To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions

American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition

Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato

Pearson Education, 2009

Chapter 7

Congress

Roots of the Legislative Branch

Great Compromise leads to bicameral legislature.

Two per state in Senate, House by population.

House district size determined by apportionment.

House district shape determined by redistricting.

Senators must be 30, serve six-year terms.

Representatives must be 25, serve two-year

terms.

Powers of Congress

Most important power is to make law.

Bill cannot become law without both branches.

Also declare war, coin money, raise military.

Regulate commerce, immigration, courts.

Revenue bills must begin in House.

Senate handles impeachment trials.

Role of Political Parties

Majority party has most members.

Minority party has second most members.

Key role in committee system and organization.

Party caucuses also choose policy priorities.

House of Representatives

More tightly structured, governed by more rules.

Party loyalty plays a more important role.

Powerful Speaker of the House chosen by all

members.

Party caucuses pick majority and minority

leaders.

Whips assist party leaders.

Senate

Vice president is the official presiding officer.

Official chair is the president pro tempore.

True leader is the majority leader.

Also have whips.

More informal than House.

Controlling Senate challenging, run by folkways.

Importance of rules such as filibuster and cloture.

Committee System

Much of the actual work gets done by committees.

Standing committees are where bills are referred.

Joint committees include members from both

houses.

Conference committees finalize bills.

Select committees deal with temporary issues.

Importance of House Rules Committee.

Discharge petitions force bills out of committee.

Committee Membership

Members serve on multiple committees at a time.

Request assignments based on interest or district.

Often want access to pork or earmarks.

Some assignments are good for campaigning.

Membership represents party division in house.

Chairs have tremendous agenda-setting power.

Chairs no longer chosen by seniority.

Members of Congress

Professionalization after World War I.

Members must please those in D.C. and in district

.

Incumbency helps members to stay in office.

95 percent of incumbents win reelection.

Members more educated, white, and male than U.

S

.

Theories of Representation

Trustees hear constituents and make own

judgments.

Delegates vote as their constituents want.

Most members act as politicos.

May also be influenced by race or gender.

How Members Make Decisions

Party has become important in divided

government.

Constituent opinion, especially on important

issues.

Colleagues and caucuses.

Role of logrolling.

Interest group lobbying and money.

Staff and support agencies.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Stage-by-stage process offers many opportunities

to fail.

Parallel processes in House and Senate.

Committee is first step, role of markup.

Moves to floor, Senators may use hold or

filibuster.

Conference committee if both chambers approve.

President can sign or veto.

Congress and the Executive

President has become increasingly powerful.

Congress, in turn, has increased oversight

hearings.

Also uses congressional review.

War Powers Act should give Congress role in war.

Congress confirms presidential appointments.

Congress can impeach president.

Congress and the Judiciary

Courts can overturn laws if unconstitutional.

Congress reviews judicial nominees.

Role of senatorial courtesy.

Congress also sets courts’ jurisdiction.

AV- Congressional Approval

Back

Figure 7.1- Organization of Congress

Back

Figure 7.2- 111th Congress

Back

Figure 7.3- Female and Minority Members

Back

Figure 7.4- How a Bill Becomes a Law

Back

Table 7.1- The Powers of Congress

Back

Table 7.2- House Versus Senate

Back

Table 7.3- Congressional Committees

Back

Table 7.4- A Day in the Life of a Member

Back

Table 7.5- Advantages of Incumbency

Back

Table 7.6- Support Agencies

Back

Table 7.7- Impeachment

Back