the struggle for democracy chapter 11: congress
TRANSCRIPT
The Struggle For Democracy
Chapter 11: Congress
Critical Thinking Questions
Survey data show that Americans have a low level of respect for Congress as an institution, yet we continue to reelect members at very high rates. Why?
Do voters make their decisions based on the well-being of the nation or on localized needs and priorities?
Structural Foundations of Congress
The Framers were worried about democracy, concerned about tyranny, and wanted an energetic, capable governmentCongress: the center of policymaking
Enumerated powers Elastic or necessary and proper clause Implied powers Powers divided between the two chambers
Structural Foundations of Congress
Constraints on CongressRepublicanismBicameralism Prohibitions against
Bills of attainder Ex post facto laws Suspension of writs of habeas corpus Granting titles of nobility
Structural Foundations of Congress
Competing centers of powerSeparation of powersChecks and balances
Do you remember the difference between the two?
Structural Foundations of Congress
Bicameralism & RepresentationApportionment
Great Compromise Representation in the House is based on population Representation in the Senate is based on equality
Fixed terms House = 2 years and up for election every two years Senate = 6 years and one-third of the body is up for
reelection every two years Election
House = direct popular election Senate = state legislators until the 17th Amendment (1913)
Structural Foundations of Congress
FederalismPowers granted to the national government
onlyPowers granted to the states onlyPowers shared by the states and the national
governmentPowers denied to both entities
Representation & Democracy
In terms of demographics, who are the members of Congress?Race: women and racial minorities are
significantly underrepresentedSocial class: family wealth, great education,
mostly lawyers and business people
Representation & Democracy
The average congressional person is a white male in his mid to late 50’s who is a lawyer, or has some other type of post-baccalaureate degree, and is a member of the upper middle class.
Is this a problem? Why? Why not?
Representation & Democracy
Edmund Burke described two stylesDelegate: representative who tries to reflect
the views of his/her constituencyTrustee: representative who acts
independently and uses his/her best judgment Critical Thinking Question: Which style
is more likely to be used in which chamber? Why?
Representation & Democracy
Equal Representation House
Representation based on population; reapportionment is based on the national census, which is done every ten years
State legislatures draw the district lines The dominant party will draw the lines in a way that retains power
Gerrymandering Voting Rights Act of 1965 Majority-Minority districts
Representation & Democracy
Electoral ConnectionEqual representation in the Senate
Gives great power to the small states Can distort popular sentiment Diminishes equality
Senate is unrepresentative: more than half of the senators in the 104th Congress come from states that together make up only one-fifth of the population
Representation & Democracy
Money and congressional elections It is expensive to run for office and is getting
more expensiveThe amount of money spent is related to the
probability of winning, but it does not guarantee winning
Incumbents usually raise and spend more money than challengers
Representation & Democracy
Incumbency: some signs of changeHigh turnover if we look at the percentage of
incumbents who actually return after an election as opposed to the incumbent reelection rate
Turnover Members retired Defeated at the nomination stage by members of
their own parties
Representation & Democracy
Yes, but it is still great to be an incumbent!Attract more moneyCan use congressional resources
Casework Franking Pork
Representation & Democracy
So how representative is Congress?To a degree, they vote and pass laws based
on public opinion It is also true that
They do not always follow public opinion. The public often has no opinions or preferences on certain subjects, which means
Congress is influenced by money and interest groups Democracy is impaired because these influences distort
popular sovereignty and also undermine political equality
How Congress Works
Congress is an institutionRule boundHierarchicalPower flows from the top down
Congress is decentralizedMembers are independent; elections are
candidate drivenLeadership is weakMembers see themselves as equals, not in a
pecking order
How Congress Works
Political parties in CongressLegislative business is organized along party
linesParty voting
Party identification serves as a cue Not clear if party voting differences are caused by
party identification or by constituents Party discipline is weak
How Congress Works
Congressional LeadershipHouse
Speaker Third in line of succession to the presidency No clear cut rules for the job
Majority floor leader: helps Speaker plan strategy Minority floor leader: chief spokesperson for the opposition Party whips: act as liaisons between leaders and the “rank
and file”; keep track of voting
How Congress Works
Congressional Leadership Senate
President of the Senate is the Vice President President pro tempore: most senior member of the
Senate Majority leader
Influences/controls committee assignments, scheduling business, and office space
Weaker than the Speaker of the House
Minority leader: leads the opposition
How Congress Works
CommitteesWhy does Congress use committees?
Screening devices Specialization Enhances chances for reelection
How Congress Works
Types of committeesStanding: permanent and organized by subject
matterSelect: temporary and created to conduct studies
or investigationsJoint: organized to expedite business and
facilitate the flow of legislationConference: joint committees formed to reconcile
differences in bills
How Congress Works
Congress is guided by formal rules and informal normsRules: specify how things should be done and
what is and is not allowed House
More rule-bound, organized, and hierarchical Leaders are more powerful; procedures are more structured Restricted floor debate; limited amendments; members are
restricted to one major committee More specialized than the Senate
How Congress Works
Congress is guided by formal rules and informal norms Rules: specify how things should be done and
what is and is not allowed Senate
More relaxed and informal than the House Senators are more independent Less specialization Unrestricted floor debate
Unanimous consent Filibuster cloture
How Congress Works
Congress is guided by formal rules and informal normsNorms: generally accepted expectations about
behavior Reciprocity Courtesy Respect for
Reelection motives Frequent visits back home Members’ advertisement, taking credit, etc.
Congress, Public Policyand American Public Congress as a policymaker
Criticisms: fragmented, will not take responsibility; too cozy with interest groups, unethical, etc.
Assessment of Criticisms: Mixed – sometimes Congress does well, and
sometimes it does not Congress seems to do better under the direction of
strong presidential leadership
Congress, Public Policyand American Public The American people
Like their own representatives and senators, but they dislike Congress as an institution
Approval ratings are related to good economic times and confidence about the future
Americans Have unrealistic expectations of Congress Do not like the messiness of the democratic process
The End
Chapter 11: Congress