congress chapter 12 government in america: people, politics, and policy thirteenth ap* edition...

CongressCongressChapter 12Chapter 12

Government in America: People, Politics, and PolicyThirteenth AP* Edition

Edwards/Wattenberg/Lineberry

The Representatives and The Representatives and SenatorsSenators

The JobThe Job Salary of $174,000 with retirement Salary of $174,000 with retirement

benefitsbenefits Office space in D.C. and at home with Office space in D.C. and at home with

staffstaff Travel allowances and Travel allowances and frankingfranking

privilegesprivileges Requires long hours, a lot of time away Requires long hours, a lot of time away

from family, and pressure from others to from family, and pressure from others to support their policiessupport their policies


The Members The Members http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/committee_list.cgi?sitehttp://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/committee_list.cgi?site==ctcctc

NumbersNumbers

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Who Wins Elections?Who Wins Elections?


The Advantages of IncumbentsThe Advantages of Incumbents Advertising:Advertising:

The goal is to be visible to your constituentsThe goal is to be visible to your constituents Frequent trips home, use of newsletter, and Frequent trips home, use of newsletter, and

technologytechnology Credit Claiming:Credit Claiming:

Service to constituents through:Service to constituents through: Casework: specifically helping constituents get what Casework: specifically helping constituents get what

they think they have a right tothey think they have a right to Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made

available in a congressional district or stateavailable in a congressional district or state

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections The Advantages of IncumbentsThe Advantages of Incumbents

Position Taking:Position Taking: Portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individualsPortray themselves as hard working, dedicated individuals Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issueOccasionally take a partisan stand on an issue

Weak Opponents:Weak Opponents: Inexperienced in politics, unorganized, and underfundedInexperienced in politics, unorganized, and underfunded

Campaign Spending:Campaign Spending: Challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an Challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an

incumbentincumbent PACs give most of their money to incumbentsPACs give most of their money to incumbents Does PAC money “buy” votes in Congress?Does PAC money “buy” votes in Congress?


The Role of Party IdentificationThe Role of Party Identification Most members represent the majority party in Most members represent the majority party in

their district, and most who identify with a their district, and most who identify with a party reliably vote for its candidatesparty reliably vote for its candidates

Defeating IncumbentsDefeating Incumbents One tarnished by scandal or corruption One tarnished by scandal or corruption

becomes vulnerable to a challengerbecomes vulnerable to a challenger Redistricting may weaken the incumbency Redistricting may weaken the incumbency

advantageadvantage Major political tidal wave may defeat Major political tidal wave may defeat

incumbentsincumbents


Open SeatsOpen Seats Greater likelihood of competitionGreater likelihood of competition Most turnover occurs in open seatsMost turnover occurs in open seats

Stability and ChangeStability and Change Incumbents provide stability in Incumbents provide stability in

CongressCongress Change in Congress occurs less Change in Congress occurs less

frequently through electionsfrequently through elections Are term limits an answer?Are term limits an answer?

How Congress is How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyOrganized to Make Policy

The HouseThe House 435 members, 2 year 435 members, 2 year

terms of officeterms of office Initiates all revenue Initiates all revenue

bills, more influential bills, more influential on budgeton budget

House Rules House Rules CommitteeCommittee

Limited debatesLimited debates

The SenateThe Senate 100 members, 6 year 100 members, 6 year

terms of officeterms of office Gives “advice & Gives “advice &

consent,” more consent,” more influential on foreign influential on foreign affairsaffairs

Unlimited debates Unlimited debates (filibuster)(filibuster)

American Bicameralism–Bicameral: legislature divided into two houses

How Congress is Organized to How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyMake Policy

The House– Led by Speaker of the

House—elected by House members

– Presides over House– Major role in

committee assignments and legislation

– Assisted by majority leader and whips

The Senate– Formally led by Vice

President– Really lead by

Majority Leader—chosen by party members

– Assisted by whips– Must work with

Minority leader

Congressional Leadership

How Congress is Organized How Congress is Organized to Make Policyto Make Policy

How Congress is How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyOrganized to Make Policy The Committees and SubcommitteesThe Committees and Subcommittees Reps. serve on 2 com. 4 subs. Sen. 3 Reps. serve on 2 com. 4 subs. Sen. 3

com. 7subs.com. 7subs. Four types of committees:Four types of committees:

