Bell Ringer

FRQ 2008 #1 – Congressional reapportionment

LEGISLATIVE 4

Today we will …

Compare/contrast Congress & Parliament

Trace the evolution of Congress.

Recognize benefits of bicameral Congress.

1. Venn diagram – congress & parliament

2. Slide/notes review: set #4

3. Congress Vocab CW 4. Mr. Smith Goes to

WashingtonHW: Study Guide & Vocab

Objectives Agenda

Compare/contrast Congress & Parliament

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/what-if-congress-was-more-like-uk-parliament--338064451618

Legislatures Venn Diagram

28. Differences in Legislatures

Candidates selected by party Voters choose between

national parties not candidates within

Members of parliament select their own prime minister--Party members vote together

Re-nomination depends on loyalty to party

Principal work is debate over national issues

Members: little actual power= little resources

Candidate choose to run in primary election, little party control

Voters choose candidate not party---Independent representatives of districts or states

Voters choose chief executive not legislatures

Reelection depends on constituency

Principal work is representation and action, power is decentralized and members are independent

Members have a great deal of power, high pay and significant staff resources

Parliament Congress

29. Why a Bicameral Legislature?

Compromise at Constitutional Convention Representation of lg. & small states Competing interests - protect the minority

Slow the process – deliberation Federalism Checks w/in the branch to prevent

tyranny of majority

29. What is unique to House? Why?

Initiate revenue bills (taxes)

Choose president when electoral college is tied

Impeachment

Closer to the people

More representative of people

More responsive (2 year term)

Power Why?

29. What is unique to Senate? Why?

Ratify treaties Confirm judicial &

exec. Appointments

Try impeachments

More mature & prestigious

Longer terms Reflect state

interests Used to be

indirectly elected

Power Why?

Filibuster is

not a power!

Evolution of Congress

Six phases of the House of Representatives Phase 1: Powerful House Phase 2: Divided House Phase 3: Rise of a powerful speaker Phase 4: Revolt against the speaker Phase 5: Empowerment of individual

members Phase 6: Return of leadership

General movement towards decentralization, phases are all in reaction to each other

Why is congress a decentralized institution

AND why is Congress inevitably unpopular with voters?

Intent of Framers: Oppose the concentration of power in a single

institution Balance large and small states: bicameralism Congress dominate institution Cautious and deliberative

Distribution of Power in Congress Centralize for quick and decisive action Decentralize if congressional members and

constituency interests are to be dominant Thus compromise and sometimes grid lock cause

constituents to feel let down, dislike institution but not representative.

31 & 32. The Senate

17th Amendment: Previous to 1913 Senators elected by state legislatures which caused them to focus on jobs and contributions for their states.

Fillibuster: prolonged speech or series of speeches made to delay action in a legislative assembly. “Talk to death”

Rule 22(1917): Restricts filibuster: debate can be cut off if 2/3 of the Senators present and voting agreed to a “cloture” motion 60 senators currently

Cloture: to end or limit debate Ex: used to stop 55 Days of debate over the Treaty of

Versailles

Check for understanding

How does the House stop debate?

Vocab Review Cross word

CLOSURE

3 differences between Congress & Parliament

2 reasons the founders designed a bicameral legislature

1 power the is unique to house & why OR 1 power that is unique to Senate & why