M3 L2 Quiz

What is the purpose of the rules committee in the House?

controls time of debate, amendments, etc.....

House

435 members; 2-year terms
Low turnover- 95-98% reelection rate
Hard to challenge bill referrals of the Speaker of the House
Scheduling/rules controlled by majority party with powerful Rules
Committee (controls time of debate, amendments.....)
Debate limited to 1 hour
Members policy specialists
Emphasizes tax & revenue policy
More formal & impersonal
Agents of local interests
Intense partisan and ideological divisions
Less inclined to compromise because must please constituents
Power is more centralized- very specific rules and procedures
Less media attention
Constant re-election
Bring impeachment charges
Help decide president if there is tie in Electoral College

What are the role of the investigative committees?

to conduct oversight or assist the president

What power is only in the House?

Impeach federal officials

Why are the powers of Congress separated into different categories?

Checks and balances and for organization purposes.

Why does Congress regulate bankruptcy?

to establish uniform procedures for dealing with insolvent debtors

What are some perks to serving in congress?

Power
Ability to make laws for the nation
Name recognition
Personal connections
Salary of $174,000
Leadership positions earn $223, 000
Retirement benefits ($139,200)
Excellent medical benefits
Office space in Washington D.C
Travel allowances- can book themselves on multiple airlines without being charged due to busy schedules
Franking privileges-free mail
Free flowers
Special license plates
Access to gyms, saunas, exercise gyms
Free from arrest while serving
Provided with funds to pay for staff- varies depending on individual congressman
Free parking
Access to restaurants in the capitol
Free airport parking
Up to 239 days off.
Weakened insider trading restrictions
$1.2 million budget for office supplies, staff, travel Senate $3.3 million
Tax deductions to maintain 2 houses
$40,000 to furnish home state offices
$100,000 death benefit to spouses

Why do members of the House only serve for two years?

They are more accountable

What is the filibuster? What is the rule of cloture?

when a senator can keep talking for unlimited amount of time. To stop this a cloture is needed or 60 Senators must vote for it to stop.

What is the incumbency advantage? What is the only way to up seat a member of the House or Senate?

Incumbents have higher chances of re-election. you can expel a member with 2/3 vote.

What is the role of the Speaker of the House?

2nd in line for the
presidency
Considered to be the most
powerful position in
Congress
Selection: While both
parties can make
nominations, the Speaker
typically ALWAYS comes
from the majority party.
Often uses their position to
favor their party's agenda.
Usually the longest serving
member of the chamber
Key liaison between the President and the House
Determines committee assignments; special and select committees; appoints members to rules committee
Fills vacancies in the House Offices
Power of Recognition: recognizes people to speak on the floor and helps to pass legislation
Determines how Congressional funds are allocated
Decides to which committee bills go- controls house agenda- signs all bills sent to opposite chamber
Schedules bills for debate
Has some patronage power-gives jobs to supporters, friends (cronyism), and relatives (nepotism)
Breaks ties in the House and keeps order within House

Senate

100 members; 6-year terms
Moderate turnover- 82-88% reelection rate
Referral decisions easily challenged since leadership positions have less power
Scheduling/rules agreed to by majority & minority leaders
Unlimited debate (filibuster) unless cloture invoked
Members policy generalists
Emphasizes foreign policy
More informal & personal
Agents of national and state interests- heterogeneous constituencies must get elected by whole state
More inclined to seek compromises to form coalitions
Less personal contact with constituents but receive more media attention
More competition for the position
Rules and procedures are constant from one session to another- continuous body with 1/3of seats up for reelection at time
Hold trial for impeachment trials- determine guilt and removal
Help decide the Vice President if tie in Electoral College

What is The role of Majority leaders in the House

Chosen by majority party
Assists Speaker- next in line to be the speaker
Right to be recognized first on the floor debate
Plans party's legislative program
Steers important bills through the House
Party leader
Schedules proposed legislation for debate

What power is only in the Senate?

conduct impeachment trials

What is the role of majority leaders in the Senate?

Chosen by majority party
Most powerful person in the
Senate
Often has trouble controlling
more assertive members of the
chamber
Spokesperson for the Senate
agenda-supposed to carry out
their party's program and steer
bills through Senate
Plans Senate's work schedule
Advises members of the Senate
on pending matters
Helps to line up members on key
issues/votes
Assign members to committees
and but has little power to stop a
filibuster

Why Effective Leadership is Required for well-functioning Legislature?

Party Leaders shape and enforce efficient and fair chamber rules and procedures- strict procedures in house
Party Leaders contribute to the development of the legislative agenda and serve as spokesperson for their party
Party Leaders provide other lawmakers with the resources they need to successfully fulfill their representational duties.
Party leaders resolve collective action problems that could otherwise prevent a legislative body from meeting its constitutional responsibilities.

Floor Leaders:

leaders elected by their party members to serve as the chief spokesperson for that party.