Standing committees: subject matter committees Standing committees: subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areasthat handle bills in different policy areas

Joint committees: a few subject-matter areas—Joint committees: a few subject-matter areas—membership drawn from House and Senate membership drawn from House and Senate

Conference committees: resolve differences in Conference committees: resolve differences in House and Senate billsHouse and Senate bills

Select committees: created for a specific Select committees: created for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigationpurpose, such as the Watergate investigation

http://www.visi.com/juan/cohttp://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/committee_lingress/cgi-bin/committee_list.cgi?sitest.cgi?site

==ctcctc

How Congress is How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyOrganized to Make Policy The Committees and SubcommitteesThe Committees and Subcommittees

The Committees at Work: Legislation and The Committees at Work: Legislation and OversightOversight

LegislationLegislation Committees work on the 11,000 bills every Committees work on the 11,000 bills every

sessionsession Some hold hearings and “mark up” meetingsSome hold hearings and “mark up” meetings

Legislative oversightLegislative oversight Monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of Monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of

policy through committee hearingspolicy through committee hearings As publicity value of receiving credit for controlling As publicity value of receiving credit for controlling

spending has increase, so too has oversight grownspending has increase, so too has oversight grown Oversight usually takes place after a catastropheOversight usually takes place after a catastrophe


Getting on a CommitteeGetting on a Committee Members want committee assignments that Members want committee assignments that

will help them get reelected, gain influence, will help them get reelected, gain influence, and make policy.and make policy.

New members express their committee New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders.preferences to the party leaders.

Those who have supported their party’s Those who have supported their party’s leadership are favored in the selection leadership are favored in the selection process.process.

Parties try to grant committee preferences.Parties try to grant committee preferences.


Getting Ahead on the Committee: Chairs and Getting Ahead on the Committee: Chairs and the Seniority Systemthe Seniority System

Committee chair: the most important influencer Committee chair: the most important influencer of congressional agendaof congressional agenda

Dominant role in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, Dominant role in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full housebills when they are brought before the full house

Most chairs selected according to seniority Most chairs selected according to seniority system:system:

Members who have served on the committee the Members who have served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress become longest and whose party controlled Congress become chairchair

How Congress is How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyOrganized to Make Policy Caucuses: The Informal Organization Caucuses: The Informal Organization

of Congressof Congress Caucus: a group of members of Congress Caucus: a group of members of Congress

sharing some interest or characteristicsharing some interest or characteristic About 300 caucusesAbout 300 caucuses Caucuses pressure for committee Caucuses pressure for committee

meetings and hearings and for votes on meetings and hearings and for votes on bills.bills.

Caucuses can be more effective than Caucuses can be more effective than lobbyists.lobbyists.

How Congress is How Congress is Organized to Make PolicyOrganized to Make Policy Congressional StaffCongressional Staff

Personal staff: They work for the Personal staff: They work for the member, mainly providing constituent member, mainly providing constituent service, but help with legislation too.service, but help with legislation too.

Committee staff: organize hearings, Committee staff: organize hearings, research and write legislation, target of research and write legislation, target of lobbyistslobbyists

Staff Agencies: CRS, GAO, CBO provide Staff Agencies: CRS, GAO, CBO provide specific information to Congressspecific information to Congress

The Congressional The Congressional ProcessProcess

Legislation:Legislation: Bill: a proposed lawBill: a proposed law Anyone can draft a bill, but only members Anyone can draft a bill, but only members

of Congress can introduce them.of Congress can introduce them. More rules in the House than in the SenateMore rules in the House than in the Senate Party leaders play a vital role in steering Party leaders play a vital role in steering

bills through both houses, but less in the bills through both houses, but less in the SenateSenate

Countless influences on the legislative Countless influences on the legislative processprocess


Presidents and Congress: Partners and Presidents and Congress: Partners and ProtagonistsProtagonists Presidents attempt to persuade Congress that Presidents attempt to persuade Congress that

what they want is what Congress wants.what they want is what Congress wants. Presidents have many resources to influence Presidents have many resources to influence

Congress.Congress. Influence members directly, lobbying by White House Influence members directly, lobbying by White House

staff, veto, support on other bills staff, veto, support on other bills But to succeed, the president must win at least But to succeed, the president must win at least

10 times. 10 times. Ultimately, presidential leadership of Congress Ultimately, presidential leadership of Congress

is at the margins.is at the margins.

