Congress Overriding Questions Why did the founders create Congress and not Parliament? How has the role of a Congress-person changed over time? How does.

Congress

Overriding Questions

Why did the founders create Congress and not Parliament?

How has the role of a Congress-person changed over time?

How does the legislative process impact public policy?

Duties of the Job

1. Legislators who make the laws 2. Committee Members

Screen bills and make recommendations Oversight function of governmental agencies

3. Representatives of their Constituents- Those who elect them

4. Servants of their Constituents 5. Politicians

Much time spent fundraising for future elections

Types of Bills and Resolutions

Bills

Concurrent ResolutionsJointly between the House and SenateNot sent to the President

ResolutionsRule of procedure or amendment to ruleNot sent to the President

RiderAddition to a bill

Congressional Leaders

Majority Leader—the legislative leader of the party holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

Minority Leader—the legislative leader and spokesperson of the party holding the minority of seats in the House or Senate

Whip—a senator or representative who works with the party leaders to communicate views, solicit support before votes are taken, and keep track of how voting is likely to go

Presiding Officers

Speaker of the House- doesn’t vote Elected from the majority party

President of the Senate-Vice President President Pro Tempore

Elected by the senate from majority party Honorary position based on seniority

Floor Leaders- legislative strategists Whips-

Assist floor leaders – aware of how others will vote

Party Caucus- party meeting Committee Chairman

Seniority Rule-no longer the rule

Incumbents…

Why they win… Name recognition Free mail franking

(publicity) Media exposure service to

constitutients (PORK)

Sophomore surge Gerrymandering

Why they lose… Redistricting Voter Disgust

Yes….more than likely they WIN!

Representatives of the People

Trustees Their ideology

Delegates Their constituent

Partisans Their Political Party

Politicos Combo of the Three

The four voting options:

Centripetal-centralized party, quick efficient action

Centrifugal-Reps vote independent of party, SLOW

Compensation Today, senators and representatives are paid a salary of… $168, 000 a year, Certain members, such as the Speaker of the House and

the Senate’s president pro tem, are paid more. Senate Leadership

Majority Leader - $183,500  Minority Leader - $183,500 

House Leadership Speaker of the House - $212,100Majority Leader - $183,500Minority Leader - $183,500

The franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage.

How a bill becomes a LAW…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dVo3nbLYC0

Sources-Committees, Congress-people, Executive branch, PACS (interest groups)

Intro-given a number (only 10% make it) Member reads and Speaker refers to com. Sponsor in Senate reads and VP (Pro-tem) refers Senate standing committees 15-20 members and

House standing committee 30-40 members While in COMMITTEE---Research and investigate at

hearings (experts, witnesses, PAC members)

Then what….?

Take action-end there Change and report back (“mark up”)Pigeonhole (force to discharge with 218

votes)

Wait there’s more…

Subcommittees-grew in the 1970’s (House 90, Senate 70)

Rules Committee-rules for debateHouse Floor (re-read with revisions)ChangeVoteDelayOn to Senate

In the Senate-

IntroCommitteeDebateFillibusterCloture (60) senatorsConference CommitteeDa Prez-sign, veto, pocket veto

Congressional Ethics?

1978 Ethics reformAll income must be reportedSurplus funds cannot be used for

personal use

THE TRENDS!

More polarized and ideological than voters

More individualisticMore hospitable to Freshman, heavily

staffed, subcommittee orientedDiversity

Interest Groups

Interest groups are interrelated and also separate organizations

Hyper pluralism…

“Latent causes of factions are thus sown in the nature of men.”

-James Madison, Federalist #10Interest groups have explodedSense of membership (De Tocqueville)

Birth of Interest Groups

1770’s: American Independence1830’s – 1840’s: Religious & Anti-Slavery

Movements1860’s – Trade Unions; Fraternal

Organizations1880’s – 1890’s: Business Associations1900’s – 1920’s: Business & Professional

Associations; Charitable Organizations1960’s: Environmental, Consumer & Political

Reform Organizations

Why Join?

Material Reasons:Incentives, discountsPurposive Reasons:Policy change, ideological beliefs, Public

interest (MADD)

Valuable Functions of Interest Groups

Interest groups raise awareness of public affairs, or issues that concern the people at large.

Interest groups represent people who share attitudes rather than those who share geography.

Interest groups provide specialized information to government agencies and legislators.

Interest groups are vehicles for political participation. Interest groups keep tabs on various public agencies and

officials. Interest groups compete.

Political Parties and Interest Groups

Political parties and interest groups differ in three striking respects: (1) in the making of nominations, (2) in their primary focus, and (3) in the scope of their interests.

The Various Types of Groups:

Business (NAM, C of C) Labor (AFL-CIO, UMW) Agriculture (Amer. Farm Bur. Fed.) Consumer (Consumers Union) Elderly (AARP) Environmental (SC, EDF) show internet resources http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/kfountain/al

pha.html

More on Interest Groups and Parties

Interest Groups v. Parties Interest groups are specialists; the Parties are

generalists Interest groups are tightly organized; the

Parties are loosely organized. Interest groups, unlike Parties, do not wish to

run the government. Interest groups may be extreme; the Parties

must remain moderate.

More Groups...

Professional (AMA, ABA, NEA) Women’s (NOW) Church (National Council of Churches) Ethnic (NAACP, Mexican-American

Legal Defense Fund, Organization of Chinese Americans)

Influencing Parties and Elections

Political Action Committees (PACs) raise and distribute money to candidates who will further their goals.

More on Lobbying…

Lobbying carries beyond the legislature. It is brought into government agencies, the executive branch, and even the courts.

Nearly all important organized interest groups maintain lobbyists in Washington, D.C.

Lobbyists at Work

Lobbyists use several techniques:They send articles, reports, and

other information to officeholders.

They testify before legislative committees.

Other ways they work…

They bring “grass-roots” pressures to bear through email, letters, or phone calls from constituents.

They rate candidates and publicize the ratings.

They make campaign contributions.

They give you gifts!

They have celebrities endorse them!

They make it easy for you to donate money!

History of Interest Groups

Industrial Revolution created unions Civil Rights creates NAACP Gov’t Policy-people for or against Social Movement Public Interest (single interest)-AARP Interest groups became embedded in

American Politics in the early 1950s and 1960s

Can’t outlaw them… 1st Amendment

Regulate/Restrict…1946 to 1996! Lobbying Disclosure Act

“Overlapping Membership”…so...

The best way to “control” them is to join them!!!

Efforts to Control Groups:

Regulating Interest Groups

First Amendment Protection Political speech & Petition of Government

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act: 1946 Required registration and quarterly financial reports

Supreme Court restricted its application to direct contact with Congressmen

‘Grassroot’ activity was not restricted Lobbying Disclosure Act: 1995

Tightened registration and disclosure requirements Broader definition of Lobbyists