APG Unit 6: The Presidency and Congress

congress

the legislature of the United States government; created by the framers to be the center of policymaking; 535 members; women are the most underrepresented group

requirements of House members

at least 25 years old, 7 year citizen, live in state elected from

requirements of Senate members

30 years old, US citizen, live in US for 9 years

benefits of congressmen

power, good salary, & retirement & health benefits

descriptive representation

the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents; not engaged in frequently

substantive representation

When a member of Congress represents constituents' interests and policy concerns; don't mirror constituents; engaged in more frequently than descriptive representation

groups overrepresented in Congress

Church members, white males, older people, veterans, wealthier individuals

groups underrepresented in Congress

Females, blue collar workers, minorities

incumbents

those individuals who already had office in congressional elections, usually win elections; fewer in Senate than the House (Senators typically win by smaller margins)

advantages of incumbency

advertising, credit claiming, weak opponent, campaign spending, and part identification

credit claiming

The efforts by members of Congress to get their constituents to believe they are responsible for positive government actions; takes form in casework and obtaining federal funds; advantage of incumbency

casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get; EX: getting an appointment or an application to a federal loan

pork barrel

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district; added onto a bill to get more votes for Congress

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism; allowed federal courts to review the boundaries of legislative districts; considered gerrymandering as a political and legal issue

reasons incumbents lose

tarnished by scandal or corruption, boundaries of district changed (lose supporters), or political tidal waves

bicameral legislature

A legislature divided into two houses; the U.S. Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska's are _; result of Connecticut Compromise; check and balance

characteristics of the House

initiates all revenue bills; passes all articles of impeachment; 435 members; 2 year terms; smaller constituents (more members); small turnover; role of seniority is important; limited debate (limits on floor amendents); 20 standing committees (Ways & Means, Rules); party loyalty and party-line voting is more common; members are less equal in power

characteristics of the Senate

confirms many presidential nominations; tries impeached officials; approves treaties; 100 members; 6 year terms; larger constituencies (less members); less centralized power (weak leadership); moderate turnover; role of seniority is less important (still prevelant); unlimited debate (has filibusters); 17 sta ding commities (Judiciary); party-line voting is less common; members are more equal in power

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution; chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant; serves as national spokesperson for the minority party; not the most powerful in the House

powers of the Speaker of the House

presides over the House when it is in session; plays a major role in making committee assignments, which are coveted by all members to ensure their reelection; appoints or plays a key role in appointing the party's legislative leadrs and the party leadership staff; exercises substantial control over assigning bills to committees

Majority Leader

the principal partisan ally of the speaker of the House or the majority party's manager in the Senate; in each house, responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions; most powerful member of the House and the Senate

role of Senate Majority Leader

• Speaks first

• Sets the agenda

• Makes committee assignments

role of House Majority Leader

-chosen by Speaker

-Spokesperson for the Majority Party in the House

-helps choose and plan the party's legislative agenda (what goals they want to accomplish…)

whips

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party; convey the party's position to rank-and-fire congresspersons

minority leader

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate; poised to take over the Speakership and other key posts should it win a majority of the House; supported by the minority whip

Vice President

Constitution defined their only job to be the President of the Senate (Majority Leader and Whip have more power)

goals of congressional leaders

making policy and maintaing a majority

committees

small groups of representatives who work out the details of bills; control the congressional agenda and guide legislation; 4 types: standing, joint, conference, and select

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area; contain subcommittees; Ways and Means (taxes), Judiciary, and Rules = most important

conference committees

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.

committee chairs

The most important influencers of the congressional agenda; play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house; typically belong in the majority party; chosen by the seniority system (most common) or by vote

seniority system

A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s; the member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence; committee and subcommittee chairs can have 3 consecutive 2-year terms; can't cast proxy votes

characteristics of states with legislator term limits

legislative turnover (legislators elected more often), reduce incumbency advantage (elections = competetive), reduced expertise and experience in legislator (high reliance on lobbyists), and changes in legislative dynamics (short-term goals)

congressional caucus

a groups of members of congress sharing some interest or characteristic; many are compsed of members from both parties and from both houses; about 250 in both houses combines; goal is to promote interests; press for committees to hold hearing, push legislation, and pull together votes for favorable bills

congressional staff

employees of the United States Congress or individual members of Congress; includes personal staff, committee staff, staff agencies

personal staff

the people who work directly for individual senators and representatives; about 10k in Congress; spend time on casework, providing services to constituents, answer mail, communicate members' views to voters, help constituents solve problems; work in home state/district

committee staff

the people who work for House and Senate committees; about 2.2k in Congress; organize hearings, research legislative options, draft committee reports on bills, write legislation, and keep tabs on Executive Branch; have high level of expertise

staff agencies

the agencies responsible for providing congress with independent expertise, administration, and oversight capability; most important are the CRS, GAO, and CBO

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

administered by the Library of Congress; composed of researchers; responds to congressional requests, tracks progress of major bills, prepares bill summaries, and makes bill information publically available

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

3k employees; helps Congress perform oversight functions; reviews Executive Branch activities and investigates the efficiency and effectiveness of policy implementation

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.

bill

a proposed law, drafted in legal language; anyone can draft a ____, but only a member of Congress can formally submit one for consideration; common sources are the White House and interest groups

House Rules Committee

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House; give each bill a "rule", which schedules the bill on the calendar, allots time for debate, and often specifies what kind of amendments may be offered; usually responsive to the House Leadership

legislative oversight

Congress's monitoring of the executive branch bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through committee hearings; congress can pressure agenies and even cut their budgets in order to secure compliance; provices opportunity to refine existing policies or to respond to new problems; grew in the 1960s

filibuster

A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate. Today, 60 members present and voting can halt a filibuster.

