TEXAS US SENATORS AND OUR CONGRESSMAN

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TEXAS US SENATORS AND OUR CONGRESSMAN

• Senator John Cornyn
• Hart Senate Office Building
• Washington, DC 20510
• or
• Kay Bailey Hutchison
• Russell Senate Office Building
• Washington, DC 20510
• or
• Representative Ted Poe
• Longworth House Office Building
• Washington, D.C. 20515

Write down this information
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HOMEWORK DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2

• Write a letter to your senator or representative
  about a concern you have. Include what you would
  like done about it. It should be typed.
• This is how you address a letter to a member of
  Congress

Envelope inside address The Honorable
(Senator's first and last names)Dirkson, Hart or
Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C.
20510 Opening Dear Senator (last name)
Closing Very truly yours,
Envelope inside address The Honorable
(Representative's first and last names)Cannon,
Longworth or Rayburn House Office
BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515 Opening Dear
Representative (last name) Closing Very truly
yours,
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Why do people run for Congress?
• Glamour

Parties
Fame
Travel
Money
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Or Grind?

Parties
Fame
NEVER-ENDING MEETINGS
10 to 14 hour days, lots of time away from the
family, and lots of pressure from different
people to do the right thing.
Travel
Money
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Why do they do it?

Power
Patriotism
Make a difference
AND PERKS

• 145,100 -Staff
• Retirement -Travel allowance
• Office Space -Franking privileges

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Congress is
• Center of policymaking activity
• and
• Principal representative branch
• HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE TWO?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
Both must be a citizen of the state they
represent.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
Make Up of the 110th Congress
This session has the first Muslim and the first
two Buddhists to serve in Congress. There are 90
women in the 110th Congress, 74 and 16 in the
Senate. There are 42 black members of the House
and 1 in the Senate, 27 Hispanic members of the
House and 3 in the Senate, and 4 Asian members of
the House and 2 in the Senate.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• House of Representatives Members serve two year
  terms. Every Representative is up for reelection
  every other year.

Election Year Everyone is up for reelection
Off Year Nobody is running for reelection
Election Year Everyone is up for reelection
This provides opportunity for the people to get
rid of Representatives that they do not like.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Senate Members serve six year terms. One-third
  of the Senators are up for reelection every
  second year.

Election Year 1 Senators 1-33 Are up for
reelection
Election Year 3 Senators 34-66 Are up for
reelection
Off Year 2 No Elections
Election Year 5 Senators 67-100 Are up for
reelection
Off Year 4 No Elections
Off Year 6 No Elections
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
Having 2/3s of the Senators in place at all
times gives the Congress experienced members,
stability and continuity.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
US Capitol Building Washington, DC
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
House Side
Senate Side
Capitol Hill
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
Ms. McAuley Worked here
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?
• Incumbents people who already
• hold office. Incumbents usually
• win. Why?
• This is especially true for
• Representatives who are also likely
• to win by a larger percentage than
• Senators. Why?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?
• The Advantages of Incumbents
• Advertising The goal is to be
• visible to your voters.
• Frequent trips home newsletters
• Name in the news
• Credit Claiming Service to individuals in
• their district.
• Casework specifically helping constituents get
  what they think they have a right to.
• Pork Barrel federal projects, grants, and other
  funds made available in a congressional district
  or state

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• What is Pork Barrel Legislation?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?
• The Advantages of Incumbents
• Position Taking Portray themselves as hard
  working, dedicated individuals.
• Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issue.
• Weak Opponents
• Most opponents are inexperienced in politics.
• Most opponents are unorganized and under funded.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?

• Money in Congressional Elections
• Open seats are expensive.
• Spending lots of money does not guarantee a win.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• WHO WINS ELECTIONS?
• Stability and Change
• Incumbents winning provides
• stability in Congress.
• But, it makes it more difficult
• to change Congress
• through elections.
• Are term limits an answer?
• What are term limits and who
• already has them?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• In order to get their candidates elected, parties
  have influenced states to gerrymander districts
  in their favor.
• This practice created odd
• shaped districts so that
• constituents favorable to
• one party could be grouped
• together.

