Congress

• Fear of excessive power concentrated in single institution

• Fear of mob rule/Majority Rule• Concern of representation in

Congress• Belief Congress would be

strongest

Framer’s Concerns

• More moderating• Prevent “mob rule”• Voice for small states

Closer to the people!

TERM OF CONGRESS

2 yearsTwo regular sessions per term

Adjournment: end of a term

Begin Jan 3Odd-numbered years• 105th Congress: 1997-1999• 106th Congress: 1999-2001• 107th Congress:2001-2003

Lame duck period?

• 435 members• 25 years old/ 7 years residency of the state• 2 year terms• Single districts (closer to the people)• GerrymanderingCensusredistircting• More formal/structured (House Rules

Committee)• Revenue bills (tax)

• 100 members• Originally chosen by state legislatures• 6 year term 1/3 of Senate up for re-election every two

years Why stagger 1/3 at a time?• 30 years old/ 9 years residency• More informal• Filibuster• Confirmations• Ratify treaties

More removed

Organizational

• Staffers • Interest groups• President• Media

Others

• Made committee assignments• Appointed committee chairmen• Chaired Rules Committee• Refused stalling tactics

• Stripped of right to make committee assignments• Stripped of right to appoint committee chairmen• Stripped of right of position of Rules Chairman

• Set agenda• Content, ones to report out• Seniority rule developed

Power of subcommittee chairmen increased while committee chairmen decreased

Recent developments104th Congress

Republican Congress

Contract with America

• Late 1820’s—after Civil War• Party unity shattered in the House: (South vs North)• Senate escaped disunity during same period• (Senators from slave-owning states exactly equaled the

number from free states)

More Democratic

Senate

• White Men• Protestant• Upper-middle class (lawyers)

• More women and minorities lately• 109th Congress: 42 B, 24 H, 68 W

(House)• Senate: 1B, 2 H, 14 W

Pork BarrelEar marks

ReciprocityImpact?

Democratic Study Group Congressional Black Caucus

Women’s Caucus Wednesday Group

Boll Weevils (CDF) NE/Mid-West Congressional Coalition

The Committee SystemReal work done in

committeesAnd sub-committees

Functions1.Handle legislation2.Conduct investigations of

executive branch on as needed basis

3.Conduct oversight of executive branch agencies on an on-going basis

Selection of Committee Members

Important to be on the right Committee!

Help your constituents.

Keep your seat!

National Aspirations?

Or

Selection Process

Majority in House=Majority on Committee

• Steering Committee• Committee on Committees

Chairman Ranking memberVS

SELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMENSubstantial power

• Set agenda• Hire staff• Membership

on subcommittees

Seniority system104th Congress

Secret Ballot&

Decentralization1970’s Reforms

Secret ballot

Hearings open to the public

Can chair only one committee

Types of CommitteesStanding Committees

House Rules

Ways and MeansAppropriations

BudgetArmed Services

SenateFinance

AppropriationsForeign Relations

JudiciaryBudget

House

• Most powerful• Floor debate rules • Closed v. Open

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

Iron out differences

Different versions of the

same billPass each

house

House SenateTemporary, members from both houses.

Final version will be exact same for both houses to vote on

SELECT COMMITTEE

JOINT COMMITTEE

• Members from single house

• Temporary• Study an issue• Conduct an investigation

&Similar to Select Committee

WATERGATE

• Less than 10% actually pass• Most originate in the executive branch• Either house, except for revenue bills• Two step legislative process: Authorization

Appropriation

Need “correct” committee

• Pass: Bill is reported out to full house for consideration

• Kill

• Amend (markup session)

• Pigeonhole: Postpone indefinitely: most frequent fate of bills

Committee of the Whole (House only)

Impact of rules committee

Open or closed rules

(For introduction of bill Saves time)

Vote on bill

HOUSE

• Cloture

• Double tracking

Christmas Tree Bills

SenateFloor Action

Non-germane amendments

Line Item Veto

CensusPopulation shiftreapportionstate redistricting

Racial Gerrymandering“Majority-minority” districts

Statedistricts

Applied to national “House” districts