutional amendmentsThe necessary and proper clause
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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) is a well known critic of the banking industry. Why might such a record help a senator get elected?
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House-Senate Differences and Congressional PerksSize and RulesDebate and Filibustering
ClotureIncreased use of the filibusterReconciliation
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House-Senate Differences and Congressional PerksCongresspersons and the Citizenry: A
ComparisonPerks and Privileges
Permanent professional staffsPrivileges and immunities under law
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Congressional Elections and ApportionmentCandidates for Congressional
ElectionsPresidential effectsThe power of incumbency
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Congressional Elections and ApportionmentApportionment
of the HouseGerrymandering
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The Original Gerrymander
Congressional Elections and ApportionmentGerrymandering
How Gerrymandering WorksRedistricting after the 2012 Census
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Examples of Districting
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The Fourth Congressional District of Illinois
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How Congress is OrganizedThe Power of CommitteesTypes of Congressional Committees
StandingSelectJointConferenceHouse Rules
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HOUSE COMMITTEESHOUSE COMMITTEES
Agriculture Foreign Affairs Science and Technology
Appropriations Homeland Security Small Business
Armed Services House Administration Standards of Official Conduct
Budget Judiciary Transportation and Infrastructure
Education and the Workforce
Natural Resources Veterans’ Affairs
Energy and Commerce
Oversight and Government Reform
Ways and Means
Financial Services Rules
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SENATE COMMITTEES
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Energy and Natural Resources
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Appropriations Environment and Public Works
Judiciary
Armed Services Finance Rules and Administration
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Foreign Relations Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Budget Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Veterans’ Affairs
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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In 2013, President Obama named Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense. Even though Hagel was a former Republican senator from Nebraska, he received an intense grilling from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was eventually confirmed, but forty-one Republicans voted against him. What kinds of questions might senators have asked him?
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Representative Paul Ryan (R., Wisconsin) chairs the House Budget Committee. He holds in his hands a program to cut federal government spending. Why does his position as chair give Ryan significant powers?
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How Congress is OrganizedThe Selection of Committee Members
Seniority system
Leadership in the HouseSpeakerMajority and Minority LeadersWhip
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Former House minority leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) became Speaker of the House in January 2011 after the Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 elections. The former Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), had to step down. She then became the minority leader. Does the Speaker normally participate in floor debate?
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How Congress is OrganizedLeadership in the Senate
President pro temporeSenate majority leaderSenate minority leaderWhip
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After the Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate in the 2006 elections, Republican senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, right, was elected Senate minority leader. Democratic senator Harry Reid of Nevada, left, became the Senate majority leader. Both were reelected to their leadership positions after the 2012 elections. It is very rare for a congressional leader to become president. How might a congressional leadership position interfere with presidential aspirations?
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Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) is the Democrat with the longest continuous term of service in the U.S. Senate. For that reason, he serves as the president pro tempore of the Senate. What powers, if any, does Leahy gain by holding this position?
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Lawmaking and BudgetingHow Much Will the Government Spend?Preparing the Budget
OMB reviews the budgetThe election-year budget
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Lawmaking and BudgetingCongress Faces the Budget
The authorization processThe appropriation processEvading the ban on earmarks
Budget Resolutions and Crises
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The Budget Cycle
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Lawmaking and BudgetingBudget Resolutions and Crises
The continuing resolutionThe federal debt ceiling The fiscal cliff and the sequester
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New Polling Shows Public Disapproval for the President and Congress
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Click picture to play video
New Polling Shows Public Disapproval for the President and Congress
Taking a closer look:1. Will falling public approval have a major
impact on the next election cycle?
2. Do you believe your representatives should serve as trustees or as instructed delegates?
3. Does public opinion polling hinder the lawmaking function of Congress?
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