Congress

A republic, not direct democracyThe founding fathers wanted to ensure that Congress should be a very deliberative body. Their vision was that only well-reasoned bills become law and that many voices should contribute to the process. Considering the work that goes into writing a budget, to what extent has that vision held up?

When answering the above question, consider the following: A) Checks and balances and a desire to “thwart the tyranny of the majority.” B) Congressional leadership and or committees C) Interest groups and lobbyists D) The American people. E) The Media

Plenty O’ CommitteesPlenty O’ Committees Standing CommitteesStanding Committees: handle a specific policy area, : handle a specific policy area,

such as commerce, agriculture, or energy; each such as commerce, agriculture, or energy; each committee often is divided into committee often is divided into subcommitteessubcommittees..

Joint CommitteesJoint Committees: responsible for legislation that : responsible for legislation that overlaps policy areas; both Congressman and overlaps policy areas; both Congressman and Senators.Senators.

Conference CommitteesConference Committees: iron out the differences : iron out the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill; both between House and Senate versions of a bill; both Congressman and Senators.Congressman and Senators.

Select CommitteesSelect Committees: appointed to handle a specific : appointed to handle a specific issue, such as 9/11 or impeachment.issue, such as 9/11 or impeachment.

Most Powerful CommitteesMost Powerful Committees: House Rules Committee, : House Rules Committee, House Ways & Means, Senate Finance, House and House Ways & Means, Senate Finance, House and Senate Appropriations, Senate Energy & Commerce. Senate Appropriations, Senate Energy & Commerce.

NPR : Democratic Leaders Cool to Bush Budget

Congressional Committee Materials Online via GPO Access

The House The House

Members tend to vote along Party Members tend to vote along Party lines- more partisan than the lines- more partisan than the Senate.Senate.

Power is usually hierarchical.Power is usually hierarchical. Revenue BillsRevenue Bills and and DraftDraft must must

originate in the House.originate in the House. Pass articles of Pass articles of ImpeachmentImpeachment. .

The SenateThe Senate

Power is more evenly distributed- Power is more evenly distributed- Senators serve on more Senators serve on more committees.committees.

Act more independently of their Act more independently of their Parties.Parties.

Approve presidential nominees, Approve presidential nominees, ratify treaties, try impeached ratify treaties, try impeached federal officials.federal officials.

Filibuster - ClotureFilibuster - Cloture

The House v. The The House v. The SenateSenate HouseHouse: bills are not drastically changed : bills are not drastically changed

in the House once they reach the floor, in the House once they reach the floor, because of the strict rules set up by the because of the strict rules set up by the House Rules Committee; only germane House Rules Committee; only germane amendments.amendments.

SenateSenate: debates on bills are much less : debates on bills are much less formal; no rules on amendments, so formal; no rules on amendments, so non-germane amendments, or riders, non-germane amendments, or riders, can be added more easily; Christmas-can be added more easily; Christmas-tree bills. tree bills.

The House v. The The House v. The SenateSenateHOUSEHOUSE

• 435 members serving two-435 members serving two-

year termsyear terms

• Speaker's referral of bills to Speaker's referral of bills to committee is hard to committee is hard to challenge.challenge.

• Committees almost always Committees almost always

consider legislation first.consider legislation first. • Rules Committee powerful; Rules Committee powerful;

controls time of debate, controls time of debate, admissibility of admissibility of amendments.amendments.

• Debate usually limited to Debate usually limited to one hour.one hour.

• Non-germane amendments Non-germane amendments may not be introduced from may not be introduced from floor.floor.

SENATESENATE

• 100 members serving 100 members serving rotating six-year termsrotating six-year terms

• Referral decisions easy to Referral decisions easy to challenge.challenge.

• Committee consideration Committee consideration easily bypassed.easily bypassed.

• Rules Committee weak; few Rules Committee weak; few limits on debate or limits on debate or amendments.amendments.

• Unlimited debate unless Unlimited debate unless shortened by unanimous shortened by unanimous consent or by invoking consent or by invoking cloture.cloture.

• Non-germane amendments Non-germane amendments may be introduced (riders).may be introduced (riders).

