Summary A* content for Functions of Congress: Representation, Legislation, and Oversight
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Course
Congress
Institution
AQA
Book
AQA A-level Politics: Government and Politics of the UK, Government and Politics of the USA and Comparative Politics
Dive into the essential roles of Congress—Representation, Legislation, and Oversight—with this concise and insightful study guide. Perfect for students, educators, and politics enthusiasts, this resource unpacks the complexities of American governance with real-world examples and critical analy...
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Functions of Congress
Representation
Parochialism – American public vote in people who will be “our man in Washington” (Tip
O’Neil), they favour mundane everyday representation rather than grand intangible
representation.
→ This is reflected in the constitution where there is the locality rule which states
that any representative or senator must be a resident of the district/state they
represent.
How they represent:
1. Voting on Legislation
2. Membership of standing committees of constituent interest
→ Chellie Pingree, Representative for Maine sits on the Environment, Agriculture and
Fishing Committee where she has repeatedly advocated for the rights of the Miane
fishing industry including changing the rules around Lobster catching.
3. Lobbying the executive departments and agencies
4. Constituency casework
5. Gaining federal money for local projects
→ Opens door to pork barrel funding, such as the Bridge to Nowhere in Gravina, Alaska
which was earmarked to connect a community of 50 people to the mainland, this was to
cost $338million to win over senator Ted Stevens.
Legislative
There are so many places where Bills can die, a fact which was designed so that the
utmost scrutiny can be placed on any changes, and this is why only 3% of Bills are
passed. This contrasts the UK where most Bills are passed (given they are introduced by
the majority-wielding government).
Yet this oversight is not always positive given that select individuals can halt the process
for their own ends, rather than for the good of the system. For example, Committee
chairs can choose whether to hear a Bill in committee, if they do not choose to this die
in committee and cannot progress onto a floor vote. These Committee chairs can be
influenced by lobbying, donations or moral judgment which goes at odds with the views
of the majority and hence this is an issue with the representative function of Congress.
→ The Raise the Wage Act has fallen victim to the committee system every single
time it has been introduced despite 200 co-sponsors, this is due to a republican
chair in the Education and Labor house committee.
In the senate it takes only 41 senators (less than the majority of 50) potentially
representing less than a quarter f the US population, to block a bill through the filibuster
and the di iculty of achieving a cloture.
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