2024-11-05 23-15

1. Overview of Term Limits and Congressional Structure

• Case Reference: Congress 319 U.S. Term Limits, Inc. et al. V. Thornton et al.

  • Decision: State-imposed term limits on members of Congress were deemed unconstitutional.

  • Public Opinion: Many support term limits but also favor re-election of their own representatives.

1.1 Congress and Policy Making

• Roles of Members: Members of Congress serve as politicians, fundraisers, constituency representatives, and policymakers. The policymaker role is notably challenging due to their generalist knowledge on specialized topics.

• Specialization Needs: Congress requires organization to deal with specialized decisions. The Founders divided Congress into the House and Senate to introduce a level of specialization.

2. Bicameral Structure of Congress

• Definition: A bicameral legislature consists of two separate chambers. The U.S. Congress and all state legislatures (except Nebraska) are bicameral.

• Connecticut Compromise: Created a balance with two senators per state regardless of size, with the House representation based on population.

• Checks and Balances: Bills must be approved by both Houses, allowing each chamber to veto the other.|

2.1 Differences Between the House and Senate

• House of Representatives:

  • Size: More than four times as large as the Senate (435 members).

  • Centralization: More centralized with stricter party loyalty and discipline. Newer members often have less influence than senior ones.

• Senate:

  • Size: Smaller (100 members).

  • Flexibility: More decentralized with less institutional discipline. Historically intended to protect elite interests, but can be as liberal as the House under one-party control.

3. Leadership Structure

3.1 House Leadership

• Speaker of the House: The only legislative office mandated by the Constitution, usually elected by the majority party. The Speaker oversees legislative sessions and committee assignments.

• Importance: The Speaker's influence extends into party unification and national spokesperson roles.

3.2 Senate Leadership

• Vice President: Presides over Senate but typically takes a backseat unless breaking a tie.

• Senate Majority Leader: The key player in scheduling bills and influencing committee assignments. The majority and minority leaders play crucial roles in legislative strategies.

4. Committees in Congress

4.1 Types of Committees

1. Standing Committees: Handle bills in various policy areas and are permanent.

2. Joint Committees: Comprised of both House and Senate members focusing on specific issues.

3. Conference Committees: Formed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of a bill.

4. Select Committees: Temporary committees for specific purposes, such as investigations.

4.2 Committee Assignment Goals

• Members seek committee positions to influence policy, achieve reelection, and represent their constituents effectively.

5. The Legislative Process

5.1 Bill Introduction and Approval

• Congress members introduce around 11,000 bills each session through a specified process that includes committee reviews and potential voting in both chambers.

5.2 Filibuster and Debate in the Senate

• Filibuster: A strategy allowing prolonged debate to block a bill unless 60 senators vote for cloture.

• Senate Debate: Less regulated; senators can utilize the filibuster to express opposition.

6. The Budget Process

6.1 Budgetary Politics

• Budgets reflect significant political stakes in determining priorities for spending and taxation, with involvement from the president, Congress, and various interest groups.

6.2 Incrementalism in Budgeting

• Incrementalism Concept: The budget process is characterized by small adjustments from previous budgets, with little overall change.

7. The Judiciary System

7.1 Overview of the Federal Judiciary

• Structure: Comprises constitutional (e.g., Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, District Courts) and legislative courts established by Congress.

• Jurisdiction: Federal courts handle cases involving federal law, constitutional issues, diversity of citizenship cases, and federal crimes.

7.2 Participants in the Judicial System

• Involves litigants, attorneys, and judges, with various interest groups influencing court cases through amicus curiae briefs.

8. Supreme Court Dynamics

8.1 Court Composition and Responsibilities

• Supreme Court has original and appellate jurisdiction and primarily resolves conflicts and maintains legal uniformity across states.

8.2 Judicial Selection Process

• Nominations are made by the President but require Senate confirmation. Influenced by senatorial courtesy and political considerations.