Unit 4 academic
- 1. Unit 4 – Legislative Branch - Congress
- 2. 1. Congress (legislative) As a whole: Coin Money Declare War Provide for navy and army Regulate commerce. No ex post facto laws or Bills of attainder House of Representatives Money bills must be introduced here. Based on population CA has most PA has 19 Each state has at least 1 435 members Elected every two years. Districts are large = only upper class could run for office.
- 3. c. Senate Upper house – 100 members Elected by state legislatures until 17 amendment in 1913 Six year terms – detached from people Only 1/3 of Senate up for election at a time – continuous body Advice and consent to the President.
- 4. E. Congressional Members About $160,000 a year plus pension Offices capital & in district, plus personnel. Travel allowances and franking privileges. Often requires 10 to 14 hour days, lots of time away from the family, and lots of pressure from different people to “do the right thing.”
- 5. The Representatives and Senators
- 6. Senator Bob Casey Jr. Senator Arlen Specter Congressmen Glenn GT Thompson
- 7. 2. Structure House of Representatives 435 members Speaker of House keeps order. Nancy Pelosi is elected by majority. Senate 100 members Vice President is President of Senate and casts tie breaking votes. President Pro Tempore takes over occasionally – is senior member of the majority party. Senator William Byrd – 1952
- 8. 3. Party Organization Each party elects a leader to plan what topics they will discuss. Majority leader in charge of majority party Minority leader in charge of minority party Each party elects a whip to keep party members in line. Second in command. Conference leader in charge of elections – third I n charge. The party with the most people is called the majority and with the least is called the minority. The majority leader decides what issues they will vote on and how to set up committees. In House, Speaker has final say.
- 9. 4. Business Each house has a manual or rule book. House rules are long and complex to size Senate book is shorter and there is more individuality. The parliamentarian makes sure the rules are followed. Most members do not know all of the rules. Bills are developed on behalf of constituents, lobbyists, party, or president. Bills become laws and have to be passed by both houses. Joint resolutions are shorter and become law, usually for the constitution. Other resolutions do not become law – they are just declarations.
- 10. 5. Committees Lead by a chairperson – senior member of majority party. Ranking member is the minority member with most seniority. All committees are structured so the majority party holds more of the seats. They decide what bills to review, when to meet, and what hearings to hold. Each committee focuses on a specific topic like the military or science. Most bills “die” in committee. Many bills are referred to subcommittee.
- 11. h. Policy Standing committees: Permanent committee. Joint committees: few exist. Made of both houses. Conference committees: create identical bills. Select committees: temporary and for something special.
- 12. i. Assignments Re-election and importance of committee are key. Freshmen members let party leadership know their interests. Support of the party leadership is key Seniority is a big factor. Importance to party electorate is significant.
- 13. j. Structure of Committees Chair is the best position. Chosen by seniority system unless there is conflict with leadership. Positions and committee assignments can change and are sometimes limited in term.
- 14. k. Caucus Group of members that share something in common. Place pressure on members to vote a certain way on bills that are important to them. Better than lobbyists.
- 15. l. Employees In each members’ office is a personal staff and Chief of Staff. Staff of each committee track paperwork, schedule and hearings. Agencies: CRS, GAO, CBO research special areas like the budget, auditing, etc.
- 16. 6. History of the Congress 1789-1850 Meets first time in NYC in 1789. Waited for new members to travel. Hires clerks, sets up procedure. NW territory established. New states admitted (Vermont first). Dominated domestic policy. 1802 – Judiciary Act passed that shapes other branch. 1812 – Declaration of War passed against Britain when asked for by President Madison. Federalists oppose it and the party dies due to “lack of patriotism.” 1820 – Missouri Compromise Missouri became a slave state. Maine becomes a free state. The 36 – 30 line divides the nation between slave and free. Slaveholder John Calhoun is against the bill, Henry Clay supports it.
- 17. 1824 – Speaker Henry Clay helps Congress choose John Q. Adams to be president, this angers A. Jackson. Jackson becomes president and fights Congress to be the strongest branch. Congress attempts to override vetoes of president. Whig controlled Congress leans nationalist. 1834 – Jackson is censured by Congress. Slavery is most divisive issue and is sectional. 1836 – Gag rule is placed so no one can talk about slavery. Compromise of 1850 passed. Sick Henry Clay designs it, Daniel Webster speaks on his behalf. California becomes free state Popular sovereignty allowed in Utah and New Mexico. Texas paid for lost land. Slave trade abolished in DC. Fugitive Slave Act forces Northerners to help capture slaves.
