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Chapter 11: Congress- The People’s Branch

- Congress controls decisions on budgets, taxes, trade policy, the shape of the federal bureaucracy,
and appointments to the cabinets, the embassies, and the courts
- President has a little freedom in foreign policy, but are hard to implement without Congressional
support
Congressional Elections
- House of Representatives (435)- 2 year terms, even numbered years, 25 y/o w/ 7 year citizenship
- Senate (100)- 6 year terms,1/3 of members chosen every 2 years, 30 y/o w/ 9 year citizenship
o Both live in state in which elected
- “Members of Congress run for Congress by running against Congress”
- Nature of the state/district in which candidate runs can be a safe seat (an elected office that is
predictably won by one party or the other, so reelection is almost taken for granted) or a “swing
district” (competitive)
- Other factors affecting elections: personal appeal of candidate, if opponent is incumbent or a
newcomer, local issues, campaign strategies, fund-raising abilities, national political tides
- >90% of incumbents who run for reelection to Congress beat their challengers
The Politics of Drawing House District Lines
- Constitution requires a national census every 10 years
- Congress must provide for reapportionment (the assigning by Congress of congressional seats
after each census; state legislatures reapportion state legislative districts) of congressional seats
among states
- Redistricting: the redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the
census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population
- Gerrymandering: the drawing of election district boundaries to benefit a party, group , or
incumbent
o In most states, the party in control of state legislature draws the district boundaries to
enhance its own political fortunes
o Supreme Court: excessive partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional
- Baker v. Carr: Supreme Court held that voters have the right to challenge how state legislatures
allocate legislative seats and that such questions should be considered by federal courts
The Structure and Powers of Congress
- Bicameralism: the principle of a two-house legislature
o Senate & House have absolute veto over the other’s law making
The Consequences of Bicameralism
- Framers: House to reflect popular will of average citizen; Senate to provide for stability,
continuity, and deliberation => 17th amendment (direct election of senators) => 2 chambers are
similar today
- Pros of bicameralism: moderating influence on partisanship and possible errors, guarantees that
votes will be taken before policy is approved, provides opportunities for bargaining
- Senate= 2 regardless of population=> represents constituencies that are more white, rural, and
conservative=> is the most malapportioned elected legislature
The Constitutional Separation of Powers
- Congress powers:
o Power to spend and tax in order to “provide for the common Defense and general
Welfare of the US”
o Power to borrow money
o Power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states
o Power to declare war
o Raise and support armies
o Provide and maintain a navy
o Power to establish post offices
o Power to set up the federal courts under the Supreme Court
o “Make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution”
o House: participation in process of constitutional amendment and impeachment
o Senate: trying an impeached federal officer
- Senate: power to confirm presidential nominations (as many as 500 key executive and judicial
nominations a year)
- Senate: plays a crucial “advice and consent” role in treaty making- formal agreements between the
US and one or more countries- must be approved by 2/3 in senate to be ratified by president
- House: makes revenue bills => not much power b/c Senate can amend spending bills

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