Exam Tip of the Day. . . • there will NOT be a question from the “Congressional Reapportionment” section of the text (pp. 215 -7) • Students with last names beginning with A-L will write the mid-term exam in MC 4021. All students with last names beginning M-Z will write in DWE 2527. • note two new articles (#22 and #25) on course webpage!!
Mid-Term Exam – Thurs. , Nov. 3 • two sections – lectures (66%) • short paragraph (2 x 32%) – Part A (choose one of two) – Part B (choose one of two) – readings/multimedia (34%) • multiple choice (34 questions, 1% each) – 12 questions on textbook readings » approx. 3 questions per chapter – 16 questions on newsclippings » one per reading – 6 questions on video presentations » one per day
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS October 25, 2005
Legislates, Controls Budget, Approves Nominations and Treaties, Impeach, Override Veto VETO! Declare Laws Unconstitutional Confirms Nominations, Impeach
The Dynamics of Congressional Law-Making • Inside Congress – Within Each House – Between the Houses • Congress and the President
Inside Congress -- The Two Houses • Why Two Houses? – different basis of representation • representation of constituencies versus representation of states • different weight of states in each house
Inside Congress -- The Two Houses • Why Two Houses? – different basis of representation – different electoral time-frame • House of Representatives – constant campaign mode – responsive to current political demands • Senate – more removed from immediate political pressure – can take long-term view
Inside Congress -- The Two Houses • Why Two Houses? – different basis of representation – different electoral time-frame – each plays a different role and represents different interests
Inside Congress -- The Two Houses • House of Representatives – unique powers • introducing money bills • Senate – unique powers • ratification of presidential appointments • ratification of treaties • both play a role in routine law-making
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • Factors Effecting Voting in the House of Representatives – party influence – district influence – ideological influence – special interest influence
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • party discipline – party leadership • Speaker – “The most powerful Republican outside the White House is also the most anonymous. Few seem to notice the existence let alone the large and growing influence of House -- Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. ” David S. Broder , Washington Post • Majority Leader/Minority Leader
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • party discipline – party leadership • Speaker – “The most powerful Republican outside the White House is also the most anonymous. Few seem to notice the existence let alone the large and growing influence of House -- Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. ” David S. Broder , Washington Post • Majority Leader/Minority Leader • Majority Whip/Minority Whip • weak party discipline
Party Unity – House of Representatives HOUSE SUPPORT Republicans Democrats Boehner, OH 99% Coyne, PA 99% Bonilla, TX 99% Filner, CA 99% Callahan, AL 99% Crane, IL 99% Schakowsky CA Solis, CA Oxley, OH 99% Brown, OH 98% 99%
Party Unity – House of Representatives (Support for Republicans) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Republicans Democrats Morella, MD 61% Traficant, OH 91% Leach, IO 73% Hall, TX 75% Shays, CT 75% Lucas, KY 53% Gilman, NY 76% Cramer, AL 50% Johnson, CT 76% John, LA 48%
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • weak party discipline – individual members are more open to outside influence • responsive • can be controlled by outside interests – importance of log-rolling • broad benefits, compromise • hard to get things done • sometimes described as bribery
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • committee system – important – most important organizational feature of congress • • • role of standing committees make-up of standing committees importance of committee chairmanships – traditionally dominated according to seniority • make-up/chairmanship • recent changes – party caucus approval (1971) – committee chair/Speaker term limits (1995)
Inside Congress -- Inside the House of Representatives • committee system – trade-off of strong leadership (Speaker, committee chairmanship) • decreases influence/role of individual representative • increases collective influence of House of Representatives – helps business get done » ability to get things done is crucial in strengthening the House of Represenatives vis-a-vis President/Senate
Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate • party leadership – Vice President/Presidet Pro Tempore – Majority Leader/Minority Leader
Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate • party leadership – Vice President/Presidet Pro Tempore – Majority Leader/Minority Leader – Majority Whip/Minority Whip
Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate • the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privileges
Party Unity – The Senate SENATE SUPPORT Republicans Democrats Allard, CO 98% Dayton, MN 99% Helms, NC 98% Reed, RI 99% Kyl, AZ 98% Daschle, SD 98% Lott, MS 98% Kerry, MA 98% Mc. Connell, KY 98% Levin, MI 98%
Party Unity – Senate (Support for Republicans) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Republicans Democrats Chafee, RI 50% Miller, GA 58% Specter, PA 60% Nelson, NB 42% Snowe, ME 64% Breaux, LA 41% Collins, ME 67% Baucus, MT 33% Mc. Cain, AZ 67% Cleland, GA 22%
Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate • the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privileges • Cloture and the Filibuster • record – Thurmond, civil rights, 1957 • Mc. Cain/Feingold, 1998 -1999 • the committee system – important – committee chair term limits (1995)
Inside Congress -- Between the Houses • A Congress Divided?
