Question Description
I’m working on a social science question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
Think about and explain each of the following questions. Be sure to explain your answer with specific details.
1. What was the framer’s intent with the Constitution? How did they divide the powers between the branches of government?
2. Were they successful? Has that intent continued to this day?
3. What were/are 2 major strengths and 2 major weaknesses of the Constitution based on our reading and discussion?
Think about and explain each of the following questions. Be sure to explain your answer with specific details.
1. How has Congress changed over the years? (Their rules, legislative flow, Constitutionally, etc.)
2. Are these changes for the better or worse?
3. What would be 3 major changes you would propose for Congress based on your reading and understanding?
102 Introduction
I. Why Politics is Important
?
Political Science
Study of Power
? Who is in Control? Who Makes the Rules?
?
?
Political Effects
Politics Affects our Daily Lives
? Education, Taxes, Job Opportunities, Services, etc.
?
II. Ideology
?
Worldview
Proper role of government
? Who gets what? How much?
? National vs. state
? How much government in daily lives?
? Who should makes the decisions?
?
III. US Founding
?
Historical Background
?
Declaration of Independence 1776
Unique
? Consent of the governed
? The liberty & power rested with the people
?
?
Articles of Confederation (1781 ? 1789)
Decentralized system of government
? States had the vast majority of power
?
?
Problems with the Articles
?
No central, unifying government ? states pulled apart
III. US Founding
?
Constitutional Convention (1787 ? 88)
Identified weaknesses of the Articles
? The Virginia Plan
? Compromises / Solutions
?
?
Debate over Ratification
?
Federalists vs. Antifederalists
III. US Founding
?
US Constitution
Article I: Legislative
? Article II: Executive
? Article III: Judiciary
? Article IV: State Relations
? Article V: Amendment Process
? Article VI: National Supremacy
? Article VII: Ratification / Going into effect
?
III. US Founding
?
US Constitution Key Points
Limited Powers
? Consent of the governed
? Separation of powers
? Republic (representative democracy)
? Federalism
?
?
Ratification
Debate / points of disagreement
? Bill of Rights
?
Congress
I. The Structure
?
US System
Separation of powers
? Legislature and Executive separately elected
?
?
Parliamentary System
People only vote for legislature
? Legislature picks the executive
? Fusion of powers
?
I. The Structure
?
Framer?s Intent with Congress
Worried about abuse of unchecked powers
? Reduce potential abuse of governmental power with
Congress
?
Representation of multiplicity of interests
? Separation of powers
? Bicameral legislative body
?
Focused on the powers/responsibility of Congress
? They feared single individual rule (executive tyranny)
?
I. The Structure
?
Bicameral
?
Great Compromise
House members? represent the people of a state
? Separators ? represent their state
?
?
Members
?
House
25 years old, US citizen for 7 years
? 2 year term (no limits on terms)
? Elected by the people of the congressional district
?
I. The Structure
?
Members
?
Senate
30 years old, US citizen for 9 years
? 6 year term (no limits on terms)
? Elected/Chosen by the state legislature
?
?
Enumerated Powers
Taxes, tariffs, borrow money, coin money, regulate
commerce
? Declare war
? Establish courts, naturalization, post offices/roads
? Weights and measures, copyright/patents
? Oversight of executive branch (impeachment & more)
?
I. The Structure
?
House Powers
Originate revenue bills
? Impeachment of executive or judicial officials
?
?
Senate Powers
Advise & consent for presidential appointments
? Ratify treaties
? Vote to remove official from office under House
articles of impeachment
?
I. The Structure
?
Vague Powers
?
Commerce Clause (Article I Section 8)
What is commerce
? What areas can Congress regulate?
? FDA, FCC, EPA, etc.
?
?
Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I Section 8)
Elastic provision
? Grants no specific powers
? Used to put into effect the other specific powers of
Congress
?
I. The Structure
?
Denied Powers
Can not suspend Writs of Habeas Corpus
? No ex post facto laws
? No bills of attainder
? No export taxes
? No titles of nobility
?
I. The Structure
?
Changes & Additions
?
17th Amendment (1913)
?
?
Direct election of senators
27th Amendment (1992)
?
Pay raises for members of Congress
II. Congress
?
Legislative Roles
?
Represent the people
?
Trustee
?
?
?
Represent the people the best they can
Use best judgment
Delegate
?
?
