Transcript The President I - St. Edward's University

Congress I
3/8/2012
Clearly Communicated Learning
Objectives in Written Form
• Upon completion of this course, students will be
able to:
– identify and explain the role of formal (congressional)
institutions and their effect on policy.
– to understand and interpret the United States
Constitution and apply it to present policy dilemmas.
– have a better understanding of why our national
government works and why the American system of
government is unique.
Office Hours and Readings
• Chapter 8 on Congress
• Office Hours
– Today 11-2
SUPER TUESDAY
Not the Game Changer
This in 2008
To This in 2012
What Was at Stake
• 10 States
• More than 400
Delegates
• 21 states and 800+
delegates in 2008
• Romney wins 6
• Santorum wins 3
• Gingrich wins 1
• Ron Paul will never quit
The Delegate Count
Article I
THE CONGRESS
The Great Compromise
Eligibility
House
• 25 Years Old
Senate
• 30 Years old
• 7 Years a US resident
• 9 Years a US resident
• Citizen
• Citizen
The Senate
• 2 Seats for Every State
• 6 year Terms that
overlap
• 9 States have more than
50% of population, but
18% of representation
The House
• 435 Seats
• Divided by Population
• 2-year terms
• 700,000 Constituents
REDISTRICTING AND
REAPPORTIONMENT
Reapportionment
• Dividing up the 435
House Seats
• Based on the Census
• Every state Gets 1 (50
states)
• 385 Seats are at play
every year
Winners and Losers 2012
Redistricting
• The process of
redrawing districts
within a state
• State legislatures
control the battle
• Very Political
Laws on Redistricting
• Districts must have equal populations
• You cannot destroy a party either
• You cannot dilute minority voting
• Malapportionment
Gerrymandering
• An Eponym
• Politically motivated
redefinition of election
districts.
• Not possible in the
Senate
Packing and Cracking
Partisan Gerrymandering
• The Most Traditional Form
• Drawing lines to favor a political party
• Some of the Worst
Racial Gerrymandering
• The Original intent
• Voting Rights Act
• The Modern intent
– Descriptive representation
– Majority minority districts
• The Political Implications
GERRYMANDERING AND THE CASE
OF TEXAS- 2003
The Events Leading Up to it all
• In 2000, the Democrats Gerrymander the
state in their favor
• In 2002, the Democrats get 44% of the vote
and 54% of the Seats in Congress
• Republicans take the Texas House and Senate
and want payback
Payback Courtesy of Tom De Lay
• A mid-year
reapportionment
• Strategy
– 2 for 1s
– Create unsafe seats
– Make life miserable
What it did locally
Why it Fell apart
• Voting Rights Act
• One district ruled in
violation
• The Rest Fell like
dominoes
• But the Damage Was
Done
What Happened to Tom De Lay?
• DWTS
• Currently on bail
awaiting an appeal on
money laundering
GERRYMANDERING AND TEXAS2011
What Happens
• The Republicans win big
in 2010
• Large Majorities in the
House and Senate
The Legislature Draws the First Map
• It Favors the
Republicans (Duh)
• Legal Challenges by
Latino and AfricanAmerican Groups
A Federal Court in San Antonio Draws
a New Map
• This map favors
Democrats
• The State of Texas sues
• This postpones our
Primary from Super
Tuesday
A Compromise
• Our Primary is now May
29th
• The New map gives
Democrats 2-3 of the
new seats….
• No One is really happy
What it Does to Austin
• Creates 5 Districts
• Four Safe Republican
• Stretches Doggett’s
District to San Antonio
GETTING TO CONGRESS
The Bad Old Days
• Congress Did very Little
• It was seen as a
penance
• D.C. Was not a nice
place
What has changed?
• Air Conditioning
• Congress does more
• People want to go there
Who Are Our Congressman: Wealthy
Why so many millionaires?
• Running for Congress is a costly endeavor
• Running for Congress is a full-time job
• You need a job that permits this
Congress is Older
Still More Men Than Women
Changes Since the 1990’s
A GREAT JOB
Well-Paid
Great Benefits
• Money For Trips and
Travel
• Great Pension
• Cheap Health Care
Other Perks
• Great Parking
• 3 day work week
• Franking Privilege
• Power and Prestige