POLS 1337 1st Edition Lecture 16Previous: Local Government in TX Part IIIIntroductionCitizens are known to dislike congressCNN clip: “ A Do Nothing 113 th Congresshttp://www.cnn.com/2013/08/16/opinion/porter-health-research-congress- House voted 40th time on taking out Obama care (won’t pass b/c of the Democrat control in Senate)- 5 week vacation, 561 bills lowest number passed in American History- 125 million raised from incumbent’s campaigningWall Street Journal’s Interactive Pres. Approval ratingshttp://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html- Website shows various events which effected president’s ratingsCongressional approval ratings-polling reporthttp://pollingreport.com/CongJob1.htm- Website shows approval ratings - From various news outlets (fox, nbc, mnbc, etc…)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.- Most recent dates have a majority of disapproval 75% or more Powers of CongressArticle I, Sec VIII of Constitution- Declaring War- Regulate interstate commerce- Power to tax and spend- Ratify treaties- Bureaucratic oversightChecking the power of the president- Confirms Pres. Appointees- Override laws- Write laws - ImpeachmentNecessary and Proper Clause“Congress shall have the power to make all laws which shall be necessary & proper to carrying into Execution for foregoing Powers and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States or in any Department or Officer thereof”113th Congress113 th Congress: House of RepresentativesHouse Minority LeaderNancy Pelosi (D-CA)- 60th Speaker of the U.S House of Reps (2007-2011)- Only woman to serve as the House Speaker- Highest ranking female politician in American HistorySpeaker of The House - John Boehner (R-OH)- 61st Speaker of the U.S House of Reps (2011-current)- Previously served as House Minority Leader (2007-2011) & Majority Leader (2006- 2007)113 th Congress: SenateSenate Majority LeaderHarry Reid (D-NV)- In office since 1987- Senate Majority leader since 2007- Previously served as Minority leader & minority and majority whip- Previous member of House of Reps.Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R-KY)- Minority leader since 2007- 2nd Kentucky senator to lead his party, - longest serving U.S Senator (for Kentucky)Texas SenatorsTed Cruz ( R )- 1st Cuban American to hold office as Senator for Texas- Served as a solicitor general of TX (2003-2008)- Served as Director of policy planning (Fed. Trade commission) , Associate Deputy Att. Gen, Domestic Policy Advisor to George Bush (2000)John Cornyn (R) - Served as Senior Senator since 2002- Current Senate Minority Whip- Previously served as chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee (2007-2011)- Judge in TX 37th’s District Court