Congress APGOV

The Congress

  • Congress is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Key Events

  • On January 6, 2017, members of the House and Senate met in a joint session to count and validate Electoral College votes.

Learning Objectives

  1. Powers of Congress

    • Describe the major powers granted by the U.S. Constitution.

  2. House and Senate Differences

    • Explain the distinctions between House and Senate regarding constituencies, terms of office, powers, and processes.

  3. Reapportionment and Redistricting

    • Understand the processes of reapportionment and redistricting in Congress.

  4. Importance of Committees

    • Discuss the role of committees in the lawmaking process.

  5. Leadership Structure

    • Describe the leadership structure in each house of Congress, and note the differences.

  6. Bill to Law Process

    • Demonstrate how a bill becomes law and the influence of different processes in both houses on legislation.

  7. Federal Budget Process

    • Explain how the federal budget is constructed and the legislative process for its approval.

Public Perception of Congress

  • Generally viewed unfavorably by the public, yet individual members often receive higher approval ratings from their constituents.

  • Historically part-time sessions: Early Congress met from March to September, later adjusting schedules.

  • Homestyle vs. Hillstyle:

    • Homestyle: Members build relationships with constituents locally.

    • Hillstyle: Members focus on legislative duties in Washington.

Key Functions of Congress

  1. Lawmaking

    • Congress is tasked with creating binding rules for the nation.

  2. Representation

    • Members act as brokers between citizens and the government.

  3. Oversight

    • Congress supervises federal agencies to ensure laws are enforced.

  4. Public Education

    • Congress engages with the public on major policy issues.

Structure of Congress

  • House of Representatives: 435 members, serve two-year terms, more formal rules.

  • Senate: 100 members, serve six-year terms, fewer formal rules.

  • Established bicameralism through the Connecticut Compromise to balance large and small state interests.

Leadership in Congress

  • House Leadership: Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Whips.

    • The Speaker presides over the House; majority leaders guide legislative programs.

  • Senate Leadership: Majority Leader and Minority Leader hold significant influence but must cooperate across party lines more than in the House.

The Legislative Process

  1. Bill Introduction: Bills can originate in either House (except money bills must start in the House).

  2. Committee Review: Bills are referred to committees for discussion, hearings, and amendments.

  3. Floor Debate: In the House, bills are debated under rules set by the Rules Committee; in the Senate, they can be openly debated (filibuster).

  4. Vote: If passed in both houses, the bill is sent to the President.

  5. Presidential Action: The President can sign or veto the bill; Congress can override a veto.

The Federal Budget Process

  • Budget Cycle: Begins with executive agency requests about 1.5 years before the start of the fiscal year, followed by review and bargaining leading to two congressional budget resolutions (binding limits).

  • Appropriations: Authorization and appropriation need to occur for agencies to use the funds.

  • The budget process includes participation from various stakeholders and is typically complex with many opportunities for negotiation.

Special Terms & Concepts

  • Gerrymandering: The manipulation of district boundaries for electoral advantage.

  • Earmarks: Funds allocated for specific projects within a budget, often controversial.

  • Logrolling: The practice of exchanging votes to secure passage of legislation.

  • Pork Barrel Politics: Funding for local projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Challenges Facing Congress

  • Increasing partisan division leading to gridlock and polarized voting.

  • The effectiveness of Congress is continually scrutinized, especially during election cycles with changing leadership and priorities.