1 / 73

The Role of Congress in Democracy

Explore the importance of bicameralism, compromise, and checks and balances in Congress. Learn about congressional reapportionment and redistricting, the personal and political backgrounds of Congress members, and the power dynamics in leadership. Discover the different types of committees and their roles in the legislative process. Understand how a bill becomes law through the Congress.

lorih
Download Presentation

The Role of Congress in Democracy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. CONGRESS

  2. Why Bicameralism? • Compromise • Checks & Balances

  3. Congressional Reapportionment & Redistricting • Reapportionment – The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the HR

  4. Why is it important? • 1. increases or decreases the number of seats • 2. more Rep’s more influence • 3. electoral votes

  5. Redistricting – the drawing/redrawing of congressional district lines • Gerrymandering • Why? • To enhance political party strength • Protect incumbents

  6. Who is in Congress?

  7. Personal & Political Backgrounds • WASP • Mid 50’s (middle-aged) • Married w/ children

  8. Table 11.1: Blacks, Hispanics, and Women in Congress, 1971-2002

  9. Many were lawyers • Held previous positions in government • Many make careers out of office

  10. Do members represent their voters? • Demographically: No • Republican members more conservative than avg. Americans • Democrat members more liberal than avg. Americans • Yes: If they want to get elected

  11. Congressional Elections • Incumbents usually win • Why? • Advertising – name recognition • Credit Claiming - Pork Barrel & casework • Safe districts - Gerrymandering

  12. Table 11.2: Incumbents in Congress Reelected by 60 Percent or More

  13. Figure 11.2: Percentage of Incumbents Reelected to Congress • Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, 1999-2000 (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2000), table 1-18.

  14. Job Benefits • Power • Pay $162,000 YR & Retirement • Office space • Congressional Staff • Travel allowances & Franking Privileges

  15. Powers of Congress • Legislative • examples include: to collect taxes, borrow money, to declare war, and to “make all laws necessary and proper”

  16. Non-legislative powers • oversight of the executive branch • appointments • impeachment

  17. Essay Practice # 1 • A. Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature • B. Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power • C. Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.

  18. Leadership in Congress

  19. House of Representatives • Speaker of the House- Boehner • 1. Presides over the House • 2. Appoints select & conference committees • 3. Appoints the rules committee

  20. 4. Assigns bills to committees • 5. Second in line for the presidency

  21. Speaker of the House– John Boehner ( R )

  22. Majority & Minority Leader • 1. Partisan position picked by individual parties • 2. Floor leader & legislative strategist • Majority – Cantor • Minority - Pelosi

  23. Majority Leader – Eric Cantor

  24. Minority Leader

  25. Party Whips • 1. Assistant floor leader • 2. Inform party leaders on the “mood” of the House • 3. Keep nose count on important votes

  26. Senate • Vice President - Biden • 1. President of the Senate • 2. Presides over the Senate • 3. Votes in case of tie

  27. Joseph Biden

  28. President pro Tempore • 1. Ceremonial job • 2. Presides when the VP is absent • 3. Third in line for the presidency after the Speaker – • Dan Inouye

  29. Majority Leader • 1. True leader in the Senate • 2. Recognized first for all debates • 3. True leader of the Majority party • Majority – Reid • Minority - McConnell

  30. Harry Reid (D-NV)

  31. Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell

  32. Types of Committees

  33. Standing Committee • Formed to handle bills in different policy areas • 2-3 committees and 4-7 subcommittees per member

  34. Joint Committees • Made up of members of both houses to meet about a specific issue and report back their findings – Example - Library of Congress

  35. Select Committees • Temporary - set up to study specific issues

  36. Conference Committees • Temporary • Members from both houses • hammer out differences in a bill

  37. Caucuses • Associations of members of Congress created to advocate on behalf of an ideology, constituency, or regional and economic interest • Types- Intraparty, Personal interest, Constituency concerns

  38. Table 11.5: Congressional Caucuses

  39. How Things Work: How a Bill Becomes Law

  40. Congress

  41. Congress

  42. Congress

  43. Congress

  44. Congress

  45. Congress

  46. Congress

  47. Congress

More Related