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QUICK QUIZ

• Explain the balancing act between the policy
  making and representation functions of the
  Congress.
• List the differences in age, citizenship, number,
  term and constituency of members of the House of
  Representatives and Senate.
• What is the term of office for members of House
  of Representatives and how many of the members
  are up for reelection each time?
• What is the term of office for members of the
  Senate and how many of the members are up for
  reelection each time?
• Define incumbent.
• Why are Representatives more likely to win
  reelection and by larger majorities than
  Senators?
• List four advantages of incumbents.
• Explain three circumstances under which
  incumbents are most likely to be defeated.
• Explain advantages and disadvantages of term
  limits.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
Executive
Judicial
Legislative
What principals of US government could this
represent?
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
State Government
National Government
Make Treaties Print Money Declare War
Define Marriage Driving Age Drinking Age
Taxes Build Roads Courts
What principal of US government could this
represent?
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Members of Congress are trustees for the American
  people. They are called upon to use their best
  judgment in making policy decisions.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Unlike the presidency, there are no term limits
  on Congress. Many Senators and Representatives
  stay in office for decades. There have been
  unsuccessful attempts at Constitutional
  amendments. In US Term Limits, Inc. et al v.
  Thornton et al, the Supreme Court declared state
  imposed term limits unconstitutional. Why?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

American Bicameral Legislature Legislature
divided into two houses.

• The Senate
• 100 members, 6
• year terms of
• office.
• Gives advice
• consent, more
• influential on
• foreign affairs.
• Unlimited debates.

• The House
• 435 members, 2
• year terms of
• office.
• Initiates all
• revenue bills,
• more influential
• on budget.
• Limited debates.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESSThe House of Representatives

• Debate is limited by the Rules Committee.
• All revenue bills originate in the House. Why?
• Has more policy specialization.
• Passes articles of impeachment charging a
  president with treason, bribery or other high
  crimes and misdemeanors.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESSThe Senate

• The Senate gives advice consent when it
  confirms
• presidential appointments for directors of
  federal departments
• such as the FBI, CIA, NSA, Cabinet level
  positions
• including Secretary of State and Supreme Court
  justices.
• Unlimited debate called a filibuster is used to
  prolong debate in order to kill a bill. They
  talk it to death.
• Senators do not closely reflect the nation in
  terms of race, gender, economic status or prior
  occupation. Why?
• Tries a president who had been impeached.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

Congressional Leadership

• The House
• Lead by Speaker of
• the House- elected
• by House members.
• This is a Constitutionally
• mandated position
• Presides over House.
• Major role in committee
• assignments and
• legislation.

Minority Leader John Andrew Boehner R-OH
Nancy Pelosi, D-CA 60th Speaker First Woman
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

Congressional Leadership

• The Senate
• Officially presided over by the vice
• president. Breaks ties, one of his two
• Constitutionally defined job.
• Really led by Majority Leader-
• chosen by party members. This is the
• most powerful person in the Senate.
• Must work with Minority leader.
• Whips take the word to the members
• on important votes, report complaints
• and concerns to leadership.

Harry Reid D-NV
Mitch McConnell R-KY
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED
Congressional Leadership
The president pro tempore of the Senate is
elected by the members and is the most
senior senator of the majority party. The vice
president presides over the Senate but in his
absence the president pro temp is the highest
ranking member of the senate. Third in line of
succession.
Robert Byrd, D-WV
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

• The Committees and Subcommittees
• Most members come from the
• majority party in that chamber.
• Four types of committees
• Standing committees subject matter committees
  
• handle different policy areas.
• Joint committees few policy areas-
• made up of House Senate
• members.
• Conference committees resolve
• differences in House and
• Senate bills.
• Select committees created for
• a specific purpose.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
The Committees and Subcommittees
Legislation Committees work on 11,000
bills every year. Some hold hearings and
mark up meetings. Serve as a reference
for other members. Most of the business
of the House and Senate take place in committees

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED
• Legislation is law which has been promulgated (or
  "enacted") by a legislature or other governing
  body. The term may refer to a single law,
• or the collective body of enacted
• law, while "statute" is also used to
• refer to a single law. Before an item
• of legislation becomes law it may
• be known as a bill, which is typically
• also known as "legislation" while it
• remains under active consideration

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

Committees Oversight . Oversight involves
hearings and other methods of pressuring the
executive branch, including Cabinet members,
into action or checking on how a law is being
administered. As the size of government grows,
oversight grows too.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED
• Congressional Oversight refers to
• the review, monitoring, and super-
• vision of federal agencies,
• programs, activities, and policy
• implementation. Congress
• exercises this power largely
• through its standing committee
• system.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• Legislative oversight in national security
• matters is confined to
• Appropriating funds for Presidential actions
• Authorizing Presidential actions
• Support or criticism of the Presidents actions
• Oversight of the executive branch

