Study Notes on Bicameral Legislature, Representation Models, and Political Dynamics

Definition: A bicameral legislature is a legislature with two chambers or houses.
- Example: The United States Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Connection to the Great Compromise: The creation of the bicameral legislature was part of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention.
Significance: Establishing two houses allows for representation of diverse interests, although it raises questions about the fairness and efficiency of legislative processes.

Political Party Loyalty: Modern Congress votes largely along party lines, making it easier to predict outcomes based on party affiliation.
- Statistically, over 95% of votes align with party affiliation.
Cross-Chamber Cooperation: Politicians may compromise across chambers to achieve their objectives, reflecting a shift in collaboration dynamics.

Differing Relationship to Constituents:
- House members are generally more directly accountable to their constituents due to smaller district sizes.
- Senators represent larger populations (e.g., Texas and California both receiving just two senators despite representing large fractions of the U.S. population).
Size and Influence of Votes:
- As the House size increases, individual votes hold less weight. The need for representatives to act cohesively is exacerbated in larger congresses.

Trustee Model:
- Representatives act according to their judgment on what is best for their constituents, even if it contradicts public opinion.
Delegate Model:
- Representatives act strictly in accordance with the wishes of their constituents, reflecting immediate public opinion.

Trustee: Thinks for their constituents and represents their best interests regardless of popular opinion.
Delegate: Acts in lockstep with constituent views, prioritizing their votes.

Public Influence: Public opinion and actions (like phone calls to Congress) can impact representative accountability and action.
Campaign Finance:
- Donations to candidates are legal as long as required disclosures are made.
- Political contributions can distort the influence of ordinary voters against wealthy donors.

Legal Framework: There are few limits on campaign financing, leading to potential ethical dilemmas.
- Politicians often face scrutiny for personality and behavior regarding financial disclosures.
Notable Case: President Trump faced multiple felonies related to financial misconduct stemming from misrepresentation, not direct criminal actions related to campaign contributions.

Committee Leadership:
- Committee chairs wield significant power, but actual authority often resides with party leaders who appoint them.
Vote Significance in the Senate:
- In closely divided senates, every vote is critical, thus enhancing the importance of individual senators.

Tiebreakers: The Vice President serves as the president of the Senate and can cast tiebreaking votes (
- Important in scenarios where the Senate is split 50-50).
Filibuster:
- A procedural tactic allowing unlimited debate on legislation, effectively blocking a vote unless overcome by a supermajority (currently 60 votes).
Transition to Modern Filibuster: Initially required talking continuously to maintain a filibuster; now, notice can be given without continuous speech.

The dynamics in Congress reflect broader themes in political representation, accountability, and the role of money in politics. Understanding these elements is crucial for analyzing how modern governance operates and how representatives are held accountable.