Leadership Positions Lead to Conflict

Negative use of Media: congressional leaders, those with more partisan voting records and those who are elected in districts that are solidly Republican or Democratic are the most likely to go negative.
Legislative bipartisanship- not working across the aisle to get things done- sticking to party lines
America has become polarized- divided and leaders in Congress emphasize this difference
The number of moderates in Congress has dwindled since the 1970s---Voters generally say they want a functioning government with legislators willing to compromise, but polarization in Congress - and partisan antipathy among members of the public continues to rise.

Majority and Minority Whips

Assists party leaders
Keeps close watch on how members
intend to vote and attempts to
influence voting
Round up members for important
votes and keeps party leaders
informed
Prepare summaries of content of bills
and alert the leaders to concerns
among members
Coordinate attendance

minority leader

has less power than majority leader but does most of the same duties. Poised to become the majority leader if their party gains power.

President of the Senate (Vice President)

Elected in general presidential election
Chief presiding officer (constitutionally) of the Senate
Cannot participate in floor debate
Casts vote only in case of tie
Has the right to be recognized first on any floor debate
Puts questions to a vote
Rarely in the Senate- often assisting the president.

President Pro Tempore:

runs the Senate in the absence of the Vice President3rd in the line of presidential succession.

Committee Chairmen

Control the destiny bills that comes before their committees
draft legislation, manage a million-dollar staff budget, hear pleas from lobbyists, and convene meetings when opponents are absent , adjourn meetings when things are going badly.
Historically, Committee chairs were the majority party member with the longest continuous service on the committee. Reforms have changed this in 1995. The committee chair is prevented from serving more than six years.
Seniority Rule:
Most important posts are held by majority party and the longest serving members
The rule was adopted to protect the committee members from powerful Speakers who often used the authority to reward committee chairs to friends and allies

WHY BICAMERALISM

Historical: The British Parliament and colonial governments
were bicameral (two houses) and the system was well known.
Practical: Dividing into a Senate with equal representation and
a House of Representatives based on population was a way to
resolve differences between large and small states.
(Connecticut Compromise)
Theoretical: Framers wanted to ensure that each chamber
could "check" the other to make sure no one branch
dominated. (checks and balances)
Provides an additional check-- must work together to
accomplish anything
Each chamber has own distinct powers and procedures
House reflects the will of the people
Senate provides stability, continuity, and depth of
deliberation

STRUCTURE PROVIDES BALANCE

House of Representatives is more
accountable to people in their
district. Each state is broken up into
districts and each representative
has approximately 677, 358 in
Nevada
Senate must represent all the
people in the state. Approximately
1,354,716 per Senator
The advantages of a bicameral
legislature include stability, more
varied representation and the
passing of quality legislation.
Each house must compromise to
get things done.
The disadvantages include
deadlock. Slow and deliberate
legislative process, and unequal
representation.

Constraints on Congress

Court can deem laws unconstitutional
Constituents can not vote members again
Media can put pressure on Congress to put issues on
their political agenda and inform the people of what they
are doing
Interest groups can run ads against members or lobby
members of Congress
President has to approve of legislation
Members of congress can be ousted by 2/3 vote (15
from Senate and 5 from House) and members can be
censured (fined)
Must rely on bureaucracy to carry out the laws and to
write the rules and regulations for the law
Constitution- powers denied Article 1 section 9

What is the number one reason members of Congress run for office?

To make public policies that go with their personal ideology

Congressmen want to be on a committee that will help them achieve three goals

• Get reelected- Congressmen request
assignments based on their own interests or
expertise or on a particular committees ability to
help them win reelection.
• Gain influence in congress- some committees
such as the Appropriations and Budget have the
ability to give congressmen influence and power
within the chamber
• Give them the opportunity to make public
policy so they can feel important.
Representatives often seek committee
assignments that have access to pork barrel and
that is covered by the media.

Measure of party strength:

1. Ability of leaders to control party rules and
organization
2. Extent to which party members vote together in
the House and Senate
Senate: less party-centered and leader oriented -
leaders have hard time controlling members

Legislative Committees:Function & Purpose

1. Consider bills (a.k.a. "mark-up" bills)
2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies
3. Conduct investigations

Standing Committees

permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities
•Permanent panel Permanent panel with full legislative with full legislative functions and functions and oversightoversight••First and last First and last place a bill goes

Subcommittees

formed to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees

Select or Special Committees

groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration

Joint Committees

includes members of both chambers to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks

Conference Committee

includes members of House & Senate to work out differences between similar bills

Legislative powers

Monetary: To raise money for government
Commercial: power to regulate trade or business
Regulatory: Provide standard procedures to citizens
Judicial: to assist in the judicial functions of the United States

Non-Legislative Powers-

Investigative: to conduct oversight or assist the president
Electoral: dealing with elections or electoral process
Judicial: maintain integrity of public offices or political
processes
Inherent: powers given to congress because sovereign nation

Expressed powers of Congress?

Specific powers granted to the federal government under Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution.