The American Congress, Second Edition

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			The American Congress Second Edition Steven S. Smith, University of Minnesota


The American Congress, Second Edition Steven S. Smith, University of Minnesota Chapter Outlines Chapter One: Representation and Lawmaking in Congress [Download Chapter One as an Adobe PDF file] Representation and Lawmaking Representation Lawmaking Long-Term Trends Bad News and Low Public Confidence Plebiscitary Politics Governing as Campaigning New Forms of Organized Influence New Issues Changing Membership Changing Party Control Tempered Decentralization Within congress The Changing Congress Chapter Two: The Constitutional and Historical Context The Predecessors of Congress The Constitution's Rules of the Game Legislative Procedures Constraints on Congressional Power Congressional Development Parties Committees Conclusion Chapter Three: The Rules of the Legislative Game Legislative Rules in Perspective Beyond the Constitution: House and Senate Rules The Standard Legislative Process Introduction of Legislation Referral to Committee Committee Action Circumventing Committees Floor Scheduling Floor Consideration Resolving Differences Between the Houses House and Senate Rules Compared Authorizing and Appropriating Variations in the Legislative Process Conclusion Chapter Four: Congressional Elections and Policy Alignments The Importance of Elections The Rules Governing Congressional Elections The Constitution: Eligibility, Voting Rights, and Chamber Size Federal Law: Apportionment and Campaign Finance State Law: Redistricting and Primaries House and Senate Rules: Staff and the Frank The Candidates Explaining the Incumbency Advantage The Decline of Party Identification Expanded Perquisites of Office Expanded Constituency Service Biased Campaign Funding Candidate Quality Contact With Voters National Patterns in Congressional Elections Presidential Election Years and the Coattail Effect Midterm Elections Divided Party Control Between Congress and the Presidency Congressional Elections and Policy Alignments Ideological Outlook Realigning Elections The Divided--Government Debate Conclusion Chapter Five: Members' Goals, Resources, and Strategies Setting Personal Priorities Member's Goals Reelection Good Public Policy Political Influence Serving Constituents Higher Office Legislating Multiple Goals Members' Resources Personal Office and Staff Allowances Travel and Recesses Congressional Mail Other Resources Influences on Members Constituencies Interest Groups and Lobbyists Party Leaders The President Staff Choosing Strategies Roll-Call Voting on the Floor Policy Leadership Conclusion Chapter Six: Parties and Leaders The Nature of Congressional Parties Policy Preferences Most Common Coalitions Common Electoral Interests Party Identification Stable But Loose Coalitions Party Organizations Party Leaders Major Responsibilities of Party Leaders Selection of Leaders House Party Leaders The Speaker of the House House Floor Leaders House Whips and Whip Organizations Senate Party Leaders Senate Floor Leaders Senate Whips and Whip Organizations Party Leaders' Resources Party Strength Formal Rules Tangible Rewards Information Access to the Media Leadership Staffs An Era of Reinvigorated Parties The Issues Member's Demands Policy Alignments Rules of the Game Strategies of Adaptation Conclusion Chapter Seven: The Standing Committees Types of Committees The Nature of Congressional Committees Effect on Congressional Issue Agenda Alignment of Policy Preferences Institutional Context Committee Membership Committee Size and Party Ratios Committee Assignments The Pecking Order Committee Leaders The Seniority System Limiting the Power of Full Committee Chairs Subcommittees Reversing Trends in the Number of Subcommittees Checking the Power of Subcommittees Committee Staff The Power of Modern Committees The Legislative Power of Committees Oversight and the Investigative Power of Modern Committees The Countervailing Influence of the Parties The Changing Policy Agenda Changing Policy Alignments Changing Institutional Context Conclusion Chapter Eight: The Floor and Voting A Typical Day on the House and Senate Floors A Day in the House A Day in the Senate House-Senate Differences Voting Procedure House Voting Procedure Senate Voting Procedure Voting and Floor Decision Making Analyzing Votes The Problems of Interpreting the Roll-Call Vote Common Voting Measures The Ratings Game Dimensions, Alignments, and Coalitions The Relationship Between the Floor, Committees, and Parties Issue Agenda Alignment of Policy Preferences Institutional Context Conclusion Chapter Nine: Congress and the President The President as a Legislative Player The President's Formal Role Partisan Expectations Public Expectations Personal Considerations The President's Resources President's Strategies Agenda Setting Attracting Congressional Support The Veto Controlling the Executive Branch Foreign and Defense Policy Congressional Resources and Strategies Periodic Authorizations Designing Agencies The Power of the Purse Committee Reports Packaging Presidential Nominations Oversight Legislative Veto Conclusion Chapter Ten: Congress and the Courts Courts as Referees Separation-of-Powers Cases Congressional Powers Politics of Statutory Interpretation Judges as Policy Makers Congressional Resources and Strategies Congress and the Structure of the Federal Judiciary The Senate and Judicial Nominations Congress and the Impeachment of Judges Legislative Responses to the Courts Amending the Constitution Conclusion Chapter Eleven: Congress, Lobbyists, and Interest Groups The Expanding Community of Lobbyists and Interest Groups Influencing Congress Inside Lobbying Outside Lobbying Coalitions Regulating Lobbying Members' Groups and Legislative Service Organizations The Influence of Lobbyists and Interest Groups Conclusion Chapter Twelve: Congress and Budget Politics Overview of the Federal Budget Creating a Congressional Budget Process: 1974 Reducing the Discretion of Committees: 1980 and 1981 Enforcing Deficit Limits: 1985 and 1987 Enforcing Spending Limits: 1990 Ensuring Deficit Reduction and Entitlement Review: 1993 Bringing the Budget to the Brink: 1995-1996 Conclusion