The Congressional The Congressional ProcessProcess Party, Constituency, and IdeologyParty, Constituency, and Ideology

Party Influence: Party Influence: Party leaders cannot force party members to vote Party leaders cannot force party members to vote

a particular way, but many do vote along party a particular way, but many do vote along party lines.lines.

Constituency versus IdeologyConstituency versus Ideology Prime determinant of member’s vote on most Prime determinant of member’s vote on most

issues is ideologyissues is ideology TrusteesTrustees Instructed delegatesInstructed delegates PoliticosPoliticos

On most issues that are not salient, legislators On most issues that are not salient, legislators may ignore constituency opinion.may ignore constituency opinion.

But on controversial issues, members are wise to But on controversial issues, members are wise to heed constituent opinion.heed constituent opinion.

The best way for constituents to get their way is The best way for constituents to get their way is by electing someone with their political viewsby electing someone with their political views


Lobbyists and Interest GroupsLobbyists and Interest Groups There are 35,000 registered lobbyists trying There are 35,000 registered lobbyists trying

to influence Congress—the bigger the issue, to influence Congress—the bigger the issue, the more lobbyists will be working on it.the more lobbyists will be working on it.

Lobbyists try to influence legislators’ votes.Lobbyists try to influence legislators’ votes. They spend 12 bill. On lobbying. They spend 12 bill. On lobbying. They grassroots lobby by encouraging citizens to They grassroots lobby by encouraging citizens to

pressure their reps. on an issue.pressure their reps. on an issue. Lobbyists can be ignored, shunned and even Lobbyists can be ignored, shunned and even

regulated by Congress.regulated by Congress. Ultimately, it is a combination of lobbyists Ultimately, it is a combination of lobbyists

and others that influence legislators’ votes.and others that influence legislators’ votes.

Understanding CongressUnderstanding Congress

Congress and DemocracyCongress and Democracy Leadership and committee assignments Leadership and committee assignments

are not representativeare not representative Congress does try to respond to what Congress does try to respond to what

the people want, but some argue it the people want, but some argue it could do a better job.could do a better job.

Members of Congress are responsive to Members of Congress are responsive to the people, if the people make clear the people, if the people make clear what they want.what they want.


Congress and DemocracyCongress and Democracy Representation versus EffectivenessRepresentation versus Effectiveness

Supporters claim that Congress: Supporters claim that Congress: is a forum in which many interests compete for is a forum in which many interests compete for

policypolicy is decentralized, so there is no oligarchy to is decentralized, so there is no oligarchy to

prevent comprehensive actionprevent comprehensive action Critics argue that Congress: Critics argue that Congress:

is responsive to so many interests that policy is is responsive to so many interests that policy is uncoordinated, fragmented, and decentralizeduncoordinated, fragmented, and decentralized

is so representative that it is incapable of taking is so representative that it is incapable of taking decisive action to deal with difficult problemsdecisive action to deal with difficult problems


Congress and the Scope of Congress and the Scope of GovernmentGovernment The more policies Congress works on, The more policies Congress works on,

the more ways it can serve their the more ways it can serve their constituencies.constituencies.

The more programs that get created, the The more programs that get created, the bigger the government gets.bigger the government gets.

Contradiction in public opinion: Contradiction in public opinion: everybody wants government programs everybody wants government programs cut, just not cut, just not theirtheir programs programs

SummarySummary

Members of Congress make policy.Members of Congress make policy. They have a sizeable incumbency They have a sizeable incumbency

advantage.advantage. Congress is structurally complex.Congress is structurally complex. Presidents, parties, constituencies, Presidents, parties, constituencies,

and interest groups all affect and interest groups all affect legislators’ vote choices.legislators’ vote choices.

congress chapter 12 government in america: people, politics, and policy thirteenth ap* edition...

Documents

policythe committees

standing committees

types of committees

subject matter committees

majority party

houseshow congress

policyhow congress

senate conference committees