U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, SPRING 2011

 

THE CONGRESS, DAY ONE:

POWERS, PATTERNS, ROLES & STRUCTURES

 

OSY chapter 6; Woll 60 (Burke) and 62 (Mayhew)

Monday, February 28

 

POWERS OF CONGRESS:  A SUMMARY

•           lawmaking

•           levy and collect taxes and duties (on imported goods)

•           declare war (in practice rarely used anymore)

•           raise an army and navy (now includes air force, marines)

•           coin money

•           regulate interstate commerce, commerce with foreign nations

•           establish federal courts (besides Supreme Court)

•           establish bankruptcy rules

•           rules of immigration and naturalization (citizenship process)

•           issue patents and copyrights (protection of intellectual property)

•           borrow money

•           define and punish piracy

•           provide for a militia (today's National Guard)

•           govern the District of Columbia

•           override a presidential veto (2/3 vote in each house)

•           initiate constitutional amendments

•           make all laws necessary and proper to carry out these powers

 

Powers specific to the House of Representatives

•           all spending bills must start here

•           power of impeachment of executive, judicial branch officials

 

Powers specific to the Senate

•           conduct trials of impeached officials (2/3 vote to remove)

•           approve treaties with foreign nations (2/3 vote to approve)

•           confirm presidential appointments - federal judges, cabinet members, ambassadors

 

 

Key differences between House and Senate (Table 6.1, OSY p. 170)

 

Organization and leadership – key positions in the House, Senate (Figure 6.3, OSY p. 174)

 

 

SOME KEY CONGRESS CONCEPTS – A member-centered model

 

David Mayhew (Woll 62): focus on individual members of Congress whose number one goal is to seek reelection – this is now the standard approach among political scientists who study Congress.  Know  the three ways Mayhew discusses by which members support their own reelection efforts as they carry out their roles.

 

5 major PATTERNS that guide member behavior

 

1)         seeking reelection as a primary goal

2)         specialization/development of expertise (the committee system)

3)         reciprocity – developing effective relations with other members

4)         seniority – longer service usually translates into power

5)         balance – considering needs of district/state versus needs and goals of party

 

6 basic ROLES that members fulfill

 

1)      Lawmaking, especially budgeting

2)      representing constituents

3)      oversight of executive branch agencies and departments

4)      educating the public/constituents

5)      advising the president & other governments

6)      serving constituents directly (case work)

 

** The overarching question: how does each pattern/role help a member to gain reelection?  How are Mayhew’s key activities – advertising, credit claiming, and position taking – reflected in these roles?

 

 

** Edmund Burke, “Letter to the Electors of Bristol” (Woll 60):  Burke argues for the trustee model, versus the delegate or politico (see OSY p. 188, theories of representation).  Does Burke make a convincing argument that members of Congress should act primarily as trustees?  Do members of Congress today act more like trustees, delegates, or politicos – and why?  How would these roles affect a member’s ability to win reelection?

 

 

COMMITTEE SYSTEM BASICS – things to know

  • full list of committees, OSY p. 178 (no need to memorize all of these)
  • committee TYPES, OSY p. 177 – standing, joint, conference, select/special (we definitely do need to know all of these!)
  • selection process, OSY pp. 179-180
  • powers of committee chairs, OSY p. 179
  • Subcommittees – smaller, more focused bodies; most legislative drafting and amending is done within subcommittees

 

Committee system key point: committee structure, selection, and process assist members in fulfilling their roles