The United States Congress Chapter 1 PDF

Chapter 1 Representing and Governing in a Separated System POLS 3314 – Legislative Process Dr. Bianca Easterly  Explain the core Identify the key ideas Compare Congress of Explain how political democratic principles that emerges from the past to today scientists...

Chapter 1 Representing and Governing in a Separated System POLS 3314 – Legislative Process Dr. Bianca Easterly  Explain the core Identify the key ideas Compare Congress of Explain how political democratic principles that emerges from the past to today scientists study that define Congress congressional history Congress Representation Separation of Powers Governing Chapter Objectives  Congress and  The primary imperative of Congress as an the Core institution and as individual lawmakers Democratic  Representing various constituents within a Principles: complicated web of separated institutional powers to govern the nation Representatio  A goals set by the Constitutional n, Separation Framers of Powers, and Governing  4 Representation Members of Congress may interpret their jobs in one of two ways: Delegate model of Representatives should act and vote in accordance with the preferences representation of their constituents. Trustee model of Representatives should act and vote in accordance with what they think representation is best for their constituents.   Constituents  The people who can geographically support each member of Congress  Why a representative democracy? (The Federalist 10, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay) Representation  Representatives chosen by the people are likely to be “more consonant of the public good” Separation of Powers  Why Separation of powers and checks in balances?  To prevent a concentration of unchecked authority  “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition”  Authority derived from different constituencies  Variation in term limits   Congress was the major focus of the Framers  Lawmaking. The most obvious example of congressional power is its ability to pass laws.  Article I, Section 8, grants Congress the power to tax, spend, regulate commerce, mint money, and make “all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution” those powers.  Courts have interpreted the necessary and proper clause (elastic) with deep regard for the power of Congress.  Appropriation and budgeting. Governing  The power of the purse. Congress has ultimate authority in setting the budget of the national government, and there is considerable evidence that the founders intended this power to serve as a check on the ability of the executive to operate independently.  Oversight. The final power of Congress rests in its role as a watchdog.  Congress is charged with maintaining oversight on the executive.  Congress’s oversight function is also at the heart of the requirement that the Senate approve many presidential appointments.  Impeachment is the ultimate form of oversight.  Congress and  Key ideas that emerge from congressional American history  Create a democratic system with a Politics representative legislatures  Congress has been the principal actor in Throughout policy making since the Founding of the U.S. History  This is Not Your Grandparents’ Congress Textbook Congress => “I’m Just a Bill” Today’s Congress Congress and its relationship to other political actors is constantly Parties are more polarized changing. How Do We Know What We Know About Congress?  The study of Congress as a subfield in political science  The authors build on scholarly works to explain the politics on Capitol Hill and beyond