What is representation Enquiry Question How do senators

What is representation?

Enquiry Question: How do senators and representatives fulfil their representative role?

Learning Outcomes • To analyse the different models of representation • To explain what influences the voting of members of congress • To evaluate the extent to which members of Congress prioritise local interests over national interests

Representation • • • This term can be used in a number of different ways. Representation can be understood in terms of how legislators represent their constituents. In this sense there are four different models of representation.

Models of Representation Trustee Model The representative acts as the person who is vested with formal responsibility for the affairs of others. Such representation is based upon the considered judgement of the legislator. The elected representative is ‘trusted’ to make the right judgement. Delegate Model Mandate Model Resemblance Model Constituents elect This model their representatives their focuses on who as delegates for their representatives and represents the constituency. consequently electorate, and Essentially, the provide them with a considers how representative acts mandate to carry representative as the voice of those out certain policies legislators are in who are (literally) not that they have terms of such present. campaigned on. factors as gender and race.

Learning Outcomes • To analyse the different models of representation • To explain what influences the voting of members of congress • To evaluate the extent to which members of Congress prioritise local interests over national interests

YOUR TASK: • Read the handout “How Members Decide to Vote”. • Watch video: Crash Course – Congressional Decisions

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Political Party • Can be the most important factor – ‘party votes’ on contentious issues. • Parties have few punishments/incentives to offer members. • Party labels don’t always mean whole party voting together (regional ideologies). • Internal party groups e. g. Blue Dog Democrats

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Constituents • Trustee model of representation • “folks back home”, “locality rule” • Failing to look after/represent constituents can result in electoral defeat • Phone, email, local news, visits, letters from constituents • Regular visits “home” for party/town hall meetings, ‘surgeries’, local TV and radio, interviews with local media, addressing groups, visiting schools, hospitals etc. • Views of constituents = divided (discontented v content = representative? ) • (National good + local popularity + electoral benefit) of policies to balance

How do members of Congress decide to vote? The Administration • Members of the executive branch including POTUS, VPOTUS, cabinet members etc. • Legislation initiated by the administration – keen interest so in touch with members/committees to influence votes • Two way street of cooperation • Supporting unpopular legislation/administration can be costly

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Pressure Groups • Try to influence members and votes • Direct contact with members • Attempt to generate public support • Phone calls, make visits • Provide evidence to committees • Organise rallies, demonstrations and petitions • Fundraising and campaigning • Campaign donations

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Colleagues and Staff • Huge number of votes – impossible to be an expert on all issues and policies • Reliance on others for help • Colleagues – same party, same philosophy, same views – ‘mentors’, advice, suggestions • Senior staff – chief of staff or legislative director

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Personal Beliefs • Applicable on certain votes – usually abortion, capital punishment etc. • Generally members personal beliefs are similar to the majority of their constituents especially if a member adopts a trustee or mandate model of representation

How do members of Congress decide to vote? Political Party Constituents The administration Pressure Groups Colleagues and Staff Personal Beliefs Discussion Questions: • To what extent does each factor affect how a Member of Congress votes? • Can you identify a single “deciding factor”? • How do members balance all of these factors?

Learning Outcomes • To analyse the different models of representation • To explain what influences the voting of members of congress • To evaluate the extent to which members of Congress prioritise local interests over national interests

Members of Congress are more concerned with local issues than national or international issues.

Members of Congress are more concerned with local issues than national or international issues. Arguments for Arguments against • Elections every two years that mean that members of Congress have to demonstrate that their term has been productive to the community they serve. [Find example] • This leads to pork barrel politics. [Find example] • That debates for elections tend to be on local issues. [Find example] • When members of Congress vote they do so bearing their constituents in mind above all others. [Find example] • The oversight of foreign policy and the implementation of federal law [Find example] • Congressional elections have become increasingly ideological in character, reducing the importance of appealing mainly to local concerns. [Find example] YOUR TASK: Find examples to illustrate these arguments.

Assess the factors that influence the votes of members of Congress. (15)

Assess the factors that influence the votes of members of Congress. KNOWLEDGE: • The differences between the House and the Senate • Voting records • Case studies of legislation such as health care reform • Concepts such as the “folks back home”, the pork barrel, log rolling, earmarking • The role of committees in the legislative process • Congressional liaison from the White House • The role of party and Congressional leadership • The impact of caucus groups • The role played by pressure groups • Examples of conscience issues and individual ideological perspectives such as Ron Paul’s libertarianism.

Assess the factors that influence the votes of members of Congress. ANALYSIS & EVALUATION: • Candidates should identify a range of factors and attempt to rank their relative importance. • Candidates are likely to consider the relative weakness of parties, although this can be contrasted with reference to increased partisanship in Congress in recent times. • Case studies such as health care reform may be used to illustrate the role played by pressure groups and the divide between Congress and the presidency. • Candidate-centred campaigns, the two year term of the House and discussion of the notion that “all politics is local” may also feature. • This might be linked to name recognition and constituency links from the congressional office. • At the top of level 3, candidates will not only list a range of factors which influence voting in Congress but attempt to evaluate or rank their relative significance. • Better candidates will make reference to contemporary developments to illustrate their answers and may make some attempt to consider the extent to which Congress serves the minority rather than the public interest.

Which is more important – the House or the Senate? (15) YOUR TASK: • This a very typicaltomid-Level 2 answer. • Read the is model answer a similar exam question. • Therethe areanswer four valid some • Annotate as a points teacherand would, for degree of explanation andstructure, development. example focusing on accuracy, examples • On the debit side, there are very few and written expression. there is lack of clarity in a mark. • Use examples; the mark scheme toaaward a level and places the candidate wastes • Write a briefand justification for your mark time to this student. with their introduction and definition of • Whatanwere the strengths interest group. of this answer? • Itcould was awarded 9 marks. • How this answer be improved?

Examiner Advice • • This is a straightforward question; it offered candidates few opportunities to trip themselves up, and most could cover three or four factors with some measure of credible evidence. That said, a small number took it to be a unit 3 question, and focused on factors influencing voters when they vote for congressional candidates, rather than the factors which influence the members of Congress themselves. The most commonly cited factors were pressure groups, party loyalty, district or state interests and presidential persuasion; a number of candidates discussed personal beliefs as an influence, but they often found it difficult to separate it from other factors, or give a convincing example; Democratic support for the Stupak-Pitts amendment might be considered to be one. As was true for all questions, the strongest answers not only presented three or four factors but could also assess the extent of their influence. This could be done in a number of ways, for example looking at the extent to which the influence of a factor has changed over time (the growth of partisanship was often discussed in this way), comparing different factors to show which was more important, or comparing different policy issues or political scenarios, to show different factors may be more or less important in different situations. The recent Senate vote on the Manchin-Toomey amendment provided a good example of the tension between party and state loyalties. Most answers focused on voting on legislation, but some made rewardable reference to Senate votes on Supreme Court nominees, which certainly provided evidence of increasing partisanship.

Learning Outcomes • To analyse the different models of representation • To explain what influences the voting of members of congress • To evaluate the extent to which members of Congress prioritise local interests over national interests

Fun Facts: Members of Congress • • • You have 5 minutes to find as many • fun facts as possible about one of • these high profile Members of • Congres. Nancy Pelosi John Mc. Cain Mitch Mc. Connell Dianne Feinstein Paul Ryan Bernie Sanders Al Franken Tammy Baldwin Rand Paul

Homework Application Task: Assess the factors that influence the votes of members of Congress. (15) Flipped Learning Preparation Task: The Changing Significance of Parties in Congress (Pearson p 355 -358) Stretch & Challenge Task Article: The Weirdest Members of Congress