Inside Congress -- Between the Houses • A Congress Divided? • Differences between the Houses – electoral time-frames – representational concerns – dynamics of operation • balancing different interests
Congress and the President • Presidential Support in Congress
Party Unity – House Presidential Support Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Republicans Democrats Paul, TX 49% Hall, TX 86% Morella, MD 53% Lucas, KY 81% Leach, IO 60% John, LA 69% Gilman, NY 62% Cramer, AL 67% Ramstad, MN 65% Shows, MS 64%
Party Unity – Senate Presidential Support Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Republicans Democrats Chafee, RI 84% Miller, GA 82% Snowe, ME 84% Breaux, LA 77% Specter, PA 87% Landrieu, LA 74% Collins, ME 88% Nelson, NB 74% Mc. Cain, AZ 91% Baucus, MT 71%
Congress and the President • Presidential Support in Congress • United vs. Divided Government – frequency
United and Divided Government, 1968 -2004 • • • 1968 -69 Nixon, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1970 -71 Nixon, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1972 -73 Nixon, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1974 -75 Nixon/Ford, Sen. =D*, Rep=D 1976 -77 Carter, Sen. =D*, Rep=D 1978 -79 Carter, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1980 -81 Reagan, Sen. =R, Rep=D 1982 -83 Reagan, Sen. =R, Rep=D 1984 -85 Reagan, Sen. =R, Rep=D • • • 1986 -87 Reagan, Sen. =R, Rep=D 1988 -89 Bush, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1990 -91 Bush, Sen. =D, Rep. =D 1992 -93 Clinton, Sen. =D, Rep=D 1994 -95 Clinton, Sen. =R, Rep=R 1996 -97 Clinton, Sen. =R, Rep=R 1998 -00 Clinton, Sen. =R, Rep=R 2000 -02 Bush, Sen. =R, Rep=R 2002 -04 Bush, Sen. =R, Rep=R *senate supermajority Total Years=36 Total Years Divided Gov’t=26 Total Years United Gov’t=10
Congress and the President • Presidential Support in Congress • United vs. Divided Government – frequency – causes of divided government • non-synchronized elections • different basis of representation • split-ticket voting
Congress and the President • Presidential Support in Congress • United vs. Divided Government – frequency – causes of divided government – effects of divided vs. united government
Congress and the President • Presidential Support in Congress • United vs. Divided Government – frequency – causes of divided government – effects of divided vs. united government
Presidential Vetoes and Congressional Overrides
Congressional Override of Presidential Veto
Congressional Override of Presidential Veto • Clinton (2) – line-item veto of appropriations for 38 military construction projects – tort reform bill
Congress and the President • Main Point! – the degree to which Congress and the President have to work together is determined politically • public demands that Congress and President work together!
Congress -- Main Point! • the American Constitution deliberately makes it difficult to get legislation passed – the two houses of Congress are designed to act as a check on each other – Congress acts as a check on Presidency and vice versa • the effect is that less gets done – however, to get things done requires a broad consensus • politics demands that the two Houses and two branches (Congress and Presidency) work toegher