Legislative Branch Political Ideology A consistent set of
Legislative Branch
Political Ideology • A consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue.
Liberal and Conservative
Take Political Ideology Test
How did you score? • • • 13 -18: Very liberal 19 -27: Somewhat liberal 28 -37: Moderate 38 -46: Somewhat Conservative 47 -52: Very Conservative
Pew research and PBS test • Political Ideology test
• 2016 Candidate Ideology
Liberal • Active national government would intervene in the economy, create social welfare programs, and help labor unions gain bargaining power.
Conservative • A less active government that favors free market, states rights, and greater reliance on individual choice in economic affairs.
Ideological Differences
Liberal Conservative • Pro Choice • Against death Penalty • Allow same sex marriage • Legalize marijuana • Pro Life • For Death Penalty • Prohibit same sex marriage • Marijuana illegal
Liberal Conservative • Less religion in • More religion in school • More gun • Less gun regulations • Allow flag • Prohibit flag burning as burning speech
Economic differences
Liberal Conservative • • Big government More welfare More Taxes Increase minimum wage • Support workers and unions • • Small government Less welfare Tax cuts Lower or eliminate minimum wage • Support business owners
Other differences
Liberal Conservative • More environmental protections • Less military spending • Support gov’t health care • Poor • Less environmental protections • More military spending • Oppose gov’t health care • Rich
According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2014… • • 38% said they were conservative 34% said they were moderate 24% said they were liberal The poll • Change… • Highest % of liberals since this type of poll has been taken (1992)
According PEW poll conducted in 2014… • • Political Party Identification 39% said they are independents 32% said they are Democrats 23% said they are Republicans • The Poll
• Interest Groups: An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy. • Interest groups
Lobbyist • a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest;
Example
Lets say that there are 9 members of the Brandon Valley school board
And a Superintendant
• A majority vote of the school board and approval of the Superintendent is needed to pass the policy
• The school board is considering making a new policy that allows all BVHS students to have open lunch.
Interest Groups • • School Lunch Program Students Parents Gas stations/convenience stores Restaurants Law Enforcement General Public Teachers
Policy changes that lobbyist have tried to get into the policy if it passes Try to determine who would lobby in favor of the following changes to the policy.
Can only walk (no vehicles) • Who would want this? • Who would be against this?
Lengthen lunch to an hour • Who would want this? • Who would be against this?
The open lunch rule didn’t pass.
Lets say that there are 9 members of the Brandon Valley school board
What could they do differently? • In the next election, help get people elected who already support open lunch
PAC’s • PAC stands for Political Action Committees • They are the political wing of Interest Groups • PAC’s use money collected from members of Interest Groups to help candidates who share their views.
• PACs give money to candidate who support their cause • Conservative PACs will typically give money to Republican candidates • Liberal PACs will typically give money to Democratic candidates
• The more money and members a Interest Group has equates to more power and influence. • Open. Secrets. org • Open secrets pie chart
Congress
Bicameral • Having two legislative chambers
House of Representatives
qualifications for HR • 7 years a citizen of the • Must be at least 25 years old • resident of the state elected from
the term of office for members of the House of Representatives • 2 years
How many total seats are there in the House of Representatives? • 435
House of Representatives (435 seats) • Party Divisions (Oct 30, 2015) • 246 Republicans • 188 Democrats • 0 Independents • 1 vacancies •
Representation in the HR is base on • Proportional representation
Proportional Representation Means… • Representation is based on population • The more populated states get more members of the House • No state can have fewer than 1 • A census is taken every 10 years for the purpose of Reapportionment
Reapportionment after 2000 census
Minnesota House Districts
Kansas HR Districts
Indiana
Louisiana
What is an Incumbent • The existing holder of a political office
• Congress approval rating
Incumbency re-election rate in Congress
Gerrymandering Videos • Explaining gerrymandering (4: 30 long) • Another Gerrymandering Video • Daily show explains gerrymandering (5: 30 long)
• Safe districts (start at minute 4)(Start at 3 min mark)
South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem (Republican)
Speaker of the House • Presiding officer and most powerful leader in the House of Representatives • Always comes from the majority party
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin
Senate
Other qualifications for Senate • 9 years a citizen of the US • Must be at least 30 years old • resident of the state elected from
the term of office for members of the Senate is • 6 years
How many total seats are there in the Senate? • 100
Senate Today 100 seats Party Divisions (as of September (October 4, 2015) 54 Republicans • 44 Democrats • 2 Independent (lean left)
• Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was reelected in 2006 as an Independent, and became an Independent Democrat. • Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was elected as an Independent
Representation in the Senate is based on • Equal representation
Senate Leadership
The Constitution states that… • The Vice President is the head of the Senate • However, they can only vote if there is a tie
Vice President Joe Biden (Dem) Delaware Tie breaking votes
When the VP is not around the presiding officer is the … • Pres Pro Tem • Today, a strictly honorary position
President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch(RUT), .