IncumbentsIncumbents Congressman and Senators running Congressman and Senators running

for re-election win 90% of the time.for re-election win 90% of the time. Senate more competitive than the Senate more competitive than the

House.House.Advantages of IncumbencyAdvantages of Incumbency

1.1. VisibilityVisibility- Name Recognition.- Name Recognition.2.2. Franking Privilege Franking Privilege – Getting the word out.– Getting the word out.3.3. CaseworkCasework - What have you done for me lately?- What have you done for me lately?4.4. Pork BarrelPork Barrel - What have you done for me lately? - What have you done for me lately?5.5. PAC’sPAC’s contribute most heavily contribute most heavily afterafter an election. an election.In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

Congress has Responsibilities Congress has Responsibilities after a Law is Passed. . . and after a Law is Passed. . . and

then some. then some. Congressional OversightCongressional Oversight

The Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office ((GAOGAO) helps Congress fulfill its oversight ) helps Congress fulfill its oversight responsibilities: responsibilities:

Reviews the activities of the Executive Reviews the activities of the Executive Branch; makes sure the bureaucracy is Branch; makes sure the bureaucracy is properly executing the laws. properly executing the laws.

Investigates the efficiency and Investigates the efficiency and effectiveness of government agencies; effectiveness of government agencies; check on waste and corruption.check on waste and corruption.

YouTube - Rep. Waxman On Missing Billions in IraqNPR : House Panel Criticizes Shipments of Cash to IraqYouTube - Iraq Reconstruction Hearing: AccountingYouTube - Iraq Reconstruction Hearing: Accounting

The CBOThe CBO

Congressional Budget OfficeCongressional Budget Office•Provides non-partisan economic data to Provides non-partisan economic data to Congress.Congress.•Helps Congress make budgetary decisionsHelps Congress make budgetary decisions•President looks to the OMB- non partisan; President looks to the OMB- non partisan; answers to the Executive.answers to the Executive.Peter R. Orszag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPeter R. Orszag - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iron TrianglesIron Triangles“Revolving Door”“Revolving Door”

What Drives Record Spending on Defense? : NPRWhat Drives Record Spending on Defense? : NPR

NPR : House Studies Impact of Bush 'Signing NPR : House Studies Impact of Bush 'Signing Statements'Statements'

Pork BarrelPork Barrel Legislation Legislation

2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act – omnibus law that – omnibus law that funded 11,000 projects: funded 11,000 projects:

Civil War Theme Park Civil War Theme Park Swimming PoolsSwimming PoolsSeveral Halls of FameSeveral Halls of Fame Parking GaragesParking Garages

$335,000 to protect North Dakota sunflowers from blackbirds$335,000 to protect North Dakota sunflowers from blackbirds, , $2.3 $2.3 million for an animal waste management research lab in Bowling million for an animal waste management research lab in Bowling Green, KentuckyGreen, Kentucky, , $50,000 to control wild hogs in Missouri$50,000 to control wild hogs in Missouri, and , and $443,000 to develop salmon-fortified baby food$443,000 to develop salmon-fortified baby food. .

Most of $388 billion in spending went constituencies well Most of $388 billion in spending went constituencies well represented on the Appropriations Committee.represented on the Appropriations Committee.LogrollingLogrolling – “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” – “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”

10/30/88: Charlie Did It - 60 Minutes - CBS News10/30/88: Charlie Did It - 60 Minutes - CBS News

““You campaign in poetry and you You campaign in poetry and you govern in prosegovern in prose.” .”

$410 billion spending bill (2009)$410 billion spending bill (2009)$2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York. $2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York. $1.7 million for a honey bee factory in Weslaco, Tex.$1.7 million for a honey bee factory in Weslaco, Tex.$1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa.$1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa.$1 million for Mormon cricket control in Utah. $1 million for Mormon cricket control in Utah. $819,000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama.$819,000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama.$650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi.$650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi.$951,500 for a “Sustainable Las Vegas.” $951,500 for a “Sustainable Las Vegas.” $2 million “for the promotion of astronomy” in Hawaii.$2 million “for the promotion of astronomy” in Hawaii.$167,000 for the Autry National Center for the American West in Los $167,000 for the Autry National Center for the American West in Los Angeles.Angeles.$238,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii. $238,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii. $200,000 for a tattoo removal violence outreach program to help gang $200,000 for a tattoo removal violence outreach program to help gang members or others shed visible signs of their past. members or others shed visible signs of their past. $209,000 to improve blueberry production and efficiency in Georgia. $209,000 to improve blueberry production and efficiency in Georgia.

9,000 earmarks worth $7.7 billion9,000 earmarks worth $7.7 billionSource: Op-Ed Columnist - Stage of Fools - NYTimes.comSource: Op-Ed Columnist - Stage of Fools - NYTimes.com

How Bills are WrittenHow Bills are Written The White House, Interest groups, lobbyists and The White House, Interest groups, lobbyists and

citizens all can citizens all can and doand do write bills; 11,000 write bills; 11,000 introduced each Congress.introduced each Congress.

