CongressCongress

Membership, Leadership & Membership, Leadership & OrganizationOrganization

MembersMembers Not a glamorous job, but has its perksNot a glamorous job, but has its perks

• PowerPower• $174,000 annual salary$174,000 annual salary• Generous retirement and health benefitsGenerous retirement and health benefits

Constitutional requirementsConstitutional requirements• House: 25, citizen for 7 yearsHouse: 25, citizen for 7 years• Senate: 30, citizen for 9 yearsSenate: 30, citizen for 9 years• Reside in stateReside in state• 435 Representatives; 100 senators435 Representatives; 100 senators

113113thth Congress Congress

MembersMembers

Q1: Can Congress be representative Q1: Can Congress be representative without representative without representative demographics?demographics?

• Descriptive representation vs. substantive Descriptive representation vs. substantive representationrepresentation

Q2: Q2: WhyWhy Aren’t There More Aren’t There More Women in Congress?Women in Congress?

Less likely to runLess likely to run• ChildcareChildcare• Risk averseRisk averse

BiasBias• Must be more qualifiedMust be more qualified

Bicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature

Bills must pass both housesBills must pass both houses Checks and balancesChecks and balances Connecticut CompromiseConnecticut Compromise

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives More institutionalized and seniority-More institutionalized and seniority-

basedbased More party loyaltyMore party loyalty Tied more closely to peopleTied more closely to people

• Reelected every two yearsReelected every two years• All revenue bills originate hereAll revenue bills originate here

Rules CommitteeRules Committee• Sets agenda for hearing billsSets agenda for hearing bills

SenateSenate Meant to be more elite bodyMeant to be more elite body

• Ratifies treatiesRatifies treaties• Confirms presidential nominationsConfirms presidential nominations• Tries impeached officialsTries impeached officials

More equal to one another than in HouseMore equal to one another than in House Party leaders play role of House Rules Party leaders play role of House Rules

CommitteeCommittee Filibuster = talk legislation to deathFilibuster = talk legislation to death

• Unless 3/5 vote for clotureUnless 3/5 vote for cloture

Congressional LeadershipCongressional Leadership

Chosen by partyChosen by party HouseHouse

• Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House• Majority / minority leadersMajority / minority leaders• WhipsWhips

SenateSenate• Vice PresidentVice President• Majority / minority leadersMajority / minority leaders

Committees and SubcommitteesCommittees and Subcommittees

Control congressional agendaControl congressional agenda Guide legislation through processGuide legislation through process Four types:Four types:

• Standing committeesStanding committees By far most importantBy far most important Handle bills in different policy areasHandle bills in different policy areas Each house has its ownEach house has its own Subcommittees = smaller (more specialized) Subcommittees = smaller (more specialized)

units formed out of committees membershipunits formed out of committees membership

Other CommitteesOther Committees Joint CommitteesJoint Committees

• In some policy areas, draw membership In some policy areas, draw membership from both housesfrom both houses

Conference CommitteesConference Committees• Formed when two houses pass a bill in Formed when two houses pass a bill in

different formsdifferent forms• Work out the differences and Work out the differences and

compromisecompromise Select CommitteesSelect Committees

• Appointed for a specific purposeAppointed for a specific purpose Watergate investigationWatergate investigation

What Committees DoWhat Committees Do

LegislationLegislation• DuhDuh

OversightOversight• After legislation is enacted bureaucracy After legislation is enacted bureaucracy

administers itadministers it• Committees monitor administration Committees monitor administration

through hearingsthrough hearings• A legislative check on executive branchA legislative check on executive branch

Caucuses: Informal Caucuses: Informal Organization of CongressOrganization of Congress

As important as formal structureAs important as formal structure Dominated by caucusesDominated by caucuses

• Groups of members who share an interest or Groups of members who share an interest or a characteristica characteristic

• 500 caucuses today500 caucuses today Black CaucusBlack Caucus Congresswomen’s CaucusCongresswomen’s Caucus Sunbelt CaucusSunbelt Caucus Moderate/Conservative DemocratsModerate/Conservative Democrats Travel and Tourism CaucusTravel and Tourism Caucus Mushroom CaucusMushroom Caucus

Congressional Hispanic Caucus 11.3

Congressional StaffCongressional Staff Personal StaffPersonal Staff

• mostly LAs (legislative assistants)mostly LAs (legislative assistants)• CaseworkCasework

Committee StaffCommittee Staff• Legislative oversightLegislative oversight

Staff AgenciesStaff Agencies• Congressional Research ServiceCongressional Research Service• Government Accountability OfficeGovernment Accountability Office

Oversight of executiveOversight of executive

• Congressional Budget OfficeCongressional Budget Office

How many staff members does Congress employ to help it do its job?

a. More than 11,000

b. 3,200

c. Less than 2,000

d. Staff are volunteers from the member’s

constituency, and their numbers vary

How many staff members does Congress employ to help it do its job?

a. More than 11,000

b. 3,200

c. Less than 2,000

d. Staff are volunteers from the member’s

constituency and their numbers vary