These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. !!! Lecture 13 The Legislative Branch Politician Goals and Orientation • Reelection!• Seen!as!the!primary!goal!of!elected!politicians!• This!was!not!always!the!case!• But,!professional!politicians!are!now!the!norm!• Policy!Output! !• Seen!as!the!alternative!goal!• Establishment!of!laws!that!are!consistent!with!the!members!personal!preferences!or!ideology! Congressional!Role!Orientation!• Delegates!!o Members!of!Congress!vote!their!constituents’!interests!!§ Decision!calculus!is!a!function!of!district!or!state!preferences!§ Role!is!evident!in!highly!salient!matters!• farm!subsidies!in!rural!districts!• issues!that!appeal!to!singleCissue!voters!o Trustees!C!Members!of!Congress!vote!their!best!judgment!§ Decision!calculus!is!a!function!of!member’s!own!preferences!!§ Role!is!evident!in!less!salient!matters!• arms!treaties!and!foreign!relations!• antiCtrust!and!intellectual!property!• regulation!of!broadcast!media!!!!!!!!!!POLS!1113!!! ! Organization!of!Congress:!House!• Constitution!allows!both!the!House!and!Senate!to!establish!Rules!of!Procedure!o Rules!produce!variance!in!the!influence!of!individual!members!o House!of!Representatives!o Large!institution!o Limited!debate!o Power!centralized!with!the!leadership!o Emphasis!on!legislative!rules!for!amendments!o Committee!chairs!hold!leverage! Rules!Committee!o A!very!powerful!committee!that!is!controlled!by!the!majority!party!§ Leverage!over!what!comes!up!when,!and!how!§ Majority!party!always!has!a!solid!margin!on!this!committee!o Designates!Closed!Rule!Bills!§ Limits!floor!amendments!§ Limits!the!amount!of!debate!!o Designates!Open!Rule!Bills!§ Amendments!possible!on!the!floor!§ Increases!opportunities!for!debate! Organization!of!Congress:!Senate!• Senate!o Smaller!institution!o Rights!to!extended!debate!o Individual!senators!empowered!by!right!to!filibuster!o Tradition!of!comity!between!the!parties!!• Filibusters!in!the!Senate!o Right!to!unlimited!debate!! !o No!longer!formal!debate!on!the!floor!!§ Senators!place!legislative-holds-on!items!§ Senate’s!agenda!proceeds!along!multiple!tracks!o Cloture!and!Rule!22!!§ Ends!a!filibuster!through!a!procedural!vote!to!close!debate!§ Cloture!currently!requires!a!3/5ths!majority!§