Chap13

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Chapter 13Chapter 13
CongressCongress

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. Are members of CongressAre members of Congress
representative of the American people?representative of the American people?
2.2. Does Congress normally do what mostDoes Congress normally do what most
citizens want it to do?citizens want it to do?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. Should Congress run under strongShould Congress run under strong
leadership?leadership?
2.2. Should Congress act more quickly?Should Congress act more quickly?

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Congress Versus ParliamentCongress Versus Parliament
 CongressCongress
• Independent representatives of theirIndependent representatives of their
districts or statesdistricts or states
• Principal work is representation andPrincipal work is representation and
actionaction
 ParliamentParliament
• Loyal to national party leadershipLoyal to national party leadership
• Principal work is debatePrincipal work is debate
Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

In January 2011, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi
turned over her gavel to Republican John Boehner who
became speaker after the large Republican victory in the
2010 election.
© SHAWN THEW/epa/Corbis

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Three powerful Speakers of the House: Thomas B. Reed (1889–1891, 1895–1899)Three powerful Speakers of the House: Thomas B. Reed (1889–1891, 1895–1899)
(left), Joseph G. Cannon (1903–1911) (center), and Sam Rayburn (1941–1947, 1949–(left), Joseph G. Cannon (1903–1911) (center), and Sam Rayburn (1941–1947, 1949–
1953, 1955–1961) (right). Reed put an end to a filibuster in the House by refusing to1953, 1955–1961) (right). Reed put an end to a filibuster in the House by refusing to
allow dilatory motions and by counting as “present”—for purposes of a quorum—allow dilatory motions and by counting as “present”—for purposes of a quorum—
members in the House even though they were not voting. Cannon further enlarged themembers in the House even though they were not voting. Cannon further enlarged the
Speaker’s power by refusing to recognize members who wished to speak withoutSpeaker’s power by refusing to recognize members who wished to speak without
Cannon’s approval and by increasing the power of the Rules Committee, over which heCannon’s approval and by increasing the power of the Rules Committee, over which he
presided. Cannon was stripped of much of his power in 1910. Rayburn’s influencepresided. Cannon was stripped of much of his power in 1910. Rayburn’s influence
rested more on his ability to persuade than on his formal powers.rested more on his ability to persuade than on his formal powers.
Library of Congress Library of Congress AP/Wide World Photos

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The Evolution of CongressThe Evolution of Congress
 Bicameral (twoBicameral (two
chamber) legislaturechamber) legislature
 House ofHouse of
RepresentativesRepresentatives
 SenateSenate
 Centralization vs.Centralization vs.
decentralizationdecentralization
One of the most powerful
Speakers of the House, Henry
Clay, is shown here addressing
the U. S. Senate around 1850.
Library of Congress

99
A cartoon from Puck in 1890 expressed popular resentmentA cartoon from Puck in 1890 expressed popular resentment
over the “Millionaires Club,” as the Senate had become known.over the “Millionaires Club,” as the Senate had become known.
New York Public Library

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Who is in Congress?Who is in Congress?
 Sex and RaceSex and Race
 IncumbencyIncumbency
• Marginal districtsMarginal districts
• Safe districtsSafe districts
 PartyParty

Source: Congressional Quarterly, various years

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Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) in 2011
became the new chair
of the House Budget
Committee where he oversaw
the preparation of a response
to Pres. Obama’s
budget plan.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)
recovering from
being shot in the head by a
homicidal maniac.
ROD LAMKEY JR./The Washington Times/Landov
Rex Features via AP Images

Source: Adapted from chart based on Congressional Research Service and Military Officers Association
data in John Harwood, “For New Congress, Data Shows Why Polarization Abounds,” New York Times,
March 6, 2011.

Source: For 1964-2008 data, The Center For Responsive Politics; 2010 data compiled by the author.Source: For 1964-2008 data, The Center For Responsive Politics; 2010 data compiled by the author.

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Do Members Represent Their VotersDo Members Represent Their Voters??
 Representational View–Representational View–
members vote to pleasemembers vote to please
their constituentstheir constituents
 Organizational View–Organizational View–
members vote to pleasemembers vote to please
fellow members of Congressfellow members of Congress
 Attitudinal View–Attitudinal View–membersmembers
vote on the basis of theirvote on the basis of their
own beliefsown beliefs
Keith Ellison (D.,Keith Ellison (D.,
MN), the firstMN), the first
Muslim elected toMuslim elected to
Congress.Congress.
Craig Lassig/EPA/Corbis

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A Polarized CongressA Polarized Congress
 A more ideological perspective hasA more ideological perspective has
been brought to Congress.been brought to Congress.
 Congress’ most liberal members areCongress’ most liberal members are
Democrats.Democrats.
 Congress’ most conservativeCongress’ most conservative
members are Republicans.members are Republicans.
 Are voters closer to the center of theAre voters closer to the center of the
political spectrum?political spectrum?

