Congress Branch of the people. Powers of Congress Duties of the House and Senate The House of Representatives -Initiates impeachment proceedings against.

congressBranch of the people

Powers of Congress

Duties of the House and Senate

The House of Representatives

-Initiates impeachment proceedings against a President or other government official

-Originates revenue bills

The Senate -Votes to convict impeached President or other

officials

-Must approve major presidential appointments

-Sole power to affirm treaties

IncumbentIncumbents have a high reelection rate

However, public hold members of Congress in low regard, but they believe failures are due to not their member of congress

Members of Congress use gerrymandering and franking powers to hold on to their seats

Public Confidence

Off year elections

elections held on off years (non presidential) usually have big gains for the opposing party of the White House

2002 was only election since civil war where presidents party gained seats in Congress

in 2006 the Democratic party to back control of congress leading up to this years presidential election

Diversifying congress

Minorities have been underrepresented in Congress

Racial gerrymandering has lead to more minority members of Congress

Shaw v. Reno said racial gerrymandering was unconstitutional, however that decision was modified to allow it to be a consideration in drawing districts.

Issues to Agenda

Issues may reach the agenda in many ways

-A highly visible event (like Sept. 11th) draws our attention to a problem

-Presidential support

-Congressional party leaders and committee chairs

-Interest group efforts

Legislation -Intro to law

Series of specific steps, but legislation can be treated differently at each step

Introduction > Assigned to committee > Assigned to subcommittee > debated and discussed > House and Senate bills reconsiled > sent to a vote

Passed!

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Presidents actionPresident’s action

1)Sign

2)Veto

3)Neither sign nor veto within 10 days bill becomes law

4)Neither sign nor veto within 10 days but Congress adjourns pocket veto

Presidents capitalize on nationwide popular election

Public expects president to be legislator-in-chief

Hundreds of legislative liaison personnel work for executive branch

Expertise and seniority

Congressional Expertise and Seniority

Influence on committees grows formally with seniority

Influence on committees grows informally with increased expertise

Senior member of the majority party usually becomes the committee chair

John Dingell, MI 27 Terms, Consecutive

John Conyers Jr., MI 22 Terms, Consecutive

Robert Byrd, Senate WV

Ted Kennedy, Senate Mass

Behave!

Norms of Behavior

Unwritten codes of behavior to keep things running

Members show respect for their colleagues

Members should be willing to bargain with one another

Some norms have changed in recent years

Political parties in congress

Political parties

Have limited, but important, resources to influence members of Congress

Party leaders can help or hinder rank-and-file members in many ways

Partisanship is rising

whips - Assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences. The Majority and Minority Whips (and their assistants) are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.

Interest groups and congress

Interest groups

A way for constituents to influence Congress

Sources of useful information

Recent scandals raise concerns about conflicts of interest

Trustee or Delegate?

Trustees or Delegates?

Trustee: a representative who is obligated to consider the views of constituents but is not obligated to vote according to those views if he or she believes they are misguided

Delegate: a legislator whose primary responsibility is to represent the majority view of his or her constituents, regardless of his or her own view