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The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch. Congress v. Parliament. Parler - French , to talk. Congress - Latin , a coming together. Difference lies in how one becomes a member and what one does as a member. PARLIAMENT Members selected by party Voters vote for party, not person

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The Legislative Branch

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  1. The Legislative Branch Congress v. Parliament

  2. Parler - French, to talk Congress - Latin, a coming together Difference lies in how one becomes a member and what one does as a member.

  3. PARLIAMENT • Members selected by party • Voters vote for party, not person • Members select Prime Minister • Party members vote together on most issues • Party discipline tight • Renomination depends on loyalty to party leadership • Little actual power • Very little pay, no office no staff • Principle work – debate major national issues

  4. CONGRESS • Primary – personality & positions on issues, not party • Members don not select President • Body of independent representatives (vote on ind. Beliefs) • Little party discipline • Great deal of power • High pay, offices, staff, etc • Principle work: representation of constituents and “action”

  5. WHY CONGRESS, NOT PARLIAMENT? • Framers did not want all powers concentrated in one government institution • (Checks and balances) • States would not consent to national government that didn’t protect their interests • States would not consent to a government that didn’t balance large/small states. • (Bicameralism)

  6. Struggles WITHIN Congress • SLAVERY • ADMISSION OF NEW STATES • TARIFFS • REGULATION OF BUSINESS • CENTRALIZATION V DECENTRALIZATION

  7. CENTRALIZATION Strong central leadership Restrictions on debate Minimal committee interference Quick and decisive as a body Party rule

  8. DECENTRALIZATION Interests of members/constituents Weak party leadership Many opportunities for committee activity Autonomy Debate and discussion

  9. Two houses Requirements for office Term of office Decennial Census Powers Setting up districts District boundaries Eligibility for voting ARTICLE I

  10. 4 Problems to solve… • …establishing the total size of the House • …allocating seats among states • …determining size of Congressional districts • …determining shape of districts

  11. I. ESTABLISHING TOTAL SIZE OF HOUSE • 1911 Congress froze House at 435 • II. ALLOCATING SEATS AMONG STATES • 1929 Reapportionment Act of 1929 • Article I, Section 2…decennial census

  12. III. DETERMINING SIZE OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS 1. Malapportionment ’64 Wesberry v. Sanders 2. Gerrymandering IV. DETERMINING SHAPE OF DISTRICTS 1. Minority – Majority Districts ’93 Shaw v. Reno

  13. BICAMERAL UNICAMERAL DISTRICT AT LARGE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT MALAPPORTIONMENT GERRYMANDERING REAPPORTIONMENT MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICT DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION

  14. President of the Senate

  15. Speaker of the House

  16. Party Voting Steady increase since 1972 Reasons why members of party vote together 1. Ideologically alike 2. Not familiar with majority of issues & go to party for advice 3. “If you want to get along, go along”. S. Rayburn

  17. Majority Leader Schedules business Political bargaining Majority Whip Informs Leader of party opinion Rounds up members for important votes Floor Leaders

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