Directly represent their constituency
Do what the majority wants
Lawmaking
? Oversight of the executive branch
? Constituency work
? Educate the public
?
II. Congress
?
Electing the House and Senate
?
Senate
?
17th Amendment (1913)
?
?
?
Major change
No longer representing the state?s (legislature) wishes
They represent the people of the state
Direct election of senators
? Represent the entire state / people of the state
?
II. Congress
?
Electing the House and Senate
?
House
?
Federal: Reapportionment
?
?
?
?
Census ? every 10 years (Article I)
After national census determine how many House seats state is
entitled to based on population compared to other states
Permanent Reapportionment Act 1929
? Set the house: 435 members
States: Redistricting
?
?
States made districts however they liked
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
? Districts have to be same size population-wise
II. Congress
?
Gerrymandering
?
?
?
Draw legislative districts for political advantage
Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional according to US
Supreme Court
Elections
House since WWII: 93%+ reelection rate
? Senate since WWII: 80%+ reelection rate
?
?
Term Limits
There are none
? States have tried, federal courts have struck down
?
III. Congressional Leadership
?
Leadership Choices
Start of every new Congressional term (2 years)
? Both parties choose their leaders
?
?
House Leadership
?
Speaker of the House
?
Chosen by majority vote (full chamber)
Majority and Minority Leaders
? Majority and Minority Whips
? Committee Assignments
? Rules Committee
?
III. Congressional Leadership
?
Senate Leadership
?
Vice President
President of the Senate
? Only votes in the event of a tie
? Can?t introduce legislation or serve on committees
?
President Pro Tempore
? Majority and Minority Leaders
? Majority and Minority Whips
?
III. Congressional Leadership
?
Party Loyalty
Committee assignments
? Money for campaigns
? The whips
? Presidential clout / power
?
IV. Committee System
?
Purpose
Specialized sub groups
? Filtering system
? Speeds system up
?
?
Evolution / History
By 1810 House had 142
? 10 permanent standing committees
? Recognized need for specialization / filter
?
IV. Committee System
?
Rules and Structure
Assignment to committees and sub-committees
? Role of party conference and leadership
? Seniority
? Term limits
?
?
Up to party in power if they want limits to terms
IV. Committee System
?
Committee Types
?
Standing Committees
Permanent
? Reports legislation
? House size: 40 members
? Senate size: 16-20 members
? Sub Committees
?
?
Further specialized within the scope of the full committee
IV. Committee System
?
Conference Committees
Temporary
? Convened to work out House and Senate differences on
legislation
? Members from both chambers
?
?
Select / Special Committees
Usually not permanent
? Usually no power to create legislation
? Fact finding / investigative
?
?
Joint Committees
Members from both chambers
? Permanent but can?t create legislation
?
IV. Committee System
?
Committee Makeup & Responsibilities
?
Chair
Runs the committee
? Chosen by majority party
? Sets the agenda
?
?
Ranking member
?
?
Minority party member
Duties
Hearings
? Vote on legislation
? Executive oversight
?
IV. Committee System
?
Committee Operation
Hearings
? Legislative process
? Voting
?
V. Legislation
?
Agenda
?
Why focus on this legislation?
Constituency
? Visible trend
? Presidential support
? Interest groups
?
?
Process
?
Introduction
?
Can only be introduced by member of that chamber
V. Legislation
?
House
?
?
?
?
Structured system / rules based
Sent to the committee & must pass through
Rules Committee
? Closed rule bill
? Open rule bill
Chamber debate & vote
? Time allotted for debate
? Amendments
? Chamber vote
V. Legislation
?
Senate
?
?
?
?
Less structured system
Sent to the committee & must pass through
Chamber debate & vote
? Filibuster
? Cloture vote (60 votes) to end debate
? Amendments
? Chamber vote
Conference Committee
?
?
?
If legislation differs between House and Senate versions
Committee made of members of both chambers
Temporary
V. Legislation
?
President
?
?
?
?
?
10 Days to act
Sign it ? bill becomes law
Veto it ? return it unsigned
? Congress try to override
? Two-thirds vote in both chambers
No action
? End of 10 days if Congress still in session bill becomes law
? End of 10 days if Congress is adjourned bill dies
? ?pocket veto?
Line Item Veto
? 1996 Congress created and gave to President Clinton
? Ruled unconstitutional
VI. Oversight
?
Hold Hearings
?
?
?
Committee level
Request Reports / Updates
Create Counter Departments
CBO
? GAO
?
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