Transcript Creation and Evolution of Congress

Unit 4:
Congress
1. Creation and Function
of Congress
Main Function of Congress?
• to create laws and pass budget
• Legislate: to pass laws
SENATE
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Why Bicameral?
• Historical---we stole the idea from
British Parliament (House of Commons,
House of Lords)
• Practical---compromise between big
states (Virginia) & small states (NJ)
• Theoretical---each will check each
other’s power
Congress: “Coming Together”
• Congress vs Parliament:
– US Congress members have to win back home,
often with little party support.
– MPs only win with party listings.
– MCs have more independence in office than MPs.
– Party in power in P. chooses Prime Minister, not
the case in our system
2. The Senate
“The Gentlemen’s Club”
• 100 Senators, two from
each state, serve a 6
year term (no term
limits)
• Only 1/3 of Senate up
for re-election every 2
years
“Gentlemen’s Club”
• The Senate
– Longer terms, less turnover, more media attention, more
prestigious
– Less rules, more open talk
– Major committees: Judiciary, Foreign Relations,
Appropriations
– Senator serve on 2-3 committees
– Leaders Majority and Minority
– Qualification: 30 yrs, live in state your rep.
The Filibuster
• The Filibuster: Talking until majority
of Senate agrees to abandon or
modify a bill.
• OLD STROM: Record filibuster 24 h,
18 min
• Filibusters have included corn bread
recipes, phone book readings,
fishing stories, etc.
• Cloture: 60 senator vote to limit
debate to 30 hours
Filibuster:
Often used
by minority party
to stall judicial
appointments
3. The House of Representatives
The People’s House
• The House
– 435 members, running every two
years=always running
– Responsible for Federal Budget
– Strict rules on debate, amendments
– Major committees: Appropriations,
Oversight and Gov’t Reform, Budget
– Leader: Speaker of House,
Majority/Minority Leader
The House
• Qualifications for House
members:
– 25 years old
– citizen for 7 years
– live in the district you
represent.
Youngest Rep:
Aaron Schock
Apportionment
• House: 435 seats divided up based on a
state’s population (~670,000 per district)
• Senate: 2 Senators per state
Idaho
Apportionment: Districts redrawn
every 10 years
January 20, 2012
Supreme Court sides with
Texas on redistricting plan
Gerrymandering
• practice of drawing House district
boundaries to benefit a certain party or
group-shame, shame, shame!
• Go to: http://www.redistrictinggame.org/
Then
Now
D
R R R
R
R
D D
D D D
DD D
R
R D
Pack’em and
Crack’ em
R
R
D
R
4. Powers of Congress
Legislative Powers
(Expressed- specifically mentioned Constitution):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Tax and Spend, (and Spend, and Spend)
Borrow
Coin Money
Regulate Commerce
Foreign Relations (approve treaties, declare war, etc.)
Create courts, post offices, copyrights, & patents
Manage and rule territories
Recent Expenditures
Legislative Powers
Implied Powers- not specifically mentioned but
implied (by elastic clause). Too many to name--is this ok?
Strict
Constructionists:
NO!
Loose
Constructionists:
YES!
Nonlegislative Powers
1. Impeachment
2. Propose
Amendments
3. Choose a President
Nonlegislative Powers
4. Give Advise & Consent
5. Investigate
6. Oversight
EARMARKS
• An earmark is a congressional provision
that directs appropriated funds to be spent
on specific projects or that directs specific
exemptions from taxes or mandated fees.
PIG BOOK RULES
• This year’s Congressional Pig Book Summary
symbolize the most egregious and blatant examples
of pork.
• Meet at least one of CAGW’s seven criteria, but most
satisfy at least two:
– Requested by only one chamber of Congress
– Not specifically authorized;
– Not competitively awarded;
– Not requested by the President;
– Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or
the previous year’s funding;
– Not the subject of congressional hearings; or
– Serves only a local or special interest.
EARMARS
http://www.cagw.org/reports/pigbook/2010/
1. Pick your 3 favorite PORKY projects (biggest
waste of taxpayer money). Briefly explain why
you picked each.
2. List 2 at least somewhat justifiable projects.
Describe how the Congress member might
defend these.
3. Check out the historical trends. What has been
happening recently. What could be a reason for
this?
4. How could Congress reduce wasteful spending?
Give 3 ideas.
5. Who is in Congress?
Leadership of Congress
Split Leadership
Senate
– Democrats 51
– Republicans 47
– Independents 2
House
– Republicans 241
– Democrats 192
Leadership of Congress
Speaker of the House:
Presiding officer in the House-- assigns bills to committees,
plans schedule, presides over
sessions
• John Boehner R- OH
Leadership of Congress
Majority Leaders (House and Senate):
Spokesmen for dominant party
Senate-Harry Reid (D-NV)
Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Leadership of Congress
• Minority Leaders (House and Senate):
Spokesmen for opposition party
Senate- Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
House- Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Leadership of Congress
• Whips: vote counters in
House, assist M&M
leaders
• Vice President of US:
President of Senate:
breaks ties
• President pro tem of
Senate: Presiding officer
in Senate in VPs absence
Leadership of Congress
• Whips: vote counters
in House, assist M&M
leaders
• Vice President of US:
President of Senate,
breaks ties
• President pro tem of
Senate: Presiding
officer in Senate in
VPs absence
6. Making Laws
Just like
sausage making!
TYPES OF LEGISLATION
– Bills: draft of a law presented to H
or S by a member.
– Resolutions: formal declaration of
opinion.
– Riders: Attachment to bill, usually
controversial and not directly
related to the bill and it wouldn’t
pass on its own as a bill.
– Earmarks: provision to a bill
including local spending items.
THE BILL TO LAW PROCESS
(Simplified)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Bill introduced in H/S
Sent to committee
Voted on by H or S
Sent to Conference with other chamber
Sent to President
Signed or Vetoed (if vetoed, override
possible with 2/3s vote)