trustees

Elected representatives whose obligation is to act in accordance with their own consciences as to what policies are in the best interests of the public.

instructed delegates

A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of constituents regardless of personal beliefs.

politicos

lawmakers who attempt to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles; both representative and policymaking

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts; 14th Amendment issue

functions of Congress

lawmaking, representing the people, performing oversight, helping constituents, and educating the public.

lawmaking process in the House

1. bill introduction (named HR or SR); 2. subcommittee; 3. full committee; 4. rules committee; 5. House floor; 6. sent to Senate; 7. conference committee; 8. resent to House and Senate; 9. sent to President

lawmaking process in Senate

1. bill introduction (named HR or SR); 2. subcommittee; 3. full committee; 4. House floor; 5. sent to House; 6. conference committee; 7. resent to House and Senate; 8. sent to President

killer amendement

amendment to a bill proposed by its opponents for the specific purpose of decreasing the bill's chance of passage

joint committees

Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.

most difficult task of President

expectations of Americans (want a powerul president who can do good AND dislike concentration of power)

president qualifications

35 or older, natural born citizen, and lived the US for at least 14 years

22nd Amendment

ratified in 1951, limits presidents to 2 terms of office

25th Amendment

Ratified in 1967, this amendment permits the vice president to become acting president if the vice president and the president's cabinet determine that the president is disabled, and it outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job; EX: Nixon chose Ford as VP when VP Agnew resigned, and then Ford assumed the presidency when Nixon resigned

order of presidential succession

VP- Speaker of the House- Senate Pro Temp- Cabinet Positions

impeachment

The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."; once the House votes for , the case goes to the Senate (convicted and removed with 2/3 vote); only 3 have been _ (Johnson, Clinton, Trump)

watergate

The events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment; 3 articles of impeachment against Nixon: obstructed justice, abused power, and failed to comply with congressional subpoenas

Article 2, Section 4

"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors"

4 points regarding impeachable offenses

1) impeachable behavior doesn't have to be a crime. (If President invades country for public support, can be impeached even though he didn't violate a law.); 2)the offense should be grave (poker game in White House violates law but isn't impeachable); 3) A matter of policy disagreement is not grounds for impeachment; 4)impeachment is an inherently political process (ultimately whatever congress decides they are because the constitution assigns these calibrations to members' political judgement)

national security powers of the president

Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Make treaties with other nations, subject to the agreement of 2/3 of the Senate. Nominate ambassadors, with the agreement of a majority of the Senate. Receive ambassadors of other nations, thereby conferring diplomatic recognition on other governments.

legislative powers of the president

The president can veto any bill passed by Congress and, unless two-thirds in each house vote to override the veto, the bill does not become law.

administrative powers of the president

take care that laws be faithfully executed, nominate officials as provided for by Congress and with the agreement of a majority of the Senate, request written opinions of administrative officials. Fill administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses

judicial powers of the president

Appoints federal judges and supreme court justices; can pardon criminals.

executive order

Regulations originating with the executive branch;one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy; carry the force of law and are used to implement statutes, treaties, and provisions of the Constitution

cabinet

A group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one. Today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general, and others designated by the president; too large and diverse; major decisions remain with the president; grown in size over the years

Cabinet Departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice…) Headed by Secretary or Attorney General (Department of Justice)

Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)

It houses a collection of offices and organizations loosely grouped into the Executive Office of the President; consists of the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget

National Security Council (NSC)

The committee that links the president's foreign and military policy advisers; its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant; broad informal membership

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

A 3 member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy; prepares the annual "Economic Report of the President"; helps president make policy on inflation, unemployment, and other matters

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations.

Chief Legislator Role

Constitution requires the president to give a State of the Union report to Congress and to bring other matters to Congress; also given the power of a veto

veto

The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it. A two-thirds vote in each house can override a veto (usually effective)

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature (only applied to Governors)

3 most useful resources of the president

party leadership, public support, and their own legislative skills

presidential coattails

phenomenon when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because those candidates support the president

2 indicators of public support of president

approval in polls, mandates in presidential elections

electoral mandate

the perception that an election victory signals broad support for the winner's proposed policies; adds legitimacy and credibility to the newly elected president's proposals; not common

legislative skills of the president

how the president manipulates congress to get what they want: bargaining, making perosnal appeals, consulting with congress, setting priorities, exploiting public opinion, offering help

national security powers of the president

Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Make treaties with other nations, subject to the agreement of 2/3 of the Senate. Nominate ambassadors, with the agreement of a majority of the Senate. Receive ambassadors of other nations, thereby conferring diplomatic recognition on other governments.

Chief Diplomat (President)

Directs U.S. foreign policies with other nations by negotiating treaties (with senate 2/3 vote) and receiving ambassadors.

commander in chief role of the president

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces; formal role, Articles

Wars Powers Resolution (1973)

a law passed in 1973, in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia, that requires presidents to consult with congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless congress declares war or grants an extentions; presidents have viewed the resolution as unconstitutional

legislative veto

A vote in Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

crisis

A sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager; most occur in foreign policy; handled incorrectly leads to the president's undoing

"2 presidencies"

1) domestic policy 2) national security policy (president has more success in leading Congress on matters of national security than domestic policy)

bully pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

"body watch"

reporters focus on the most visible layer of the president's personal and official activities and provide the public with step-by-step accounts

chief executive

The role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government; formal role, Article 2

chief of state

term for the President as the ceremonial head of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation

constitutional powers of Article 2

Constitutional powers granted to the president including pardons, appointment power, veto, convene congress and commander in chief