The real power in the Senate is the • Senate Majority Leader • Most powerful position in the Senate • Always comes from the majority party
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell (Rep) Kentucky
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Dem) Nevada
South Dakota Senators Mike Rounds (Rep) John Thune (Rep)
House of Representatives Senate 2 years term 6 year term Represent state Represent district Elected by people of state 435 members At least 25 years old Proportional representation Represent state Make laws Bring up charges in impeachment No filibuster At least 30 years old Equal representation Share enumerated powers Speaker of HR 100 members VP and Majority leader Jury in impeachment Allow filibuster Confirmation of judges Ratify treaties
POWERS OF CONGRESS
Powers of Congress
Enumerated Powers • Powers specifically given to Congress and listed in the Constitution • Example: Raise and army and navy
Implied Powers • Powers that are hinted at but not specifically listed in Constitution. • The originate from the “necessary and proper clause” and must to related to an enumerated power. • Example: Draft
Money Powers *(1)Power to tax (must be uniform throughout country) *(2)Power to borrow money *(3)Regulate commerce *(4)Laws on bankruptcies (also set rules for citizenship) (5)Coin money (standards for weight and measurement) *(6)Punishments for counterfeiters
Military Powers (Ensures civilian control of the military) *(11)Declare war *(12 -13)Raise army and navy *(12)Funding for military *(14) Set Rules for military *(15 -16)Rules for militia and power to call into service
Misc. Powers *(7)Post offices and roads *(8)Copyrights and patents *(9)Establish federal courts (17)*Laws for Washington, DC
Necessary and Proper (18) Can make All laws that are necessary and proper
“Power of the Purse” • All Taxing, spending, borrowing of money is done by Congress
Confirmation Power • All Presidential appointments must be confirmed with a majority vote of the SENATE
Ratification Power • All treaties must be approved with a 2/3 rds vote of the SENATE
Powers Denied to Congress • “The writ of habeas Corpus shall not be suspended” except in times of rebellion or invasion. • Means: Can’t be held without a trial.
Powers Denied to Congress • No bill of attainder laws – Means: Can’t be found guilty without a trial. • No ex post facto laws – Means: Can’t punish someone for a crime if it wasn’t a crime when they committed the act.
Powers Denied to Congress • Can’t tax exports • Can’t grant titles of nobility.
Impeachment
Who can be impeached? • President • Vice President • Federal judges
What can they be impeached for? • Treason • Bribery • High Crimes (felony) • Misdemeanor
Role of Congress in impeachment • House of Rep. • Senate • Votes to impeach • Serves as the jury • Majority vote • 2/3 rds vote to convict
Punishment: • Kicked out of office • Prevented from holding political office.
• President Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives. He was impeached in 1868 for dismissing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without the approval of the Senate as required in the Tenure of Office Act and for attacking congressional policies on the Reconstruction in the South.
• In October of 1998 the House of Representatives voted to start a formal impeachment inquiry into charges brought by independent counsel Kenneth Starr alleging that President William Jefferson Clinton committed impeachable offenses, including perjury and obstruction of justice. The charges stemmed from an investigation of Clinton's efforts to conceal an extramarital affair with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky.
Congressional Record
How a bill becomes a law • Short video on bill to law
House of Representatives (435 seats) • Party Divisions (Oct 4, 2015) • 247 Republicans • 188 Democrats • 0 Independents • 0 vacancies •
Senate Today 100 seats Party Divisions (as of September (October 4, 2015) 54 Republicans • 44 Democrats • 2 Independent (lean left)
Bills can start in either house • However, revenue bills (tax bills) must start in the House of Representatives. • Only members of Congress can introduce a bill in Congress. • Then bills are referred to a committee.
Committees • Every member of congress is in specialized committees. • This is where the real work on bills occur. • The committee chairperson always comes from the majority party. • Committees always have more member from the majority party than the other party.
• House Committees • Senate Committees
What do committee do? • • 1. Hold hearings of outside experts 2. Change the bill with a majority vote 3 Vote on the bill. It takes a majority vote to pass to the next step, otherwise the bill is dead.
Floor Vote • 1. Change the bill with a majority vote • 2. Debate the bill – HR Floor debate – Senate debate • 3. Vote on the bill. • A majority vote is needed to pass otherwise it dies.
To the 2 nd house • Almost identical as the first house, however…the senate allows a filibuster and the House of Representatives does not.
Senate Filibuster • Explaining a filibuster
Filibusters • Filibuster: Preventing a vote on a particular piece of legislation or nomination by "talking" • Only allowed in the Senate. • Today: A filibuster just needs to be declared. • Cloture Vote: a 60 vote that is needed to end a filibuster.
Filibuster Change of 2013 • Senate changed the rules • Can filibuster bill and Supreme Court nominations. • Can’t filibuster other Presidential nominations (lower court judges and other executive appointments
Ted Cruz’s Filibuster • On September 24 th, 2013 Ted Cruz spoke on the Senate floor for 21 straight hours to delay a budget bill.
• He read Dr. Seuss • Praised of White Castle hamburgers • He did a Darth Vader imitation • He quoted from the reality TV show “Duck Dynasty. ” • Mostly he talked about repealing Obamacare
Then what did Cruz do? • A day after his filibuster Cruz voted to advance the exact same bill he had filibustered the day before • The vote was 100 -to-0 on that spending bill.
Conference committee • Members from both houses that try to come up with a version of the bill that both houses can agree with. • Is needed because the bill may have been changed throughout the process and both houses must pass an identical bill
Floor Vote (Again) • • • Both houses must pass the exact same bill. They can do the following: 1. Debate 2. Vote (it takes a majority vote to pass) NO CHANGES can be made on the bill anymore.
The President • What options does the president have when a bill reaches his/her desk?
1. Sign the bill • The bill becomes law
2. Veto the Bill • The President rejects the bill with a veto, it’s not quite dead yet. • Overriding a veto – The bill can still become law if each house of Congress passes the bill with a 2/3 rds vote
3. Do nothing • 1. Bill becomes law after 10 days, unless… • 2. Pocket Veto – If congress adjourns then the bill dies after 10 days
• Presidential Vetoes
Members of congress get pressure from… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Their constituents Their political party Interest groups People who have donated money to them. The President The people of the country.
Famous Filibusters • During the 1930 s, Senator Huey P. Long effectively used the filibuster against bills that he thought favored the rich over the poor. The Louisiana senator frustrated his colleagues while entertaining spectators with his recitations of Shakespeare and his reading of recipes for "pot-likkers. " Long once held the Senate floor fifteen hours
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