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Congress at Work

Learn how Congress influences tax laws, handles money appropriations, and responds to voter preferences, party lines, and external influences.

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Congress at Work

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  1. Congress at Work Ch. 7 Sec. 2-4

  2. Making Decisions About Taxes • Constitution gives power to House to start all revenue bills • House Ways and Means Committee • Most important work on tax law • Decides whether on Pres. requests for increase or cuts in taxes • Makes rules on who pays how much taxes • Committee’s tax bills debated under closed rule – forbids members from offering any amendments to a bill on the floor  revolt in 1973 • Senate can propose amendments

  3. Appropriating Money • Two step process • Authorization Bill – sets up federal program and specifies how much money will be appropriated for that program • Appropriations Bill – provides money needed to carry out the law congress has passed • Handled by House and Senate Appropriations Committees and subcommittees • Both have 13 dealing with some policy areas

  4. Influence of Voters • Constituents expect lawmakers to put the needs of their district or state ahead of the needs of the nation • Expect reps. to vote on issues along with the majority of their constituents preference • Reps. keep track of constituents opinions • Visits to the district • Messages from home • Surveys and polls • Key supporters

  5. Influence of Parties • Tend to vote with party lines (more than 70% of the time in the House) • Democrats tend to favor social welfare programs, job programs through public works, tax laws helping low income, govt. regulation of business • Republicans tend to favor lower taxes, less spending, state/local govt., limit govt. in economy • Vote party lines on issues they don’t know a lot about

  6. Other Influences on Congress • Pres. influences congress • Use tv to gain public support for bills • Give or with-hold support of lawmakers • Interest groups influence congress • Lobbyists – try to get congress to support legislation favored by the group they represent • Lobbying – efforts to persuade their point of view • Political Action Committees (PACs) – political fundraising organizations established by corporations, labor unions, special interest groups

  7. Handling Constituents Problems • Casework – helping constituents with their problems • Thousands of requests to help in dealing with executive agencies • Caseworkers – staff members who handle constituents problems • Serves 3 important purposes • Helps lawmakers get re-elected • Helps congress oversee executive branch • Way for average citizen to cope with large federal govt.

  8. Helping the District or State • Public Works Bills – congress appropriations for local projects (e.g. bridges, post offices, etc.) • Called Pork Barrel Legislation – congress has dipped into the pork barrel (federal treasury) and pulled out a piece of fat (fed. Project for their district) • Logrolling – agreements by 2 or more lawmakers to support each others’ bills

  9. Helping the District or State • Work to ensure their state gets a fair share of federal grants and contracts • Helps with job creation • Congress doesn’t directly control grants and contracts • Influence executive agencies

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