AP Government and Politics: Congress Study Notes

Introduction to Congress

• Topic: Congress and its functions, focusing on the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Importance of understanding Congress within the context of the United States government framework and its evolution.
• Note on the transcript's reference to unit numbers; the discussion is primarily about unit four.

Historical Context

• Overview of Congress's evolution:
  • Initially, under the Articles of Confederation, there was a weak legislative branch with limited power.
  • The founding fathers convened and developed the Connecticut Compromise to create a bicameral legislature.
    • This compromise balanced the Virginia Plan (population-based representation) with the New Jersey Plan (equal representation).
• The bicameral system consists of:
  • The House of Representatives: allocated by population.
  • The Senate: equal representation with two senators from each state.
• Role of bicameralism:
  • Facilitates compromises, respects federalism, and addresses antifederalism.

Composition of Congress

• Composition details:
  • The House of Representatives: 435 members from diverse backgrounds.
  • Example distributions:
  • California: 53 representatives.
  • Texas: 36 representatives.
  • Montana and Wyoming: 1 representative each.
  • The Senate: 2 senators from each state, e.g., California, New Jersey, North Dakota, Illinois.

Responsibilities and Powers of Congress

• Essential checks and balances:
  • Congress acts as a check on the executive branch and judicial branch.
• Major activities and responsibilities:
  • Treaty ratification: Senate approval required.
  • Confirmation of cabinet members and justices: Senate oversight.
  • Congressional oversight: Monitoring executive processes and declarations of war.
  • Historical note on the last formal declaration of war (World War II).

The Role of the President

• The president's influence and limitations:
  • Cannot independently appoint without Senate approval.
  • Example: Presidential requests for cabinet appointments, e.g., Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Legislative Process and Legislative Roles

• Main functions of Congress members:
  • Legislation: Creation and passage of bills.
  • Representation of constituents through direct contact and communication, often using franking privilege.
• Explanation of franking privilege:
  • Allows members to send information about their work free of mailing costs to constituents, effectively serving as a form of advertising.
  • The argument regarding its potential unfair advantage in reelection campaigns.

Elections and Incumbency

• Statistics on incumbency:
  • Approximately 90% of incumbents get reelected, primarily due to name recognition and franking privilege.
• The electoral cycle and challenges:
  • Brief anecdote about Dan Lipinski's primary loss and the increase in incumbents losing elections (around 15%).

Legislative Strategies

• Legislative procedures often involve writing bills primarily influenced by special interest groups.
• Key strategies in passing bills:
  • Discussion and compromise, exemplified by the concept of log rolling.
  • Definition of log rolling: A reciprocal agreement between legislators to support each other's proposals.
  • The potential for pork barrel spending:
  • Definition: Wasteful funding included in legislation unrelated to the bill's primary purpose.
  • Example: Transportation bill with an unrelated rider for private beach restoration funding.

Public Perception of Congress

• Current approval ratings of Congress:
  • Approximately 15% of voters believe Congress is performing effectively, indicating low public confidence.
• Social context and public opinion on Congress’s effectiveness and dysfunction.

Conclusion

• Mention of a follow-up session (Part Two) for further exploration of topics related to Congress and its operation.
• Reminder of the essential role Congress plays in the U.S. political landscape and the ongoing importance of its functions in governance.