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6. Congress: The People's Branch? - Coggle Diagram
6. Congress:
The People's Branch?
Introduciton
President: direct power to pass legislation×
The People's Influence
Constituents' Views.
constituency
Party Views
Personal Views.
The nature of democratic discourse
（gridlock)→hear, hammer, decision base
Devided gov:cautious approach to new legislation^ ^
a. The Powers of Congress
bicameral→checks self
Constitutional Powers
House of Representatives
Revenue bills
Impeachment power
the Senate
Major presidential appointments
Treaties: 2/3 votes
Impeachment trial: 2/3
Evolutionary Powers
Oversight of the budget
Investigation
b. Leadership in Congress:
It's a Party Matter
Partisanship: independent BUT still basic organization in Congress
Majority VS Minority: most both house same
Demo: Caucusspecial
Repu: Conference
meetings to 1) talk party policy and themes and to 2)select their leaders by majority vote.
→ Senate: Majority leader
HR: Speaker of the house
House Leadership
HR leader>senate leader(435>100)
Speaker of the House: influencial-est in both
power
c. The Importance
of Committees
Considering, shaping, and passing laws
Types of Committees
Standing committees
Important est
Consider and shape the vast majority of proposed laws
Conduct investigations
Select committees
Specific purposes
usually ×draft
Most limited lives.
Joint committees
Members from both the House and the Senate
Specific purpose
Comference committees
When the House and the Senate need to reconcile different versions of the same bill
Committee Assignments
Congressional election
Assign new to standing committee(wishes & needs)
HR:1-2 Senators:several
Important decision(eg: House ways and maens)
d. Who Is in Congress?
Personal Characteristics
Older, wealthier, and better educated
Recently: female↑ ethnic minorities↑
Incumbency
Short period→reelected
Career politicians: other politicians&constituents at home
Pay and Perks
Top 1%
Honoraria\ paid speaking engagements×
expense&responsibilities
Perks eg: Franking privilege
e. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Constitutional provisions: create obstacles, govern the process
Passed during the same congressional session of its proposal, a period of one year\dropped
Stages
Committee consideration
Sent to standing (sub)committees by subject matter
Survive→Hearings
marked up\revised
Floor debate
HR
Rules committee: time limits&adding amendments(eg: Gag rules)
Senate
Restrictions×→filibuster
Both
require a quorum (majority) to be present for a vote
→Passage of a bill
Conference committees
Only controversial
Merge HR&S
Chosen members
Revised→floor
Sent to the President for signing
Slow-democratic&deliberate