# data[].attributes.headline
hyper-pluralists theory works here w/ too many interests in congress trying to get bills passed into laws

# data[].attributes.subject
hyper-pluralists theory works here w/ too many interests in congress trying to get bills passed into laws

# data[].attributes.body
too many interests
too polarized of interests

# data[].attributes.headline
it's democratically successful only if is there is quality representation

# data[].attributes.subject
it's democratically successful only if is there is quality representation

# data[].attributes.body
lobbyists help with expertise and funding

lots of grassroots work too like staffers

interest groups help with the media attention and support

# data[].attributes.body
depends on how representative a congressmen is of their district or state

# data[].attributes.body
more polarized ideologies today - nothing gets passed
radical ideas = hard to compromise

# data[].attributes.body
toe the party line or go against it
most go with their party nowadays

get $$$ from party's PACs

# data[].attributes.body
bill proposed
assigned to committees by senate majority leader or speaker of the house
committee

subcommittee

hearings

markup

discharged or sent back for revisions
floor action

possible filibuster in senate

sent to conference committee or back for revisions
conference committee
given to president
presidential signature or veto

bill becomes law or sent back to congress for change

2/3 vote in both chambers of congress overrides president's veto

# data[].attributes.body
1. divide up the work

2. standing committees decide on bills for debate

3. majority votes needed to discharge from committee to go to floor

4. bills can always be sent back to committee for revisions

5. conference committee used to get one version

# data[].attributes.body
private bills

ceremonial

not very common

public bills

broad policy issues

controversial

get media attention

more common

# data[].attributes.body
congressional research service (unbiased research)
government accountability office (oversight)
congressional budget office (costs and projects' effects)

# data[].attributes.body
personal staff and committee staff
pull the grassroots work load

usually at home and not in DC

senators depend more on staffers

# data[].attributes.body
by demographics

black caucus

by region

sunbelt caucus

by ideology

republican study committee

based on economic interests

congressional bourbon caucus

# data[].attributes.body
group of similar people with similar interests

congressional caucus = interest group in legislative branch

# data[].attributes.body
congressional committee

majority party pushes THEIR agenda through

control House Rules Committee

majority party leadership

organization and agenda of committees

controls the debate

# data[].attributes.body
picked by committee
is leader of committee
***schedules hearings, hires staff, appoints subcommittees, manages committee bills***

used to be picked by seniority system

# data[].attributes.headline
goal of congresspeople is to get on a committee right away

# data[].attributes.subject
goal of congresspeople is to get on a committee right away

# data[].attributes.body
get on a committee by helping your constituents and by appealing to the leadership

1. re-election
2. influence congress
3. make policy in areas they think are important

DO SO BY GETTING ON THAT FRICKIN COMMITTEE

# data[].attributes.headline
if committees aren't considering bills...

# data[].attributes.subject
if committees aren't considering bills...

# data[].attributes.body
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

committees check executive branch

monitoring budgeting

monitoring implementation of law

going after agency heads

# data[].attributes.body
legislative

deciding on which bills go when

making laws

oversight

monitor bureaucracy

question agency heads

impeachment

investigations

# data[].attributes.body
standing - most important

joint - both houses

conference - reconcile diff types of bills between chambers to agree on one version

select - specific purpose committees

# data[].attributes.headline
committee = most bills get caught up here

# data[].attributes.subject
committee = most bills get caught up here

# data[].attributes.body
where debate and write up and drafts of bills occur

where testimonies and hearings on a bill happen

where final drafts of bills are created to present to the whole chamber OR where a bill dies

*usually divvied up to a subcommittee too

# data[].attributes.body
draw lines so that your party has at least a majority in each district

draw lines to isolate the minority in a few districts so they become the majority in just those sacrificed few, leaving the other districts to go to the party in majority

Chi Hispanic district

# data[].attributes.body
Baker v. Carr

Tennessee violated equal protection clause (14th amend.) - districts were NOT equally represented

Wesberry v. Sanders

Congressional districts in Georgia were malapportioned

# data[].attributes.body
after Census, populations change and boundaries must be redrawn

redistricting
GERRYMANDERING
do so to gain politically

# data[].attributes.body
House

revenue bills

impeach officials

Senate

ratify treaties

confirm nominations

try the impeached

# data[].attributes.body
bicameral legislature = two houses
*power is held in party leadership in the house

The House

Speaker of the House

Majority Leader

Whip

Minority Leader

House Rules Committee

The Senate

Vice President

Majority Leader

Whip

Minority Leader

*power is more dispersed and equal in the senate

# data[].attributes.body
is the high incumbency rate in Congress good or bad?
do we need stability or change?
are term limits needed?

stability = expertise and seniority of congressman

# data[].attributes.headline
other or more specific advantages to incumbents

# data[].attributes.subject
other or more specific advantages to incumbents

# data[].attributes.body
sophomore surge
franking
name recognition
access to media
redistricting and safe seats
campaign finance
pork barrel
constituency service
experience

# data[].attributes.body
incumbents outspend challengers 2:1

have the money from being in office before and their sneaky little donation connections

challengers have to buy recognition which the incumbent already has

# data[].attributes.body
challengers of congresspeople going for reelection will fail.

challengers have to come up with

even more money

even more experience

more recognition

# data[].attributes.body
they know what position to take based on how the tide swung last time

*issues and position taking play a greater role in the House than the Senate

# data[].attributes.body
servicing the constituency
casework
obtaining federal funds through the pork barrel

# data[].attributes.body
franking
a lot of personal interaction with constituents already locked in

# data[].attributes.body
1. Advertising
2. Credit Claiming
3. Position Taking
4. Weak Opponents
5. Campaign Spending

# data[].attributes.headline
all congressmen and women wish to be reelected

# data[].attributes.subject
all congressmen and women wish to be reelected

# data[].attributes.body
incumbents are at an advantage
is always campaigning for next election the smartest idea? Are you even getting shit done while your in office? QUESTIONABLE

# data[].attributes.body
not more women found in congress because...
1. women with children are less ambitious than men with children
2. women are more risk adverse and won't run if odds aren't in their favor where men may still run
3. women must be overqualified to even be considered to be an equal to a man running

# data[].attributes.body
African Americans
Hispanics
Asians
Native Americans
***WOMEN

make up 1/2 of population but only 1/5 of congress

# data[].attributes.body
descriptive = congressperson looks mirrors their constituents
substantive = congressperson shares the interests of their constituents and will speak on their behalf but may not look like their constituents

white, middle aged rich man who is sympathetic to possibly impoverished minorities

# data[].attributes.headline
most congressional members have held previously prestigious jobs

# data[].attributes.subject
most congressional members have held previously prestigious jobs

# data[].attributes.body
LAWYERS

usually well off people b/c campaigning takes a boat load of money

# data[].attributes.body
535 members total

Senate

100 members

2 per state

Qualifications

30 years old

9 years a citizen

inhabitant of state

6 year terms

1/3 of congress is up for (re)election ever 2 years

House of Representatives

435 members

number per state depends on population

qualifications

25 years old

7 years a citizen

state inhabitant

2 year terms

# data[].attributes.body
can impeach and try impeachment of president

can confirm presidential appointments to supreme court

can be denied by the president with a veto

legislation can be eventually turned down if deemed unconstitutional in the supreme court

# data[].attributes.body
congress controls budget

# data[].attributes.body
too polarizing of issues
policy gridlock on budgeting
madisonian system allows for slow movement in congress

# data[].attributes.body
Chapter 11 quizlet:
https://quizlet.com/_31if6x