- 18. 7. Civil War and Reconstruction 1856 – Kansas-Nebraska Act is presented by Sen. Stephen Douglas in hopes of winning presidency. 1856 – Rep. Preston Brooks beats Sen. Charles Sumner with cane for insulting the South. Both rewarded as heroes of their sections. 1861 – Congressman who do not show up are kicked out. Post war – Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act. Johnson violates when he fires the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. President Johnson is impeached by House, but not removed by Senate. Radical Republicans in Congress run the nation and reconstruct the South. Charles Sumner of the Senate and Representative Thaddeus Stevens lead. They want equality for blacks. Reconstruction ends when Congressional investigation gives presidency to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. He promises to pull troops out.
- 19. 8. Twentieth Century Congress Congress is disturbed by overreach of president from TR to Wilson. Isolationist Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge leads charge against League of Nations leading up to 1920. Wilson and White House are weakened. New Deal Democrats take charge of Congress, support FDR from 1930-1945. Congress is weakened. House Un-American Activities Committee and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations look for Communists. Nixon gains fame in House, but McCarthy is eventually censured. McCarthy went too far and accused the Army of being communist. Pork barrel spending skyrockets, especially with transportation bill in the 1950’s after the first Interstate Highway system was developed. House investigates Watergate scandal, leads to Nixon’s investigation in the 1970’s.
- 20. 9. Reagan Era Senate investigates Iran-Contra scandal, where guns were traded for people. Senate rejects Robert Bork for Supreme Court. Republicans take back Congress in 1994. Newt Gingrich (R) and Bob Dole (R) declare a “Contract with America.” Balance the budget Lower taxes Have term limits Equal to executive branch Whitewater Investigation in House spreads to Monica Lewinsky affair. Americans are upset over $10 million spent. Republicans lose seats steadily for years.
- 21. 10. How a Bill becomes a Law Congressman creates a bill. Goes to subcommittee. Reviewed, then killed or moved to floor. Goes to committee. Repeat Step C. Floor Debate occurs – decided by Majority Leaders. House is limited to five minute speeches. Senate may speak indefinitely (filibuster of 1957 over Civil Rights lasted over 24 hours). May go to conference committee so bills are identical in both houses. Repeat Step F President can… Signs into law. Veto – Dies or goes back to Step F. Pocket Veto – ignore it and it becomes law.
- 22. Congressional Elections Who Wins Elections? Incumbent: Those already holding office. Figure 12.1
- 23. Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbents Advertising: The goal is to be visible to your voters. Frequent trips home & newsletters are used. Credit Claiming: Service to individuals in their district. Casework: specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right to. Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made available in a congressional district or state.
- 24. Congressional Elections The Advantages of Incumbents Position Taking: Portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individuals. Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issue. Weak Opponents: Most opponents are inexperienced in politics. Most opponents are unorganized and underfunded. Campaign Spending: Challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an incumbent. PACs give most of their money to incumbents. Does PAC money “buy” votes in Congress?
- 25. Congressional Elections The Role of Party Identification Most members represent the majority party in their district. Defeating Incumbents Some incumbents face problems after a scandal or other complication in office. They may face redistricting. They may become a victim of a major political tidal wave.
- 26. Congressional Elections Open Seats Greater likelihood of competition. Stability and Change Incumbents provide stability in Congress. Change in Congress occurs less frequently through elections. Are term limits an answer?
- 27. Understanding Congress Congress and the Scope of Government The more policies Congress works on, the more ways they can serve their constituencies. The more programs that get created, the bigger government gets. Everybody wants government programs cut, just not their programs.
- 28. Questions Who are bills made for and why? Page 116 Skip to Bill Referral on page 118. What ways can a bill be referred and what is the difference? What can a committee do with a bill? Why doesn’t a bill go straight from committee to the floor? Who is involved in calling a bill to the floor? What is the difference between debate in the House and Senate? How do amendments impact the bill process? How does a conference committee work to resolve differences and who sits on the committee?