1
Chapter
Twelve:
Congress
Learning Objectives
2
 Explain the major functions of Congress,
including lawmaking, representation,
constituent service, oversight, public
education, and conflict resolution.
 Explain the difference between the trustee
and instructed-delegate views of
representation.
Learning Objectives
3
 Compare the basic differences between the
House of Representatives and the Senate.
 Explain the process and significance of the
filibuster.
 Explain redistricting and gerrymandering.
Learning Objectives
4
 Explain the types of committees in Congress
and what impact committees have on the
legislative process:
o
o
o
o
Standing committees;
Select committees;
Joint committees; and
Conference committees.
Learning Objectives
5
 Describe the seniority system and its
implications for committee work, leadership,
and legislating.
 Identify the leadership positions in both the
House of Representatives and the Senate,
including the Speaker of the House and the
majority and minority leaders of both the House
and Senate.
Learning Objectives
6
 Provide the basic steps by which a bill
becomes a law.
 Explain the different kinds of vetoes and
articulate the roles that congress plays relative
to the president.
 Explain how the federal budget is developed
and the role played by the Office of
Management and Budget (OM).
The Functions of Congress
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 Lawmaking
 Representation
 Service to Constituents
 Oversight
 Public Education
 Conflict-Resolution
The Powers of Congress
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 Enumerated Powers
 Necessary and Proper Clause
 Checks on Congress
House-Senate Differences
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 Size and Rules
 Debate and Filibustering
 Prestige
House-Senate Differences
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House-Senate Differences
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Congressional Elections
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 Candidates
 Congressional Campaigns and Elections
 Presidential Effects
 Power of Incumbency
Congressional Elections
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Congressional Elections
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Congressional Apportionment
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 Reapportionment : allocation of seats in the
House to each state after each census.
 Redistricting: redrawing of the boundaries of
districts within each state.
 Gerrymandering: legislative boundary-drawing
tactics by dominant state party that maximizes
its electoral strength at the expense of the
minority party.
Congressional Apportionment
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Congressional Apportionment
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Congressional Apportionment
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Congressional Apportionment
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Congressional Apportionment
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 Redistricting after the 2000 Census
 Minority–majority districts
 Constitutional Challenges
Perks and Privileges
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 Permanent Professional Staffs
 Privileges and Immunities under the Law
 Caucuses as a Source of Support
The Committee Structure
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 Types of Committees
 Standing Committees
 Select Committees
 Joint Committees
 Conference Committees
 House Rules Committee
The Committee Structure
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The Formal Leadership
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• The majority party controls the legislative
process, including the selection of
Congressional leaders.
The Formal Leadership
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Leadership in the House of Representatives:
 The Speaker of the House
 The Majority Leader
 The Minority Leader
 Whips
The Formal Leadership
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Leadership in the Senate:
 Vice President
 Majority Leader
 Majority Whip
 Minority Whip
The Formal Leadership
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How Members of Congress Decide
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 Party membership is a major determinant of
how members vote, but it is not the only factor
at work.
 The Conservative Coalition
 “Crossing over”
 Logrolling, Earmarks, and “Pork”
How a Bill Becomes a Law
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 For a bill to become law, it must pass through
both houses of Congress
House of Representatives:
 Introduction
 Committee Stage
 Rules Committee
 Floor Action
How a Bill Becomes Law
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 The procedure in the Senate is similar, but
there are no special rules such as those set
by the House Rules Committee; the
leadership schedules action.
How a Bill Becomes Law
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 Conference committee
 The House and Senate vote on the bill as
reported by the conference committee.
 If it conference version passes both chambers,
it is sent to the President.
How a Bill Becomes Law
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How Much Will the Government Spend?
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 Congress Faces the Budget
 Authorization
 Appropriation
 Budget
Resolutions
How Much Will the Government Spend?
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Web Links
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 United States Congress: To view the schedule
of activities taking place in Congress:
www.senate.gov. and www.house.gov.
 Congressional Budget Office: provides
Congress with nonpartisan analyses for
economic and budget decisions: www.cbo.gov.
 Roll Call: the newspaper of the Capitol that
provides an inside view into what’s going on in
Washington, D.C.: www.rollcall.com.
What If…Pork Were Banned?
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 Earmark spending, or “pork”, directly helps
constituents by adding legislation into projects
that create more jobs and generate more profits
locally.
 Earmarks have increased substantially: In 2009
Congress approved 10,160 earmarks worth
$19.6 billion.
What If…Pork Were Banned?
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 Because Congress does not have an unlimited
amount of time for debate, eliminating pork
might reduce federal spending.
 Most spending projects coming before
Congress would have to pass through the
normal budget process.
What If…Pork Were Banned?
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 The ban may impact logrolling, which could
result in less legislation passing Congress.
 It could reduce the influence of lobbyists.
 Candidates may receive fewer campaign
contributions.
You Can Make a Difference: Why Should You
Care About Congress?
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 Legislation passed by Congress can directly
impact your life.
 You can make a difference by voting for
representatives that reflect your interests.
You Can Make a Difference: Why Should You
Care About Congress?
40
To find out who your members of Congress:
 House of Representatives: www.house.gov.
 U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov.
To track the voting records of members of
Congress: www.votesmart.org.