ORGANIZATION, STRUCTURE, PERFORMANCEOF CONGRESS

BIBLE PAGES 136-153

spring 2012

HOUSE VS. SENATE

HOUSE / SENATE
# of MEMBERS
WHAT MEMBERS ARE CALLED
PRESIDING OFFICER
MAJORITY PARTY/HOW MANY
MINORITY PARTY/HOW MANY
# of INDEPENDENTS
LENGTH OF TERM
MINIMUM AGE
AVERAGE AGE
# of FEMALES
# of AFRICAN AMERICANS
# of HISPANICS
# of NATIVE AMERICANS
SALARY

Include and add the following current info on the 112th Congress:

Party split in Senate51Democrats

47Republicans

2 Independents (Bernard Sanders of Vermont--caucuses with Democrats)

(Joe Lieberman of CT---caucuses with Democrats)

Party split in US House242 Republicans

102 Democrats

3 Vacancies

(Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee, WA, resigned 3/20/12)

(Democratic Rep. Donald M. Payne, NJ, passed away on 3/6/12)
(Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, AZ, resigned 1/25/12)

73females in US House, 17 in Senate

41 African Americans in Congress---all in the US House

32 Hispanics---30 House, 2 Senate

11 Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Island---9 House, 2 Senate

1 Native American---US House

Salary of member of Congress is currently $174,000----leaders make $193,400, Speaker is paid $223,500

THE 112th CONGRESS CONVENED IN JANUARY 2011 WITH REPUBLICANS CONTROLING THE HOUSE MAJORITY WHILE DEMOCRATS RETAINED CONTROL OF THE SENATE

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE US CONGRESS

  1. Define the specific function and list the government entity responsible for each component of the separation of powers.

LEGISLATIVE
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIAL
  1. List the five points of logic that make the argument that Congress is the “the first branch.”

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
  1. Define bicameralism and explain the three points of logic outlining its existence in the American system.

BICAMERALISM---

1.
2.
3.
  1. TERM AND SESSION OF CONGRESS
  • What is the current term and session?
  • How is this determined?
  • When was the first term of Congress?
  • How long does a congressional term last?
  • How many sessions per term?
  • How long does a session last?
  • Year of the 1st session? Year of 2nd session?
  • When is a “new” Congress elected? When do they take their seats?
  • What will the next term be called?
  • When were they elected? When will they convene?
  • When does Congress typically adjourn in an odd year? Even year? Why the difference?
  1. Explain the concept of “staggered term.” Why just a Senate thing? What is meant by Class I, II, III?
  1. What is a special session of Congress? When was the last one? Why so long ago? Why unusual or never called today?
  1. The 111th Congress conducted a rare “lame duck” session late in 2010. Explain this. Why “lame duck?”
  1. What is the function of thepresident pro tem in the US Senate? Why do they have one when the House doesn’t? Do they have any real power in this position? Explain. What is the only congressional power the VP gets to rarely exercise??
  1. What is an “at large” member of the US House? How many of them are there? What are the states?
  1. Elaborate on the four fundamental tasks performed by member of Congress.

REELECTION
CONSTITUENT SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE DUTIES
NON LEGISLATIVE DUTIES

11. How many House members were there in 1789 in the 1st Congress? How many Senators?

12. How many people did each House member represent in 1789? How many today in the 112th Congress? What is the

projection for the population of each district after the 2010 census?

13. Do House members have to live in the district they represent? What is the constitutional requirement regarding residency of

both Senators and House members? Could this be a campaign issue in a House election? Why or why not?

HOUSE VS. SENATE (pg. 137 black box)

Construct a thorough three paragraph essay contrasting the organization, personality and mechanics of the House and Senate by considering the three fundamental differences of size, terms and constituency and the impact each has on the performance of the four primary tasks of members of Congress.

NON LEGISLATIVE DUTIES OF CONGRESS page 139

14.What is meant by “non legislative duty?” Which of these are routine and which rarely happen?

Explain the specific mechanics for each of the following NON LEGISLATIVE DUTIES OF CONGRESS

House election of the President (Plan B of Electoral College)

  • What must happen to activate plan B?
  • Who chooses the President? Vice President?
  • What is a very likely problem?
  • Why is plan B not very democratic? Is plan B used very often? When was the last time?
  • What is likely to be involved to cause a House vote?
  • How would the Georgia House delegation likely vote? What might have an impact on that vote?

Amendment process

  • What are the two specific phases of the amendment process?
  • What are the “super majorities” required in each phase?
  • Is there a method for amending the constitution if Congress is unwilling?
  • How are most amendments proposed?
  • How are most amendments ratified?

Impeachment process

  • What branch of government is responsible for impeachment?
  • What branches are disciplined as a result?
  • What are the two distinct phases of the impeachment process? Who is responsible for each phase of the process?
  • What vote is required to bring charges? What vote is required to convict?
  • What is the extent of congressional action in case of conviction?
  • Who usually gets impeached?
  • Were Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson impeached? Explain.

Senate confirmation

  • What government officials are subject to confirmation?
  • Whose power does it limit/restrict?
  • What other government process is subject to Senate investigation and confirmation?

Congressional oversight

  • Explain what congressional oversight is and how it works.
  • Consider environmental laws and who might get called in?
  • Who would be called in to update Congress on the status of the wolf recovery program?

Motivations for a member of congress page 140-142

15. What is involved in “pork barrel politics?” Provide some specific examples to illustrate how it works.

16. What is “logrolling?” Provide specific examples to illustrate how it works.

17. Construct a thorough paragraph on the somewhat circular and inter-related motivations of the performance of members of Congress. Consider the specific factors that affect the performance and agenda of a Congressman. Define each of the three component parts and explain how they interact and build on each other as a member develops seniority and influence.

