Government 4.1 notes

The rule of congress in a democracy 

Representative assemblies 

• “No taxation without representation”

National government 

• Power limited by a system of checks and balances and a federal system where a great deal of power is held by the states. 

Congress: the job 

Representative of the people 

Delegates- “what do the folks back home want”

Trustees votes guided by conscience and judgement 

Partisans first allegiance is to their party 

Politicos a balanced approach 

Current trends 

Leaning toward delegates as constituents can easily dig up their representatives voting records (2024) 

Committee members 

Proposed laws bills are referred to committees 

Members then decide what bills make it to floor consideration 

Oversight function ensure that laws are carried out faithfully and money spent properly by the executive branch 

Servants of the people 

Help their constituents in dealing with the federal bureaucracy 

Roles of members of congress 

Legislator 

Study proposals and draft legislation 

Frame public policies 

 Agent of constituents Be the peoples representative on important matters 

Committee member  serve on committees that screen proposals for floor consideration 

Servant of constituents Assist constituents with bureaucratic and ceremonial tasks 

Politician balance interests of constituents and political party 

Terms of congress 

• Each term of congress lasts for 2 years 

• Now begins on January 3rd of each odd numbered year 

Sessions of congress

• Period of the year when Congress convenes assemblies and conducts business 

• Congress adjourned  its session as it sees fit 

• Recess during several short periods during each session 

• Neither house may adjourn without others consent 

• President may prorouge a session for a while. 

Special sessions 

• Only the president may call congress into a special session 

• Only used 27 times 

Terms and sessions of congress 

The senate is divided into 3 equal classes so that only a 3rd of the senate seats may change hands in a election while the entire House of Representatives faces re election every 2 years. 

Congressional compensation 

• $174,000 per year speaker of the house $223,500 vice president $230,700 senates president pro term and floor leaders of each house 193,400

Nonsalary compensation 

• Tax deduction for a 2nd residence 

• Travel allowances 

• Cheap health and life insurance 

• Generous pension plan up to $150,000 a year 

• Offices in congress office buildings and an allowance for offices in their home state 

• Franking privileges

• Fine restaurants gyms free parking in DC and at airports 

• Why serve? 

• The politics of pay