THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

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THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS June
23rd
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Inside Congress -- Inside the House of
Representatives

• committee system
• important
• dominated according to seniority

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Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate

• the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privileges

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Party Unity The Senate
SENATE SUPPORT SENATE SUPPORT SENATE SUPPORT SENATE SUPPORT
Republicans Republicans Democrats Democrats
Allard, CO 98 Dayton, MN 99
Helms, NC 98 Reed, RI 99
Kyl, AZ 98 Daschle, SD 98
Lott, MS 98 Kerry, MA 98
McConnell, KY 98 Levin, MI 98
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Party Unity Senate (Support for Republicans)
Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R)
Republicans Republicans Democrats Democrats
Chafee, RI 50 Miller, GA 58
Specter, PA 60 Nelson, NB 42
Snowe, ME 64 Breaux, LA 41
Collins, ME 67 Baucus, MT 33
McCain, AZ 67 Cleland, GA 22
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Inside Congress -- Inside the Senate

• the Senate Atmosphere -- Senatorial Privileges
• Cloture and the Filibuster
• the committee system

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Inside Congress -- Between the Houses

• A Congress Divided?

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Inside Congress -- Between the Houses

• A Congress Divided?
• Differences between the Houses
• electoral time-frames
• representational concerns
• dynamics of operation
• balancing different interests

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Congress and the President

• United vs. Divided Government
• frequency

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United and Divided Government, 1968-2004

• 1968-69 Nixon, Sen.D, RepD
• 1970-71 Nixon, Sen.D, RepD
• 1972-73 Nixon, Sen.D, RepD
• 1974-75 Nixon/Ford, Sen.D, RepD
• 1976-77 Carter, Sen.D, RepD
• 1978-79 Carter, Sen.D, RepD
• 1980-81 Reagan, Sen.R, RepD
• 1982-83 Reagan, Sen.R, RepD
• 1984-85 Reagan, Sen.R, RepD

• 1986-87 Reagan, Sen.R, RepD
• 1988-89 Bush, Sen.D, RepD
• 1990-91 Bush, Sen.D, Rep.D
• 1992-93 Clinton, Sen.D, RepD
• 1994-95 Clinton, Sen.R, RepR
• 1996-97 Clinton, Sen.R, RepR
• 1998-00 Clinton, Sen.R, RepR
• 2000-02 Bush, Sen.R, RepR
• 2002-04 Bush, Sen.R, RepR

senate supermajority Total Years36 Total Years
Divided Govt26 Total Years United Govt10
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Congress and the President

• United vs. Divided Government
• frequency
• causes of divided government
• effects of divided vs. united government

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Congress and the President

• United vs. Divided Government
• The President and His Party
• The President and the Other Party

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Party Unity House Presidential Support
Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R)
Republicans Republicans Democrats Democrats
Paul, TX 49 Hall, TX 86
Morella, MD 53 Lucas, KY 81
Leach, IO 60 John, LA 69
Gilman, NY 62 Cramer, AL 67
Ramstad, MN 65 Shows, MS 64
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Party Unity Senate Presidential Support
Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R) Highest (D) and Lowest (R)
Republicans Republicans Democrats Democrats
Chafee, RI 84 Miller, GA 82
Snowe, ME 84 Breaux, LA 77
Specter, PA 87 Landrieu, LA 74
Collins, ME 88 Nelson, NB 74
McCain, AZ 91 Baucus, MT 71
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Main Point!

• the American Constitutional deliberately makes it
  difficult to get legislation passed
• the two houses of Congress are designed to act as
  a check on each other
• Congress acts as a check on Presidency and vice
  versa
• the effect is that less gets done
• however, to get things done requires a broad
  consensus

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