Congress Chapter 7 In this chapter we will learn about The clash between representation and lawmaking The powers and responsibilities of Congress Congressional membership and elections The organization of Congress and the rules of congressional operation The relationship of citizens to Congress Representation and lawmaking Representation the efforts by elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them Lawmaking the creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation The conflict between representation and lawmaking Local good different from national good and members favor representing their local constituencies Difficult for members to fulfill their collective responsibility of national lawmaking Explains why Americans hate Congress as a whole but love their own senators and representatives Four kinds of representation Policy representation congressional work to advance the issues and ideological preferences of constituents Allocative representation congressional work to secure projects services and funds for the represented district Pork barrel public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues Four kinds of representation cont d Casework legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs Symbolic representation efforts of members of Congress to stand for American ideals or to identify with common constituency values Powers of the House vs the Senate Bicameral legislature legislature with two chambers Constitutional differences Term length age apportionment treaties appointments etc Organizational differences Size number of committees Rules Committee limits on debate Electoral differences Campaign spending Differences between the House and the Senate House Senate 2 years 25 7 years In state Changes with population Impeaches official No authority No authority 6 years 30 9 years In state Fixed entire state Tries impeached official 2 3 approval Majority approval 435 members 20 Approx 6 Yes Yes 100 members 16 Approx 11 No No filibuster possible Constitutional Differences Term length Minimum age Citizenship required Residency Apportionment Impeachment Treaty making power Presidential appointments Organizational Differences Size Number of standing committees Total committee assignments per member Rules Committee Limits on floor debate Electoral Differences Costs of elections Incumbents Challengers Open seat Incumbency advantage 1 26 million 510 195 1 5 million 98 reelected 93 4 50 year average 9 4 million 5 4 million 10 4 million 96 reelected 80 4 50 year average Source Roger Davidson and Walter Oleszek Congress and Its Members 11th ed Washington D C CQ Press 2008 63 209 Federal Election Commission data compiled by Center for Responsive Politics calculations by authors Checks and balances Congress and the president Congress passes bills president signs or vetoes President s State of the Union address formulates policy President executes laws and is in charge of administering executive branch Congress exercises oversight of executive branch activities President appoints cabinet ambassadors judges to federal courts Senate has advise and consent role President represents national constituency Congress represents district or state constituencies Checks and balances Congress and the judiciary Congress makes the laws the courts interpret them Congress sets up lower federal courts determines salaries Congress decides jurisdiction for courts to hear cases Congress passes legislation that limits courts discretion to rule or impose sentences Congressional elections Politics of defining congressional districts Reapportionment a reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years following the census Redistricting process of redrawing of district lines in states with more than one representative carried out by state legislators or commission Gerrymandering redistricting to benefit a particular group Types of gerrymandering Pro incumbent gerrymandering Partisan gerrymandering Racial gerrymandering redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or an ethnic group will elect members to the legislature Majority minority districts after Voting Rights Act 1982 Often deemed unconstitutional by Supreme Court Deciding to run for Congress Who can run Age citizenship and residency qualifications Why would anyone want this job Sense of duty policy ideology Pay perks power Down side hard work low job security expensive Deciding to run for Congress cont d Strategic politician office seeker who bases the decision to run on a rational calculation that he or she will be successful Understands national trends Relies on focus groups and research not mere speculation Who gets elected Congress does not represent the public demographically Many more white males over the age of 40 in Congress than in the U S population Descriptive representation the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents This is a theory not a reality in the United States How Congress works organization Central role of party Parties frequently vote in unison in Congress Majority party controls leadership structure Organization cont d Speaker of the House majority party leader serves as presiding officer of the House Speaker has more power in House than majority leader has in Senate Our first female Speaker was replaced after 2010 midterm election due to change in House majority Leadership power depends on person and amount of power given by party members Committee system types of committees Standing committee permanent committee responsible for legislation in particular policy areas Drafts legislation and provides oversight Committee chairs wield considerable power House Rules Committee determines how and when debate on a bill will take place Getting on right committee essential for members of Congress Committee system cont d Select committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not suited to a standing committee Joint committee combined House Senate committee formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area Committee system cont d Conference committee formed temporarily to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of a bill May alter or rewrite legislation Congressional resources staff and bureaucracy have grown How Congress works process and politics Separate houses identical bills