II. Evolution of Congress
A. House of Representatives
1. Framers’ Intent (1789-1812)
a. Citizen Legislators
b. Rotation in Office
c. Prevent Over-Taxation
d. Difficult to Organize
e. President’s Cabinet Makes Recommendations
2. Henry Clay – Organizing the House (Pre-Civil War)
a. Rise of Political Parties
i. Party Caucus
ii. Party Leadership
b. Expansion of the Country
i. Greater Membership
ii. Committee System
3. Speaker as “Czar” – Reed, Cannon (Post-Civil War)
a. Rules Committee
b. Appointed Committee Chairs - Patronage
c. Blocked Progressive Legislation
4. Rise of Committee Chairs (Progressive Era)
a. Seniority System
b. Development of Sub-Committees
5. Civil Rights Concerns – Appropriate Representation
a. 1911 – House Capped at 435 Members
b. Re-Apportionment Act of 1929
c. Mal-Apportionment
i. “One Person, One Vote”
ii. Racial Disenfranchisement
d. Gerrymandering
i. Substantive Representation -Districts Drawn to Influence Election Outcome
ii. Descriptive Representation - Majority-Minority Districts
e. Delegate v. Trustee Theories of Representation
f. Impact on State Legislatures
B. Senate
1. Framers’ Intent
a. Professional Statesmen
b. Career Politicians
c. Represent State Interests
d. Check on the President
2. Pre-Civil War Era
a. Balance of Free and Slave States
b. Filibuster
3. Progressive Era
a. Party Caucus
b. Committees
1. Policy Issues
2. Oversee Executive Agencies
III. Organization of Congress
A. Party Caucus (Informal Organization)
1. Majority and Minority Leaders
2. Majority and Minority Whips
3. House – Speaker Selected by Majority Party
4. Senate – President Pro-Tempore Selected by the Majority Party
5. Determine Committee Assignments
6. Generally Adhere to Seniority for Assignments
and Chair Appointments
7. Determine Party Position on Bills
8. Employs Staff to Research Issues
9. Campaign Committees – Re-Election of Incumbents
B. Special Interest Caucus (Informal Organization)
1. Personal Interest
2. Industry
3. Regional Concerns
4. State Concerns
5. Women and Minority
C. Committee System
1. Standing Committees
2. Select Committees
3. Appointment of Chairs – 3 Methods
a. Seniority
b. Election by Caucus
c. Party Leaders Appointment
4. Majority Party Controls the Chair and Has a Majority Membership on Each Committee
5. Purpose of Committees
a. Develop Legislation
b. Oversee Executive and Judicial Branches
c. Casework
d. Employ Staff
D. Staff Agencies
1. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
2. General Accounting Office (GAO)
3. Congressional Research Service (CRS)
4. Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)