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

The Committees and Subcommittees Members want
to get on the right committee. Members want
committee assignments that will help them get
reelected and gain influence. New members
express their committee preferences to the party
leaders. Support of the party is important in
getting on the right committee. Parties want
their people on key committees.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

Getting Ahead on the Committee
Chairs and the Seniority System The chair is the
most important position for
controlling legislation. Chairs were chosen
strictly by seniority in the past. Now
seniority is a general rule, and members may
choose the chair of their committee.
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED
• Caucuses The informal organization of Congress
• Caucus A group of members of Congress sharing
  some interest or characteristic.
• Caucuses pressure for committee meetings and
  hearings and for votes
• on bills.
• Caucuses can be
• more effective than
• lobbyists. Why?

What other caucuses might there be?
Black Caucus
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED
• Congressional Staff
• Personal staff Work for the member. Mainly
  providing constituent service, but help with
  legislation too.
• Committee staff organize hearings, research
  write legislation, target of lobbyists.
• Staff Agencies Helps with oversight
  Congressional Research Service (CRS), General
  Accounting Office (GAO), and Congressional Budget
  Office (CBO) provide specific information to
  Congress.

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QUICK QUIZ

• What three concepts are represented by the
  division of our government into the executive,
  legislative and judicial branches?
• Explain federalism.
• What is a bicameral legislature?
• Who (title) leads the House of Representatives,
  how are they selected and what is unique about
  the current leader?
• Who officially presides over the Senate and what
  does he do?
• Who really presides over the Senate?
• What is the responsibility of the president pro
  temp of the Senate?
• List the types of committees and what they do.

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QUICK QUIZ

• Define legislation.
• What is a bill?
• What is Congressional oversight?
• What are caucuses?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS

• The Congressional Process
• Legislation
• Bill A proposed law.
• Anyone can draft a bill, but only
• members of Congress can
• introduce them.
• More rules in the House than in the Senate.
• Party leaders play a vital role in steering bills
  through both houses.
• Countless influences on the legislative process.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
• CONGRESS

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
• CONGRESS

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
• CONGRESS

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
• CONGRESS

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
• CONGRESS

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONGRESS
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONGRESS
A NEW LAW IS BORN
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• The President Is The Chief Legislator
• He has his own agenda
• They support their parties agenda
• They help other members of their
• party

Living US Presidents George H.W. Bush George W.
Bush Bill Clinton Jimmy Carter
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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• Party, Constituency, and Ideology
• Party Influence Party leaders cannot force party
  members to vote a particular way, but many do
  vote along party lines. Why?
• Constituency versus Ideology Most constituents
  dont know how their member voted on any
  particular issue. It is difficult for
  constituents to influence their member.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS The Congressional Process

• Lobbyists and Interest Groups
• There are over 26 lobbyists for every member of
  Congress- the bigger the issue, the more
  lobbyists will be working on it.
• Lobbyists can be ignored,
• embarrassed and even regulated
• by Congress.
• Ultimately, it is a combination of
• lobbyists and others that influence
• members of Congress.
• Who else influences Congress?

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Chapter 12 CONGRESS Understanding Congress

• Congress and Democracy
• While it is a representative body, it doesnt
  necessarily represent the people, just their
  interests.
• Congress does try to respond to what the people
  want, but some argue it could do a better job.
• It is usually the wealthier, better educated who
  are in Congress. Many feel they are not
  represented by this group of people.
• Interest groups and presidents
• exert influence on what
• Congress does.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESSUnderstanding Congress

• Reforming Congress
• Democratization- more power was spread around,
  and more subcommittees and caucuses were created.
  
• Representation versus Effectiveness- some argue
  that Congress has too much to do, and cant do
  much of it right. But it does get some of its
  work done.

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Chapter 12 CONGRESSUnderstanding Congress

• Congress and the Scope of Government
• The more policies Congress works on, the more
  ways they can serve their constituencies.
• The more programs that get created, the
• bigger government gets.
• Everybody wants government programs
• cut, just not their programs.

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Quick Quiz

• What is a bill?
• Describe the process by which a bill becomes a
  law.
• Who (title) is considered to be the chief
  legislator?
• What groups or individuals influence Congress?