Is congress truly representative Flashcards
What are the two categories of representation?
Whether they represent the views of constituents and whether they are reparative in terms of looking like America
What are the three things that suggests that congress is reperenative of its conistuents?
1) congressmen go to great lengths to discover and then to follow the majority views of constituents
2) Primaries
3) Often born and raised worked and educated in the state
What is the thing that stops congress being regarded as competely represnetative of its constituents?
Trustee model, not delegates who have to consider other factors when voting in congress
Is congress representative when compared to the USA as a whole?
NO
How is congress not representative?
Race
Gender
Education
Socio-economic background
Just because congress is not socially representative does not mean what?
That they can’t actually represent
what are the two things that suggests that oversight is not effectively carried out?
1) President party tends to operate as lap dogs rather than watch dogs
2) Opposition parties operate in a highly partisan way
what are the five things that suggests that legislation is not effectively carried out?
1) Legislative process long and complex
2) Super majority needed at some stages
3) too many bills fail, even some important ones
4) Divided party control between both houses and or congress and president adds to possible ineffectiveness
5) Frequent gridlock
what are the five things that suggests that legislation is effectively carried out?
1) all bills must pass through both houses which gives ample opportunity for scrutiny
2) Detailed scrutiny by committees
3) Timetabling priorities important bills
4) More bills pass than fail
5) Major legislation passed
What three things suggests that oversight is effectively carried out?
1) Prestigious, powerful and well resourced policy specialist committees
2) Hearings are frequent, length and well-publicised
3) Power to subpoena people and documents
What has happened to partisanship?
Increased
What is the nice sentence about the increasing partisanship?
In the 1970s and 1980s there were few differences between the parties but huge differences within them. There are now far fewer differences within them but significant differences between them.
Who said what about partisanship when?
Ronald Brownstein 2007 said “on almost every major issue, the distance between the parties has widened, even as dissent within them has diminished”
How do you remember Ronal Brownstein?
Ronald Brownstain
Congress used to be characterised by bipartisanship, co-operation and compromise, but now there is…
…a more european approach with unanimity and discipline
particularly in the GOP, to stray from the party line is to do what to one’s future?
Damage
Congress is now characterised by what three things
Partisanship, gridlock and ineffectiveness
What is gridlock?
The failure to get action on policy proposals and legislation in congress
What poll shows the national feeling about how effective congress is at legislating?
In a January 2011 Gallup Poll, only 20% approved of the job congress was doing with 73% disagreeing
What are the 7 causes of gridlock
1) Filibuster
2) Divided congress
3) divided government
4) complex process in which those who want to pass bills must win at every stage
5) Need for supermajorities in some instances
6) Partisanship
7) 2 year house terms
How do 2 year house terms create gridlock?
No time to do anything
What is the main limitation for the effectiveness of oversight?
Just because the tools are there, doesn’t mean that they are always used well. it should operate as a watchdog but more often operates as a lap dog.
How does Ornstein describe the ability of congress for oversight?
An impressive ‘constitutional arsenal’ keeps the administration on its toes
What shows just how effective the oversight function is?
if one were to contemplate the excitement in the White House if someone were to suggest stopping it
When President and Congress are the same, then how does oversight work?
Lap dog, failing to give proper scrutiny to the executive branch. Nominations are secured with ease and investigations are less thorough
When President and Congress are different, then how does oversight work?
Oversight degenerates into divided partisan point scoring, with frequent attempts by congressional majority to embarrass the executive
What is Pork Barrel Politics?
‘Pork barrel politics’ is the obtaining by members of Congress of as many federal benefits as possible for their district or state, principally to aid their own re-election, this can be through methods such as ‘Earmarking’.
What are the four reasons why Pork Barrel Politics is significant?
1) Contributes to the very high rate of incumbent re-election. In 2016 this was 97% in the House and 87% in the Senate
2) Shapes congressional careers, as congressmen, motivated by this, will look to the committees that give the most opportunity for ‘pork’ for their state. If you are from Nebraska, you may look to a farm subsidies committee.
3) The neglecting of the national interest at the expense of the local
4) Growing government debt