Congressional Research Service (CRS)Congressional Research Service (CRS) helps Congress gather information necessary to helps Congress gather information necessary to

write bills; Congress’ librarian. write bills; Congress’ librarian. administered by the Library of Congress.administered by the Library of Congress. each year it responds to 250,000 Congressional each year it responds to 250,000 Congressional

request for information.request for information. non partisan in its reporting.non partisan in its reporting. it also tracks the progress of major bills, prepared it also tracks the progress of major bills, prepared

summaries of the bills, and makes information summaries of the bills, and makes information available to the public. available to the public.

Congress(wo)manCongress(wo)man

Ratio of Ratio of MenMen to Women to WomenHouse- House- 66:1:1

Senate- Senate- 77:1:1

Congressional LeadershipCongressional Leadership

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House Presides over the Presides over the House; chosen by House; chosen by the majority party; the majority party; # 2 in line- Prez.# 2 in line- Prez.

VP is VP is President of the President of the SenateSenate – Presides – Presides over the Senate; over the Senate; formal power rests formal power rests with the party with the party leaders: leaders:

1. Senate Majority 1. Senate Majority LeaderLeader 2. 2. President President

ProProTempore - Tempore -

#3 in #3 in lineline

Speaker of the House Speaker of the House Makes Committee Makes Committee

Assignments – very Assignments – very coveted; helps ensure coveted; helps ensure incumbent advantage.incumbent advantage.

Recognition Power Recognition Power Helps appoint the party’s Helps appoint the party’s

legislative leaders.legislative leaders. Exercises control over Exercises control over

which bills get assigned to which bills get assigned to which committees.which committees.

High Profile - National High Profile - National Spokes(wo)man for the Spokes(wo)man for the party if that party does not party if that party does not also control the Presidency. also control the Presidency.

Senate Majority LeaderSenate Majority Leader Counterpart of the Counterpart of the

Speaker- works with Speaker- works with the the President Pro President Pro TemporeTempore

Helps select committee Helps select committee assignments.assignments.

Scheduling the floor Scheduling the floor action.action.

With the help of the With the help of the Whips, the majority Whips, the majority corrals votes. corrals votes.

Mitch McConnell (R) Mitch McConnell (R) KentuckyKentucky

House Majority LeaderHouse Majority Leader

Stepping stone to Stepping stone to the Speaker.the Speaker.

Schedules bills in Schedules bills in the House.the House.

With the Whip’s With the Whip’s help, the majority help, the majority leader rounds up leader rounds up votes for the party.votes for the party.

The WhipsThe Whips

• The Majority and Minority Whips are The Majority and Minority Whips are responsible for mobilizing votes within responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leaderwhip often serves as acting floor leader

• They count votes beforehand and lean They count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.a bill favored by the party.

NPR : Intro to Congress: Speakers, Leaders and WhipsNPR : Intro to Congress: Speakers, Leaders and Whips

Theories on RepresentationTheories on RepresentationVocabularyVocabulary

TrusteesTrustees – vote using their best judgment to make – vote using their best judgment to make policies policies in the interest of the peoplein the interest of the people; ; policymakerspolicymakers (Edmund Burke) (Edmund Burke)

Instructed DelegatesInstructed Delegates – vote as their constituents – vote as their constituents would; would; representativesrepresentatives..

PoliticosPoliticos – vote using the trustee and instructed – vote using the trustee and instructed delegate models; how most Congressman vote. delegate models; how most Congressman vote.

substantive representationsubstantive representation - - refers to the refers to the correspondence between representatives' correspondence between representatives' opinions and those of their constituents.opinions and those of their constituents.

descriptive representationdescriptive representation - refers to the - refers to the correspondence of the demographic correspondence of the demographic characteristics of representatives with those of characteristics of representatives with those of their constituents.their constituents.

Redistricting, New York Style - The New York TimesRedistricting, New York Style - The New York Times

Congressional Districts 435 House districts are drawn by the state 435 House districts are drawn by the state

legislatures. legislatures. GerrymanderingGerrymandering – drawing of district lines – drawing of district lines

often in a way to give one political party often in a way to give one political party an advantage over the other.an advantage over the other.

MalapportionmentMalapportionment – states drew districts – states drew districts of unequal size and populations.of unequal size and populations.

Baker v. CarrBaker v. Carr (1962) (1962) – “one man, one vote” – “one man, one vote” decision; one person’s vote must be as decision; one person’s vote must be as equal as possible to another; each district equal as possible to another; each district should have around 600,000 citizens. should have around 600,000 citizens.

House. One Person One Vote.docHouse. One Person One Vote.doc