Legislative branch - congress

Congress

  • Congress has two main jobs: representation and lawmaking.
  • These responsibilities often conflict.

Bicameral Legislature

  • Congress is bicameral: House of Representatives and Senate.
  • House: 435 members, representation based on population.
  • Senate: 100 members, representation based on state equality.

House of Representatives

  • Representation based on population.
  • Designed to directly represent the people.
  • Members serve 2-year terms.
  • Majority party holds most of the power.

Senate

  • Representation based on state equality.
  • Designed to represent states.
  • Members serve 6-year, staggered terms.
  • Intended to temper popular will; minority rights represented.

Representation

  • House: representation based on population.
  • Senate: permanent representation, every state gets 2.
  • Census: conducted every 10 years to determine representation in the House.
  • Apportionment: process of divvying up seats in the House.

Challenge of Representation

  • Sociological (descriptive or symbolic) representation: sharing characteristics with constituents.
  • Agency representation: representing views, needs, wants of constituency.
  • Members focus on casework, pork barrel projects, constituency communication.

Legislative Function

  • Political party is the major organizing principle.
  • Majority party has powers to organize the chamber and set schedules.
  • Loyalty to party is crucial.
  • Seniority impacts the effectiveness of legislators.

Committees

  • Committees are the workhorses of Congress, divided by policy areas.
  • Specialization is the rule.
  • Subcommittees break down policy areas further.
  • Members seek committee assignments for representation, policy influence, and power.

Compromise

  • Key to legislative action, building support within and between chambers.
  • Compromise happens within chamber, between chambers, and between branches.
  • The legislative process is lengthy and complex.

Additional Factors

  • Interest groups contribute to incumbents.

Electoral Connection

  • Candidates must self-select.
  • Incumbency advantage: constituency services, ranking privilege, name recognition, pork-barrel spending.

Beyond Legislation

  • Oversight of the executive branch.
  • Advice and consent: Senate confirms appointments and approves treaties.

Impeachment

  • Impeachment for "Treason, Bribery or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors".
  • House acts as grand jury; Senate conducts trial (2/3rds needed for conviction).