House of Representatives

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House of Representatives

• 435 members (can be increased, but has not been
  since 1920s)
• Elected by voters, from districts based on
  population (700,000 to a district)
• Seniority confers power

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House of Representatives

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, since 2006)
• 233 Dems, 202 Reps (since 2006)
• Dems controlled House from 1930 to 1994 (with
  occasional exceptions)
• Reps controlled it from 1994 to 2006

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Senate

• 100 members, 2 per state regardless of population
• Elected by voters only since 1913
• Approves treaties, confirms Executive Branch
  officers, can convict and remove president (House
  impeaches)

4
Legislative Branch

• Congress losing power over time
• In 2000s, fundamentally unwilling to challenge
  Bush even when Bush is unpopular
• Less trusted than White House - regardless of
  president or party

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Legislative Branch

• Congress losing power over time Why?
• 535 legislators less visible than 1 president
• Nature of legislating compromises arent popular
  with public
• Public desire for decisive, quick action

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Representation and Re-election

• Re-election is the primary goal of Members of
  Congress.
• Re-election confers influence which in turn helps
  achieve policy goals.
• 98 of Congressional incumbents re-elected

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• Competitive Advantages
• Name Recognition
• Fundraising Advantages
• More Media Coverage
• Advantages of Office
• Free mailing to constituents
• Providing casework
• Bringing legislative projects to the district

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Stages of the Legislative Process

• I. Bill Introduction and Committee Referral
• When Members introduce legislation, it is
  referred to a Congressional Committee that has
  jurisdiction over that policy area.
• That Committee (and possibly a relevant
  subcommittee) will study the bill, bring in
  witnesses, debate it, and vote whether or not to
  report it out.

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• II. Access to the Floor
• Once reported out of committee, legislation then
  must be scheduled on the floor.
• House Rules Committee
• Senate conferral and consensus

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• III. Legislative Passage
• Majority vote in both houses (51 in Senate, 218
  in the House)
• Filibuster - 40 votes in Senate can potentially
  kill a bill by refusing cloture
• Conference Committee Reconciles differences
  between House and Senate bills, both chambers
  then vote on that reconciliation

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• IV. On to the White House
• If House and Senate approve same bill, it is sent
  to the President, who has three options
• Sign it. Bill becomes law.
• Veto - reject it. If 2/3 vote in Congress to
  override presidential veto (67 in Senate, 290 in
  House) the bill becomes law despite Presidents
  opposition.
• Pocket veto - take no action, bill dies. Pres
  has 10 days to sign a bill.

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Congress and Parties

• Congressional strength party and leader
  strength
• Parties help overcome problem of collective
  action
• Delegate or trustee?
• Gridlock or bipartisanship?
• Distributive tendency

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• 4. Congress in the 21st Century - Deferential to
  Bush. Why? Democrats
• Believe Bush is a popular president
• Sometimes shares their agenda (NCLB)
• Scared to oppose him (Iraq, SCOTUS, FISA)
• When Bush became unpopular, Dems benefited
  without having to do anything
• Social Security reform 2005 Only time Democrats
  blocked a Bush proposal

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• 4. Congress in the 21st Century - Deferential to
  Bush. Why? Democrats
• Democratic factions prevent unified response
• Blue Dogs (moderate, pro-Bush)
• Progressives (liberal, anti-Bush)
• Weak leadership
• Tom Daschle, 2001-05, Harry Reid, 2005-present
• Richard Gephardt, 2001-05, Nancy Pelosi,
  2005-present
• Bush will drive voters into Dem arms, so dont
  antagonize voters by fighting back
• Coalition Government?