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Influences%20on%20Congress

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Influences on Congress By Mr. Baker Influences of Lawmakers on Congress Personality Religious beliefs Some are more willing to take risks Their staff They can control ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Influences%20on%20Congress


1
Influences on Congress
  • By Mr. Baker

2
Influences of Lawmakers on Congress
  • Personality
  • Religious beliefs
  • Some are more willing to take risks
  • Their staff
  • They can control the information on which the
    lawmakers base their decisions

3
Influences of Lawmakers on Congress
  • How controversial or how close the issue hits
    home (state/district)
  • If it has little effect on their home state or
    district, most lawmakers rely on their own
    beliefs
  • If it has more effect on their home state or
    district, then they listen to the voters and
    advice of other lawmakers

4
Influence of Voters on Congress
  • Dilemma for lawmakers - Should the lawmakers
    follow the state or districts wants or national
    wants?
  • The lawmakers need to listen to the people back
    home, especially if they are coming up for
    reelection
  • Voters influence elections by reflecting on the
    following questions
  • Did the representative pay attention to the
    voters back home?
  • How did he/she vote on the issue?

5
Influence of Voters on Congress
  • Visits to the district/state
  • Learn of voters concerns
  • Messages from home
  • Messages going from the home state/district to
    the representative are listened to
  • Surveys and polls
  • Lawmakers will listen to phone and email opinion
    polls/surveys
  • Key supporters
  • Lawmakers must support the positions of the
    people who donate to and help run their campaign

6
Influence of Parties on Congress
  • Partys platform the lawmaker should listen to
    their partys set of beliefs
  • Why should you vote with your party?
  • They raise money for campaigns so you can get
    elected
  • Some lawmakers dont have a strong opinion on an
    issue, so they vote with the party
  • They can usually expect their partys support if
    they create a bill

7
Other Influences on Congress
  • President
  • The President can send messages to lawmakers and
    make televised speeches that have an influence on
    representatives in Congress
  • Some lawmakers may want to maintain a close
    relationship with the President
  • This might help them keep office if the president
    is popular

8
Other Influences on Congress
  • Mass Media
  • Internet, radio, mailings, flyers, television,
    etc. have an effect on representatives
  • Representatives must look, act, and sound good to
    the public or else they could lose votes

9
Other Influences on Congress
  • Lobbyists and Interest Groups
  • Representatives of interest groups are called
    lobbyists
  • An interest group is an organization that
    represents the interests of a particular group
  • Businesses (BBB Better Business Bureau)
  • Minority groups (NAACP National Association for
    the Advancement of Colored People)
  • Educational groups (Teachers union)
  • Environmental groups (PETA People for the
    Ethical Treatment of Animals)
  • Lawyers (National Bar Association???)
  • Doctors (AMA American Medical Association)

10
Other Influences on Congress
  • PACs (Political Action Committees)
  • Political fund-raising part of an interest group
  • They use their funds to support lawmakers who
    favor the PACs positions on an issue

11
Why are former members of Congress often hired as
lobbyists?
  • They have inside knowledge of the lawmaking
    process

12
Which of these is the most direct way for a group
of teenagers to influence the outcome of a bill
that would raise the minimum driving age?
  • Testifying at a legislative hearing
  • Launching a voter registration drive
  • Writing an ambassador
  • Appealing to a high court
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