Legislature
Congress: the Senate and the House
of Representatives
This presentation is the property of Dr. Kevin Parsneau for use by him and his
current students. No other person may use or reprint without his permission.
• What is Congress and what does it do?
• How does Congress act as a representative body?
• How does it pass laws?
• What are the differences between the House of
Representatives and the Senate?
• What is Congress’s oversight role?
• How does it all get done?
Bicameralism
• House of Representatives
– 435 members
– Elected by districts within states
– Apportioned by population
– 2 year terms
• Senate
– 100 members
– Elected by whole states
– 6 year terms with 1/3 elected every 2 years
What Does Congress Do?
• Represent
• Legislate
• Oversight
Represent
• Models of Representation
– How does the representative see his or her role?
• Types of Representation
– What are the grounds for claiming to
representation?
• Constituency Service
– What are some practical aspects of
representation?
Represent
• Models of Representation
– “Delegate”—John Stuart Mill
– “Trustee”—Joseph Schumpeter
– “Politico”
The Electoral Connection
(David Mayhew)
• Sometimes, members of Congress act as
delegates and sometimes as trustees
depending upon which they believe improves
their chance of re-election.
• This may seem selfish, but may keep them
generally doing what the voters want in the
long term.
Represent
• Types of Representation
– Geographic
– Ideological
– Descriptive (sociological representation)
Represent
• Constituency Service
– casework
– “pork” or “pork-barrel
politics”
Legislate
Types of legislation
• Bills
• Joint resolutions
• Concurrent resolutions
• Simple resolutions
Legislate
Summary of how a bill becomes a law
– 1. Introduction
– 2. Committee/ Subcommittee/ Markup Session
– 3. Rules Committee
– 4. Floor Vote
– 5. Other Chamber
– 6. Conference Committee
– 7. President
Differences between the House and Senate
• House Budgetary Authority
• Senate Confirmation Authority
• Majoritarian vs. Supermajoritarian
– Senate Collegiality
– Filibusters and Cloture Votes (3/5ths)
• Floor Debates
– Power of the Speaker and Majority Leader
– Open Rule vs. Closed Rule Debate
Congress Oversight
• Budget
• Senate Confirmations
– Supreme Court
– Executive Officers
– Ambassadors
• Committee Hearings
How do things get done?
• Division of Labor and Specialization
– Committees
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Institutional Norms
Seniority
Staff
Leaders
How do things get done?
• Congressional Committees
– Standing
– Special or Select
– Joint Committees
– Conference Committees
Leadership positions
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Senate President
President Pro Tempore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Senate Majority and Minority Leaders
House Majority and Minority Leaders
Senate Majority and Minority Whips
House Majority and Minority Whips
Mechanisms of Leadership
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Caucuses
Whip system
Rules
Committee assignments
Floor access
Log rolling
Lobbying
Leadership P.A.C.s
Presidential Support
Caucus system
• Party members in Congress meet together to
select party leaders, decide on policies and
discuss strategy.
• Caucuses help the majority party run Congress
and the minority party act as the loyal
opposition.
Mechanisms of Leadership
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Caucuses
Whip system
Rules
Committee assignments
Floor access
Log rolling
Lobbying
Leadership P.A.C.s
Presidential Support
A Final Word About:
• Congress:
– House of Representatives
– Senate
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Representation
Legislation
Oversight
Bicameralism and complexity
Organizing and leadership