(for those of you that work: consider the expectations, environment and your performance when you first got the job and compare it to those same things after you were on the job for several weeks, months, years---how did things change?)

18. What are the five primary voting considerations of a member of Congress?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

19. What is the difference in thought process or philosophy when a member of Congress casts a vote as a “delegate” or as a “trustee?” What issues are paramount in this consideration? What does he do when being a “politico?”

20. Transitional meetings take place between the election of a new Congress in November and the beginning of the term in January. What two major events take place during this transition time in Washington?

21. What is the fundamental objective of “new member” orientation? What sorts of things will they be covering?

22. What is the general purpose of the organizational party caucuses/conferences that will take place during these transitional meetings? What are the four specific “groups” to be organized? What three specific tasks will be considered, negotiated and eventually carried out?

23. Explain the dynamic that exists between leadership elections and rank and file committee assignments.

24. Describe the roles of each of the following players in party organization and goal accomplishment, communication flow and congressional agenda setting critical to the work of Congress each legislative year:

PARTY LEADERS
PARTY WHIPS
RANK AND FILE
MONEY AND POWER CHAIRMEN

THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM PAGE 143

  1. What is meant by committees being considered as a “functional necessity” in Congress? Why is this fundamental to the concept of the committee system?
  1. What is meant by, “…..the division of labor into manageable proportions?” Why is this fundamental to the concept of committees?
  1. What are the two fundamental things that congressional committees do to legislation?
  1. What do the terms craft and/or construct mean?
  1. How do standing committees in Congress “specialize?”
  1. List the four major powers held by committee chairmen? What party currently controls all committee chairmanships? Subcommittees?
  1. List and describe the five factors that impact the committee assignments for members of Congress.
  1. Craft a thorough paragraph defining the fundamentals of specialization and reciprocity and explain how their relationship is the essence of how Congress does its legislative work.
  1. Explain the dynamic of the vote in standing committee by comparing the vote for a bill that is in trouble with a bill that will probably make it? What is the critical element?
  1. Define “consensus.” Why is it so important in any committee?
  1. How many standing committees are currently at work in the US House? US Senate?
  1. List five specific House standing committees. Five specific Senate standing committees.

HOUSE COMMITTEESSENATE COMMITTEES

  1. Describe the fundamentals of each of the four distinctive types of congressional committees

STANDING COMMITTEE
JOINT COMMITTEE
SELECT COMMITTEE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
  1. What are the “money and power” committees and why are they so critical to the work of Congress?
  1. What happens to most bills when they get to standing committee? What is the term for this action?
  1. What is a quorum?
  1. How are committee members determined in each body?
  1. What are subcommittees? How are they different from the full committee? How are they similar?
  1. How many subcommittees are there currently in the US House? Senate? Give a specific example of a subcommittee in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
  1. What is the function of a committee hearing? Who controls the dynamic of the hearing? What are some of the particulars of this dynamic? Who testifies at these hearings?
  1. What is the markup? How does it work?
  1. Name two specific select committees. What is their specific function?
  1. What does “ad hoc” mean?
  1. Why is the conference committees commonly referred to as “the third house of Congress?”
  1. Who/what are conferees? How are they determined? Characterize a conferee.
  1. What are companion bills? What type legislative process does this create?
  1. Who would most likely serve on a conference committee resolving differences between House and Senate Agriculture bills? Why these people? Why is the selection important to the future of the bill?

WHO ARE THE LEADERS OF CONGRESS PAGES 149-150

  1. Identify and thoroughly define the job description and responsibilities for each of the leadership positions in the US House and US Senate.

POSITION OFFICEHOLDERJOB DESCRIPTION

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER
HOUSE MINORITY WHIP
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
SENATE MAJORITY WHIP
SENATE MINORITY LEADER
SENATE MINORITY WHIP

THE JOB OF A CONGRESSMAN PAGE 145

  1. Explain the nature of the reciprocal relationship hoped for and articulated by Congressman Hamilton in the introduction.
  1. Provide a thorough elaboration on the five tasks/functions that he wished people were more conscious of:

EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR
ADVOCATE
EDUCATOR/COMMUNICATOR
CEREMONIAL TASKS
CONSENSUS BUILDER

BE THANKFUL THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE DIFFERENT PAGE 146

  1. What are the two constitutional provisions that make the House and Senate different?
  1. Give a brief summary of each area considered by Hamilton as a point of contrast for the House and Senate:

MAJORITY/MINORITY STATUS
TERMS
DISTRICT/CONSTITUENCIES
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
  1. Explain the concept of the “aristocracy of the Senate.”

CONGRESS AND THE PORK BARREL PAGE 148

  1. What connection did Hamilton make in his intro linking “pork” and Tell City, IN? What is the moral of this story?
  1. List ten specific examples of “pork” projects articulated in the article. Most of them are categorized as what?

1. / 6.
2. / 7.
3. / 8.
4. / 9.
5. / 10.

POWER IN CONGRESS PAGE 147

  1. What power does Hamilton point out through his introduction of the bill to increase House members terms from two to four years?
  1. Who is the most powerful member of the House? How has this changed over the years?
  1. Why does the power shift so often in Congress? What does not Congress not have to centralize power?
  1. What power does former Speaker Carl Albert say the speaker has?
  1. What powers do individual members of Congress have?
  1. What does power do for a member of Congress?