1	CONGRESS
2	Foundations of Congress Congress impacted by other government institutions Interest groups Public opinion Elections Constitutional rules Economic and social change
3	Constitutional Design Framers less concerned about democracy / more concerned about tyranny Framers wanted energetic government Framers wanted legislative branch to be center of policymaking Framers made sure that Congress had competing centers of power
4	Representation in Congress Apportionment Great Compromise - Based on population in the House / equal representation of states in the Senate Election of legislators
5	Federalism Some powers delegated to national government / some are shared / some reserved for the states Conflict between state governments and national governments Federalism infuses localism into congressional affairs
6	Development of Congress 1^st Congress - March 4, 1789 Increased in size Increased congressional business Institutionalization and professionalization Sharing power with president
7	Representation v. Democracy Styles of representation Edmund Burke described two principal styles of representation in 1774 Delegate theory Trustee theory Senators (with longer terms) assume the trustee style of management
8	Members of Congress: Gender and race Occupation Representation – supposed to be similar to those being represented
9	The Electoral Connection Congressional elections affect quality of representation Electoral districts Money and congressional elections Incumbency factor Democratic?
10	How Congress Works Congress - Important in making policy U.S. Congress - Most powerful legislature among western nations
11	Parties in Congress Congress / House - Organized along party lines Party composition of Congress Party voting in Congress Party discipline
12	Congressional leadership Parties involved in leadership structure of Congress. Leaders of the majority party - also leaders of the House and Senate. Leadership in the House Leadership in the Senate
13	Congressional Committees Work of Congress takes place in committees / subcommittees. Why Congress has committees: Types of committees Committee assignments Committee / Subcommittee chairs Rules
14	How a Bill Becomes a Law Difficult to make law / easy to block bills from becoming laws Only about 2% of all bills every get out of one committee in either house
15	Making a law Introducing bills Committee action Floor action Conference Committee (Joint Committee) Presidential action
16	Oversight of the Executive Branch Congress - reviews executive branch agencies / makes sure laws properly administered / power not abused Legislative responsibility of Congress Run by committees / subcommittees Hearings important to the process
17	Congress, Public Policy, and the American People Congress as policymaker Frequent criticisms of Congress Assessment of criticisms: Evidence is mixed