AP GOV 1272015 Current Events Obamas Oval Office

AP GOV— 12/7/2015 Current Events & Obama’s Oval Office address Intro to Congress Homework: 114 th Congress questions due Wednesday. Links and questions on blog Begin reading Ch. 11 (pg. 358 -369)

OBAMA’S OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS 1. The POTUS only makes nationally televised statements for important issues. The president, however, often makes addressed from the East Room of the White House, not the Oval Office. Why do you think President Obama chose to make his address from the Oval Office. Does it matter? 2. How did you feel about the President’s address overall? Did you find it convincing? Do you think its provided some comfort or assuaged people’s fears about terrorism? Why or why not? 3. The President talked quite a bit about Muslim Americans and Islam. Why do you think he felt the need to discuss religion and how Americans must treat people who practice Islam? Did anything resonate with you personally about what he said? 4. How does this fit with our study of the media and the President’s “electronic throne”? What benefit does this give the President that members of Congress don’t have? What branch is pressured the most when the POTUS uses this

AP GOV— 12/8/2015 Evolution & Overview of Congress Pass back interest groups quiz Homework: 114 th Congress questions due tomorrow. Links and questions on blog Edwards Ch. 11 (pg. 358 -369)

CONGRESS Chapter 11

FOOD FOR THOUGHT… Why is Article I so long and Articles II and III so short? What does this reveal about the Framers view of Congress?

EVOLUTION OF CONGRESS

I. INTENTIONS OF FOUNDERS A. Fear of excessive power concentrated in a single institution B. Fear of mob rule by impassioned majority C. Concern about manner of representation in Congress D. Solution to all these concerns: BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE E. Belief that Congress would be the dominant branch of gov’t

II. CONFLICT OVER DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN THE CONGRESS Centralization Decentralization A. Congress can act quickly and decisively, but at the expense of individual member and the constituents A. Protect and enhance the interests of individual members and their constituents, but prevent quick, decisive action Strong central leadership Restrictions on debate Few opportunities for stalling tactics Minimal committee interference Streamlined legislative process Minimal public scrutiny Weak central leadership Few restrictions on debate Numerous opportunities for stalling Powerful committee influence Complicated legislative process Close public scrutiny

EVOLUTION OF CONGRESS A. 1970’s: Power of subcommittee chairmen and individual members increased B. Developments in the Senate More naturally decentralized Fewer members, fewer formal rules Lack of a Speaker Lack of strong Rules Committee Democratization of Senate— 17 th Concern over length of debate FILIBUSTER 1917: means to kill a filibuster

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS • 104 th Congress (1995 -1997): new republican majority Speaker Newt Gingrich, Contract with America Term limits for committee chairman • 110 th Congress (2007) Speaker Pelosi’s “Hundred Hours of Congress” • Filibuster has become increasingly controversial.

OVERVIEW OF CONGRESS

TERMS AND SESSIONS A. 2 years B. Terms begin January 3 rd every odd-numbered year C. Numbered consecutively D. Adjournment: end of a term, date agreed upon by both houses E. Two regular sessions per term

BICAMERALISM A. House of Rep’s was designed to be closer to the people 1. Members elected directly by the people 2. 2 year-term 3. Entire body elected every 2 years 4. Revenue (tax) bills must originate in the house B. Senate designed to be more removed from the people 1. Members indirectly elected (originally) 2. Elected at an at-large basis 3. 6 year term 4. 1/3 of Senate is up for re-election every two years

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A. Size Determined by Congress (435 since 1911) Members elected by districts, not states Determined by population B. Terms of office are fixed Term limits deemed unconstitutional C. Qualifications: 25 y/o, citizenship for 7 years, residency in state

SENATE A. Size 100 members Smaller size allows for less formality B. Terms of office: six years C. Qualifications: 30 y/o, citizenship for 9 years, residency in state

COMPENSATION A. Members set their own salaries: 27 th Amendment prevents raises from taking effect until following term. Most recent salary: $174, 000 B. Other perks: staff, travel allowance, franking privilege, insurance C. Legislative immunity

MEMBERSHIP A. Overrepresentation of white, male, Protestant, upper-middle class lawyers in their 50’s. B. 114 th Congress: most diverse C. Perfectly possible for “overrepresented” demographic to represent others

AP GOV— 12/9/2015 I. Please have your homework out. Discuss membership and representation. II. Incumbency Advantage III. Ted Cruz interview Homework: 1. Edwards pgs. 370 -381 (Friday) 2. Student. Cam time tomorrow. Come ready to work!

THE INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE

I. SCOPE OF ADVANTAGE A. Reelection rate in the House: 94% (2014) B. Reelection rate in the Senate: 82% (2014) C. Relatively few seats are seriously contested in the House. “Safe seats” D. Charges of “Permanent Congress” E. Counterargument?

II. ADVANTAGES OF INCUMBENCY A. Franking privilege B. Staffers C. Patronage D. Name recognition E. Casework & pork barrel F. Money, especially from PAC’s

III. GERRYMANDERING A. A special advantage for members of the House B. Reapportionment: Census shows population changes and these changes are reflected in state representation in the house C. District boundaries are drawn to favor the party in power D. Effects: The party in power STAYS in power “Safe” seats are created for incumbents Strangely shaped districts “Majority-minority” districts are created by racial gerrymandering

REDISTRICTING REQUIREMENTS Districts must be as near equal in population as possible Baker v. Carr: “one man, one vote” applied to state districts to correct overrepresentation of rural areas District lines must be contiguous Racial gerrymandering is prohibited

AP GOV— 12/10/2015 Good afternoon. Grab a laptop. Student. Cam work time. Research/C-SPAN clips/potential interviews Homework: 1. “Trump’s Anti-Muslim Plan Is Awful. And Constitutional”. Reading and questions due tomorrow 2. Edwards pgs. 370 -381

STUDENT-CAM For tomorrow: Research: statistics/facts/figures associated with your topic or question. Don’t forget to cite sources Names and emails sent to potential interviewees An initial list of C-Span clips. What do you want them to show? Don’t need to have them clipped yet See assignment sheet and studentcam. org for requirements/inspiration

AP GOV— 12/11/2015 TGIF! Grab a handout from the back Student. Cam check-in. Trump article analysis Powers and Leadership in Congressional leadership activity Homework: • Current Events • Edwards pgs. 370 -381

THE STRUCTURE & POWERS OF CONGRESS

EXPRESSED POWERS (ENUMERATED/DELEGATED) A. Levy taxes H. Punish counterfeiters B. Spend money for the common defense I. C. Borrow money Establish post offices J. Grant copyrights & patents K. Create lower courts D. Regulate foreign and interstate commerce—BROADLY interpreted L. Define & punish piracy M. Declare war E. Establish naturalization laws F. Coin money G. Establish weights and measures N. Raise & support an army/navy

IMPLIED POWERS A. Based on Elastic Clause B. Examples: Nat’l Bank, conscription, CIA C. Strict vs. loose constructionists

INSTITUTIONAL POWERS— THOSE THAT RELATE TO THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS & BALANCES Senate House A. Ratifies treaties with 2/3 vote A. Votes for impeachment B. Senate approves presidential appointments with majority vote B. Elects President if no Electoral College majority C. Tries impeachment Both houses can: A. Propose constitutional amendments B. Can seat, unseat, and punish its own members

LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS

LEADERSHIP A. House 1. Speaker 2. Majority/Minority Leader 3. Majority/Minority Whip B. Senate 1. Vice President 2. President Pro-Tempore 3. Majority Leader 4. Minority Leader 5. Party Whips

LEADERSHIP SCAVENGER HUNT