Lecture on Congress
Overview
- Discussion on incumbency in Congress.
- Incumbency advantage is a significant factor in congressional elections.
- Key terms like name recognition, coattail effect, and pork barrel legislation are important.
- Analysis of party-centered vs candidate-centered politics.
- Structure and leadership in Congress.
- Process of how a bill becomes a law.
- Models of representation: delegate vs trustee.
- Factors influencing congressional decisions.
Incumbency Advantage
- Incumbency: Current officeholder.
- Advantage: Incumbents have high re-election rates (~96-98%).
- Legislative history and casework build loyalty.
- Name recognition is crucial (psychological effect).
- Fundraising ability is enhanced for incumbents.
- Franking privileges allow mass mailings to constituents.
- Challenges: Lack of quality challengers who can succeed against incumbents.
- Sacrificial lambs are challengers without party backing.
Political Strategies
- Name Recognition: Influences voter behavior.
- Repeated exposure to names (signs, media) increases familiarity and comfort.
- Democratic Campaign Issues: Struggle with effective campaign strategy.
- Republicans have structured programs and training.
Coattail Effect
- Coattail Effect: When a popular president helps gain votes for their party.
- Reverse coattails can also occur when a president is unpopular.
Congressional Politics
- Party-centered vs. candidate-centered politics.
- Party-centered: Focus on party agendas and responsibilities.
- Candidate-centered: Focus on district needs, often resulting in pork barreling.
- Pork Barrel Legislation: Securing funds for local district projects.
- Logrolling: Trading votes to support mutual benefits (projects).
Congressional Structure
- House: Speaker of the House is the top post.
- Senate: Senate Majority Leader is the top post.
- Leadership roles include majority leaders, whips, and committee chairs.
Bill to Law Process
- Introduction: By a senator or house member.
- Committee Review: Assigned to relevant committees/subcommittees.
- Hearings & Markup: Experts testify, bill amendments made.
- Floor Debate: Entire chamber reviews and votes.
- Conferencing: Reconciling differences if passed in different forms.
- Presidential Action: Signed into law or vetoed.
Representation Models
- Delegate Model: Representatives act as mouthpiece of constituents.
- Trustee Model: Representatives use their judgment for decision-making.
- Politico Model: Combination of delegate and trustee approaches.
Decision Influences
- Party and Ideology: Strong influence on voting behavior.
- Constituents: Representatives consider district preferences.
- Colleagues and Caucuses: Consultation with other members.
- Interest Groups: Lobbyists and PACs influence decision-making.
- Staff: Congressional staff research and provide advice.
Final Notes
- Importance of understanding the dynamics of congressional politics.
- Preparation for future discussions on the presidency and executive branch.
Prepare for midterm and next lecture on the executive branch. Focus on understanding key political processes and implications.