Congress is Americas First Branch of Government Congress
• Congress is America’s “First Branch of Government” • Congress has the “ultimate power of the purse” – Can pass a law even if the president vetoes it – Can alter how existing laws are administered through it’s oversight of executive agencies – Can expand or contract the appellate jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court
• Today Congress is referred to as the “Broken Branch” • Congress is “who governs” and “to what ends” • In the world of large democracies the US Congress is the only one that can exercise powers independently of the Executive Branch
• United States and many Latin American countries have a Congress • Great Britain and many Western European Nations have a Parliament
• Become candidate by persuading a political party to put your name on the ballot • In the election voters in the districts choose between two or three PARTIES, not persons
• In America political parties exercise little control over the choice of candidates running for congressional office • Primary election
• Loyal to national party leadership who meet to debate and vote on party issues • If go against party you will not be renominated • Prime Minister and cabinet officers from majority party
• Legislators think of themselves as independent representatives of their districts or states • Vote for beliefs of their constituents and not necessarily for the party views • Congress does not select head of executive branch • Do not have to worry about repercussions if not vote with party
• Principal work of Congress is representation and action which takes place through committees • Decentralized institution
• Two-Chamber – House of Representatives – Senate
• Congress has been decentralized since the midtwentieth century – Enhances the power of the individual members at the expense of the congressional leadership
• Has changed in the way in which it is organized and led – Certain periods Speaker had great power – Certain periods given more power to chairman of the House Committees – Other periods individuals members had great influence – House will always be undergoing changes – TOP OF PAGES 322 -323
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