The United States Congress as the highest political institution is the face of American politics. Established by the first article of the Constitution of 1788, the Congress is the depository of the legislative power of the United States. This institution has been going through a transformation along the history, and an evidence of it are the consecutives changes in the demography of the members of the congress. In recent years, the power has been decentralized and the diversity within influences the behavior of the Congress. The history show us that the white members has been predominant in the Congress, however, the United States has become home of people from all over around the world and the representation of these minorities has increased
First, Congress consists of two bicameral chambers, which contains the House of Representatives, and the Senate. The tasks that these two chambers play in the legislative process subsist unlike. However, they do work together to pass bills by the majority vote, and they can also proclaim war. Furthermore, the populations are represented in the House, therefore the House proceeds much larger, and diverse than the Senate. However, the Senate remains more elite. Additionally, an appropriation bill must originate in the House. The House has the power to declare impeachment of whichever manner of misconduct within an elected official. Moreover, the Senate decides on what the punishment would be for the individual. Another power the Senate holds contains to approve appointed officials, and judges by the President. In conclusion, these two chambers remain essential for our government, and without one Congress will fall apart.
In the United States, we have a congress. It is a democratic body that is also known as a legislature. This congress has two houses. The first house is the Senate and the second is the House of Representatives. The process by which a seat is filled in either the Senate or House of Representatives, is if there is a vacancy. However, for a Senate seat to be filled, one must be vacant and filled by appointment. When there is a bill that is before congress and needs consideration, it can take a great amount of time before it is processed through. Sometimes, it can be debated and held in congress before the House of Representatives approves it. It must then make its way to the Senate and finally the President, who can choose to veto the bill or sign it into law. Our Congress has more liberties and power than those in a parliament (Wilson, Diiulio, Jr. and Bose 216-217).
Congress is a complex lawmaking function that runs the country. In other words is the legislative body of our country made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Difficulties that are involved by the representation function have to do with Congressmen wanting to be reelected, opposition between the two parties, and the lobbying that takes place. These three difficulties are what causes the conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress.
Throughout history, there have been many factors that seem to have influenced the operations of Congress. Some of these factors have been the committee system, seniority, and political parties. These are only a few of the factors that actually have an influence on Congress’s decisions of certain operations.
The inter workings of Congress have been studied extensively by Richard Fenno and David R. Mayhew. Mayhew’s study of Congress took place in Washington, while Richard Fenno conducted his research by following politicians within their congressional district. Mayhew attributes three primary goals to congressmen- getting reelected, achieving influence within Congress and making “good Policy”. Fenno also attributes three basic goals, having influence inside the House than other congressmen. Second, helping their constituents and thereby insuring their reelection, and lastly helping make good policy. The purpose of this paper is to research a member of Congress and to make a direct connection between his activity in Washington and his home district. The paper will answer whether the congressmen is a delegate or trustee. Are the actions a pursuit for reelection? Are the committee assignments a path for movement within the House or outside? What legislation has he/she sponsored or co-sponsored and does it directly reflect his/her districts political view. And finally, do major industries and interest groups within his/she district affect the way he/she votes.
The democratization of American society that started in 1820s has led to a significant change of relations between government and people. These changes include growing equality of opportunities for white men and possibility for people to influence political processes taking place in the US. While people gained new rights and chances to start another life, government was, on the one hand, set under the growing pressure of society, and on the other hand, could be constructed by people.
The United States Congress is more than likely the most significant representative institution in the United States government. Each member of Congress has a primary obligation to the district, to his or her constituency. Though Congress is divided into two parts, called the House of Representatives and the Senate, they both play different roles in the legislature process. Senate is more deliberative and the House is the more centralized and organized. Congress is supposed to represent the American people but they will not always make the “right” decisions, according to some individuals. Obviously it is impossible to please everybody, but surely the laws that are being passed are because Congress views some sort of usefulness from it. There are two different types of representation that was spoken about in the chapter including sociological and agency representation. Sociological is based off of the idea that if two individuals have similar background, character, interests, and perspectives, then they can correctly represent others’ views. Agency is when a representative is held accountable to a constituency for when that constituency is represented poorly. The constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives.
If we take a more in-depth look at the composition of Congress we see a body disproportionate with its Nation. Congress has maintained a fairly homogenous make-up since its founding even into the
An important point made in Weissert and Weissert concerning Congress and its committee structure is that the majority of the work in Congress is done through committees. They perform the majority of research on issues and possible solutions, get legislation written, re-written and amended, and support it as it moves through Congress and finally gets passed. They are the “workhorses of the legislature” (Weissert and Weissert, 29).
Therefore, people end up free riding and result in an unequal representation that can be seen clearly in Congress where more than 82% of House members and 96% of Senators are white. These statistics make a difference in the way the Congress functions as a representative body. In fact, the composition of the House as a whole is comparatively less important than the degree to which individual House members and Senators reflect the views and characteristics of the people in their individual districts or states. Decisions in Congress are made collectively, but representation occurs primarily at the level of the individual member.
The main argument in The Challenge of Congressional Representation is whether or not Congress is truly represented. Richard Fenno chose five members of Congress to follow and he reports their thoughts on Congressional representation throughout this book. The five members Fenno followed all seem to want to help their constituents; however, they have completely different means of obtaining constituent approval. The problem of representation within Congress is mainly brought up by constituents. The issue of representation; however, also concerns the representative.
The founding fathers maintained an inherent distrust of large government. Despite conflicting with the majoritarian model, the filibuster demonstrates the original values and principles taken into account when establishing the United States of America. The Senate, a lawmaking body formerly elected by state legislatures, remains representative of individual states rather than majority will. Because each state sends two representatives, half of congressional senators are elected by less than twenty percent of the total population. Through intended structure alone, the government of the United States demonstrates clear preference for the pluralistic model. In practice, the interests of states carry more influence than the interests of citizens. Concerning democratic principles, the filibuster is no more undemocratic than the government
In the United States government, the legislative branch is a very complex system. Congress was made into a bicameral, or two-house system. The framers of the constitution did this because they believed that it was in the best interest of this new nation. These two separate houses would help aid the democratic process and make the system less corrupt and fair for all the states.
David Mayhew suggests member of Congress are “single-minded seekers of reelection.” Mayhew outlines several institutional factors that allow members of Congress to actively and more importantly for Mayhew’s argument, effectively, seek reelection. The effectiveness of the system to allow its members to seek reelection is notable. Mayhew comments on the systems of Congress “[meeting] the electoral needs of its members [remarkably well].” The institutions of Congress provide its members with several beneficial services and opportunities that ease the process of being reelected. First, members of Congress are granted opportunities to provide both their staff and their constituents with casework which increase loyalty to a member of congress.
Bicameral Congress is a House of Representatives and a Senate that helps our government balance the power of popular majorities with interests of the states. Bicameral Congress is made of 535 members that are divided in two. They have 435 members for a House of Representatives and 100 members for senators. For a House, they have 2 year terms in the office, while the senator has 6 years term in the office. A House of Representatives is responsible for setting up the policy agenda, while the Senate is responsible for proposing the agenda. Also, the Senate is responsible for presidential nomination and treaties.