Congress

Descriptive representation

When a legislator shares the characteristics with constituents

Substantive representation

When a legislator represents the interests and policy concerns of constituents

Types of representation

Policy, allocative, casework, oversight, symbolic

Policy representation

Advancing issues and ideological preferences of constituents via public policy, presenting/sponsoring and voting for/against bills

Allocative representation

Congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the district

Casework representation

Work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and services

Oversight representation

Being part of a committee’s investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

Symbolic representation

Efforts to represent the values and ideals of the constituency and the nation more broadly

House of Representatives

2 years, 25 y/o, in-state resident with citizenship of 7 years, apportionment changes with population, 435 members

Senate

6 years, 30 y/o, in-state residency with citizenship of 9 years, apportionment is fixed with entire state, 100 members

Constitutional powers

Taxation & appropriation, war powers, regulation of commerce, appointments & treaties, impeachment & removal from office, lawmaking, authorization of courts, oversight

Taxation and appropriation

Power to lay and collect taxes, all bills for raising revenue must start in the house, borrow, coin, and regulate money

War powers

Declare war, common defense & raising and supporting armies

Regulation of commerce

Applied to federal and state govts, expansive power that has been used to end monopolies, protect workers, prohibit discrimination, set wages, etc

Appointments and treaties

Senate has the power of “advice and consent” on presidential appointments, senate ratifies treaties

Impeachment and removal from office

Ultimate check on executive and other officials, individuals can be impeached for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”

Lawmaking

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, veto override (2/3rds in both chambers), responding to court decisions with legislation

Authorization of courts

Establishment of lower courts that serve under the Supreme Court (Judiciary Act of 1789)

Oversight

Monitoring: fire alarm vs police patrol

Role of legislature in impeachment

Part of the powers, treason, bribery, etc

Number of people represented by average US House member

761K people

Reapportionment

A reallocation of congressional seats among the states every 10 years, following the Census

Informal structure

Universalism, logrolling, earmarks/pork barrel spending, specialization, seniority

Universalism structure

The distribution of benefits and resources widely across states and constituencies

Logrolling structure

The exchange of votes between legislators to help each other

Earmarks/pork barrel spending

Federally funded local projects attached to bills passed by the legislature

Specialization

Becoming an expert in a particular issue or issue area

Seniority

Choosing members who have served the longest to head committees and other leadership positions

Formal structure

Parties and party leaders, committee system, staff

Parties and party leaders

Political parties play an important role in the allocation of power in the legislature, provide individual members with the means for taking collective action and also work toward individual goals

Committee system

The system through which legislation is crafted, and oversight is exercised, allows for specialization and credit claiming

Staff

Help members work within the system and also represent their constituents

Committee types

Standing, select, joint, conference

Standing committee

Permanent committees responsible for legislation in particular policy areas

Select committee

Created to deal with an issue or a problem not suited to a standing committee

Joint

Combined House-Senate committees formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area

Conference

Formed temporarily to reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill before sending it through and to the president’s desk

House committee on rules

The committee in charge of specifying the rules under which bills are brought to the floor, known as “The Speaker’s Committee,” committee/member request → House Rules Committee → floor

Rule types

Open, modified closed, closed

Open rules

Allows the addition of relevant amendments to a bill

Modified closed rules

Allows certain amendments to a bill while barring others

Closed rules

Prohibits the addition of amendments to a bill

Filibuster

A tactic used by senators to block a bill by continuing to hold the floor and speak until the bill’s supporters back down

Cloture

A procedure through which the Senate can limit the amount of time spent debating a bill if a supermajority of senators agree (60/100)