Congress Objectives
}}1. Explain the differences between Congress and Parliament. And the role that the Framers expected congress to play.}}
Explain the differences between Congress and Parliament. And the role that the Framers expected congress to play.:: There are many differences between Congress and Parliament. For example, while parliament members/candidates are chosen by the parties directly, Congress members are chosen through a primary election, or an election where the voters choose their party’s nominee. While Parliament members choose the Prime Minister, Congress members do not choose the president; the President is chosen through a general election. Parliament members must choose to agree or disagree with the government on issues, and a member disagreeing may have consequences with their leaders, while in Congress, members have more decision making and lawmaking power and are independent from the executive branch. Additionally, Parliament’s daily work is mostly made up of debating national issues, while Congress’s work mostly consists of taking action by making, modifying, approving, and rejecting laws. Congress members are also better funded than Parliament members. Parliament also has proportional representation, which is a trait it shares with one of the two chambers of congress. The Framers expected Congress to be unpopular with voters and to take time in making decisions, as well as to be the focal point of the national government and the most powerful branch.
KEY TERMS
proportional representation:: parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them
primary election:: election through which voters select their party’s nominee for office
general election:: election of candidates for office, as opposed to a primary election
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}}2. Pinpoint the significant eras in the evolution of Congress, and the characteristics of members of congress.}}
Pinpoint the significant eras in the evolution of Congress, and the characteristics of members of congress.::
KEY TERMS
bicameral legislature:: a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
}}3. Discuss the relationship between ideology and civility in Congress in recent years.}}
Discuss the relationship between ideology and civility in Congress in recent years.:: members are increasingly divided (political polarization), the attitudinal explanation of voting has become more prominent while the organizational explanation has become less important.
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KEY TERMS
political polarization
attitudinal explanation of voting
organizational explanation of voting
}}4. Identify the factors that help to explain why a member of Congress votes as she or he does.}}
Identify the factors that help to explain why a member of Congress votes as she or he does.:: Some factors that help explain why a Congress member votes as she or he does may be their personal views, the constituents’ (voting members of a community or organization having the power to appoint or elect) needs (delegate representation), the party they are affiliated with (partisan representation) or what is best for the country (Trustee representation). Congress members may also vote in exchange for favors. This practice is known as the logrolling effect. Congress members may also take part in pork barrel spending, whereby the Congress member uses federal funds for local improvements in order to gain favor with their constituents.
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KEY TERMS
pork barrel spending:: the allocation of federal funds to local projects or interest groups, at the congressperson’s discretion
filibusters:: when an opponent of a bill takes the floor in a debate and talks indefinitely in order to delay or prevent a vote
logrolling effect:: exchange of favors between Congress members
constituents:: voting member of a community or organization having the power to appoint or elect
trustee representation:: elected representatives are entrusted by voters with the responsibility of governing for all. Representatives are free to serve the people as they think best.
Delegate representation:: elected representatives are delegated the responsibility to act in the interests of the people who elected them.
Partisan representation:: representatives are elected as a member of a party and have a responsibility to make decisions in line with their party’s policies.
}}5. Outline the process for electing members of Congress, the functions of party affiliation, and the effect of committee reform on the organization of congress.}}
Outline the process for electing members of Congress, the functions of party affiliation, and the effect of committee reform on the organization of congress.:: Members of Congress are elected through elections that occur every two years, where voters choose one-third of senators and every member of the House of Representatives. Representatives must be at least 25 years old when seated and a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years. Senators must be at least 30 years old when seated and citizens of the U.S. for 9 years. Both must be inhabitants of the state from which they are elected. 90% of House incumbents, or those seeking re-election, get elected, but the Senate elections are more competitive. Unlike presidential elections, which have a winner-take-all system, whereby winners of a state get all votes for that state, Congressional elections have proportional representation, whereby the number of votes of the people determines the number of members of Congress for each party. Party affiliation plays a great role in Congress. The party with the majority of seats determines a leader for the House/Senate, called the majority leader. The minority leader is the leader elected by the party with the least amount of seats. The majority party chooses a member of their party to become the Speaker of the House, or the presiding officer of the House of Representatives , and in the Senate they choose the President Pro Tempore, who is a presiding officer over the senate when the Vice President is absent. Committee Reform affects Congress Organization in many ways. It ensures the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the federal government and all its agencies; it can affect power distribution, and determines the Congressional Agenda. Standing Committees are permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area. Select Committees are Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose. Join Committees are committees on which both senators and representatives serve. Conference Committees are joint committees appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill. All of these affect policy, the Congressional agenda, and which bills are passed.
KEY TERMS
majority leader:: The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate.
minority leader:: The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate.
Speaker of the House:: The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of his party in the House.
President Pro Tempore:: Presiding Officer of the Senate when the Vice President is absent chosen by the
incumbent:: officeholder seeking reelection
Standing Committees:: Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area.
Select Committees:: Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.
Joint Committees:: Committees on which both senators and representatives serve.
Conference Committees:: Joint committees appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.
}}6. Describe the formal process by which a bill becomes a law and the ethical problems confronting Congress.}}
First, the bill is drafted, then introduced to a committee. A subcommittee then reviews the bill. The committee marks up the bill, then the bill is voted on by the full chamber. A member of Congress may attempt to defeat a bill by speaking indefinitely in order to delay or prevent a vote (filibuster). The bill is then taken to the other chamber. If the bill passes these, it goes to the President, who has the option to veto the bill. If the President does not approve the bill within 10 days, this is called a pocket veto. Alternatively, the President signs the bill and it becomes a law.
KEY TERMS
veto
pocket veto
filibuster
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