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The Organization of Congress:The Organization of Congress:
Parties and CaucusesParties and Caucuses
 Party Organization ofParty Organization of
the Senatethe Senate
 Party Structure in theParty Structure in the
HouseHouse
 The Strength of PartyThe Strength of Party
StructuresStructures
 Party UnityParty Unity
 CaucusesCaucuses

Sources: Updated through 2008 by Zach Courser; NES data as reported in 2001–2002; Harold W.
Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics (CQ Press, 2001), 211. Reprinted by
permission of Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
Note: A party vote occurs
when the specified
percentage (or more) of
one party votes against the
specified percentage (or
more) of the other party.

2020
CommitteesCommittees
 Standing CommitteesStanding Committees
 Select CommitteesSelect Committees
 Joint CommitteesJoint Committees
 Conference CommitteesConference Committees
 HouseHouse
 SenateSenate

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., holds a photo of an oil covered
pelican as he questions BP CEO Tony Hayward on Capitol Hill
in Washington, June 17, 2010, during the House Oversight and
Investigations subcommittee hearing on the role of BP in the
Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

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Staff and Specialized OfficesStaff and Specialized Offices
 Tasks of Staff MembersTasks of Staff Members
 Staff AgenciesStaff Agencies
• Congressional Research Service (CRS)Congressional Research Service (CRS)
• General Accounting Office (GAO)General Accounting Office (GAO)
• Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

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How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law
 Introducing a BillIntroducing a Bill
 Legislative ProductivityLegislative Productivity
 Study by CommitteeStudy by Committee
 Floor Debate – The HouseFloor Debate – The House
 Floor Debate – The SenateFloor Debate – The Senate
 Methods of VotingMethods of Voting

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How a BillHow a Bill
Becomes aBecomes a
LawLaw

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Reducing Power and PerksReducing Power and Perks
 Term Limits?Term Limits?
 New Ethics LawsNew Ethics Laws
 OrganizationalOrganizational
ChangesChanges
 Pork-BarrelPork-Barrel
LegislationLegislation
 FrankingFranking
PrivilegePrivilege

The electronic voting system in the House of Representatives
displays each member’s name on the wall of the chamber. By
inserting a plastic card in a box fastened to the chairs, a member
can vote “Yea,” “Nay,” or “Present,” and the result is shown opposite
his or her name.
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Clerk of the House

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M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To:To: Representative Peter SkerryRepresentative Peter Skerry
From:From: Martha Bayles, legislative aideMartha Bayles, legislative aide
Subject:Subject: The size of the House of RepresentativesThe size of the House of Representatives
The House can decide how big it wishes to be. When it wasThe House can decide how big it wishes to be. When it was
created, there was one representative for every 30,000created, there was one representative for every 30,000
people. Now there is one for every 600,000. In most otherpeople. Now there is one for every 600,000. In most other
democracies, each member of parliament represents fardemocracies, each member of parliament represents far
fewer than 600,000 people. Doubling the size of the Housefewer than 600,000 people. Doubling the size of the House
may be a way of avoiding term limits.may be a way of avoiding term limits.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

3333
Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. Doubling the size of the House would reduce the1. Doubling the size of the House would reduce the
huge demand for constituent services eachhuge demand for constituent services each
member now faces.member now faces.
2. A bigger House would represent more shades of2. A bigger House would represent more shades of
opinion more fairly.opinion more fairly.
3. Each member could raise less campaign money3. Each member could raise less campaign money
because his or her campaign would be smaller.because his or her campaign would be smaller.

3434
Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. A bigger House would be twice as hard to1. A bigger House would be twice as hard to
manage, and it would take even longer to passmanage, and it would take even longer to pass
legislation.legislation.
2. Campaigns in districts of 300,000 people would2. Campaigns in districts of 300,000 people would
cost as much as ones in districts with 600,000cost as much as ones in districts with 600,000
people.people.
3. Interest groups do a better job of representing3. Interest groups do a better job of representing
public opinion than would a House with morepublic opinion than would a House with more
members.members.

3535
Your decision:Your decision:
Increase size of House?Increase size of House?
Do not increase size of House?Do not increase size of House?

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