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SUMMARY LEGISLATIVE BRANCH US
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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IN THE US EXPLAINED
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The Legislative Branch, Part 1I. The two houses of Congress
The legislative was considered by the founding fathers as the most important part of govnmt. But over the years
the president has become more powerful than the congress.
Power of congress more power of instruction. They can make life difficult to president if they are opposed.
Divided gvnmt really had become a norm in last decade.
Article 1 of constitution specific about congress power; article 2 much more vague
The house is based as proportional representation, constitution no more precise. States especially in north east
and mid-west have lost seats in house of representative ‘because they have lost population.
The large states have much power than small ones. California is the largest states (53 seats).
House: 435 members since 1913 (law in 1929). Delegates for other American territory.
Congress divided into 2 sessions which last roughly 1 year today but 4-5 months before.
The 2 houses meet on Capitol Hill. The beltway refers to the political scene of Washington DC Washington Dc built
just for that purpose. 1st it was almost deserted. Congress vote laws, so as budget. They also need to vote
appropriations (money that will be used for making a law). They now meet in January but used to be December of
the following year of the election.
II. Congressional elections
Every 2 years. Always take place on same day with presidential.
Mid-term election is when election doesn’t take place during presidential election.
Redistricting:Senator represents the whole state. Each representative represents a conventional district. Sometime
the state legislature want to manipulate boundaries of district to make sure they win as districts as possible.
Gerrymandering: tries to manipulate the district to win the elections. Try to concentrate the enemy in few districts
as possible, or divide supporters of other party so cannot have majority in any districts.
1964: Suprem court said that congressional district has to be balance in term of population. Congressional district:
700 000. It tends to become homogenous
House of representative has a republican majority. But in America people are more democrats.
Congressional elections are similar to presidential election ‘cause proceeded by primaries elections. In theory there
is a competition but in reality the incumbent has an overwhelming advantage over their challengers. Winning
elections is however expensive
Strait-ticket voting: allows voting for all democrats or republican one time. Politician often run for congress by
running against congress. They usually criticize congress. It’s an extremely unpopular institution (bad image, 10%
people happy of congress)
III. The organization of Congress
a. Leadership positions
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