Chapter 7 Congress To Accompany Comprehensive Alternate and

Chapter 7 Congress To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions American Government: Roots and Reform, 10 th edition Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato Pearson Education, 2009

Role of Political Parties Majority party has most members. Minority party has second most members. Key role in committee system and organization. Party caucuses also choose policy priorities.

House of Representatives More tightly structured, governed by more rules. Party loyalty plays a more important role. Powerful Speaker of the House chosen by all members. Party caucuses pick majority and minority leaders. Whips assist party leaders.

Senate Vice president is the official presiding officer. Official chair is the president pro tempore. True leader is the majority leader. Also have whips. More informal than House. Controlling Senate challenging, run by folkways. Importance of rules such as filibuster and cloture.

Table 7. 1 - The Powers of Congress Back

113 th Congress

113 th Congress

Racial Gerrymandering The Supreme Court today declared that district 25 must be redrawn. It seems it has too many Hispanics. Their point is that the racial gerrymandering is fine - but the Texas legislature just got a little too carried away. Some of those Hispanics should have been left in Republican districts, just to keep things interesting back there.

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Table 7. 5 - Advantages of Incumbency Back

Table 7. 2 - House Versus Senate Back

Figure 7. 3 - Organization of Congress Bac To Learning Objectives k

• http: //www. senate. gov/pagelayout/refe rence/e_one_section_no_teasers/org_c hart. htm

Committee Membership Members serve on multiple committees at a time. Request assignments based on interest or district. Often want access to pork or earmarks. Some assignments are good for campaigning. Membership represents party division in house. Chairs have tremendous agenda-setting power. Chairs no longer chosen by seniority.

Table 7. 3 - Congressional Committees Back

Committee System Much of the actual work gets done by committees. Standing committees are where bills are referred. Joint committees include members from both houses. Conference committees finalize bills. Select committees deal with temporary issues. Importance of House Rules Committee. Discharge petitions force bills out of committee.

Figure 7. 4 - How a Bill Becomes a Law Back

Theories of Representation Trustees hear constituents and make own judgments. Delegates vote as their constituents want. Most members act as politicos. May also be influenced by race or gender.

Table 7. 7 - Impeachment Back