2:27:18 Notes PDF

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Summary

Lecture notes for POS 2041...

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Congress Acting for Representation: Sociological vs. Agency representation -

Sociological representation is the representing person reflects the racial, ethnic, gender, religious or educational backgrounds of their constituents.

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Assumption is that these similarities in composition on both sides promotes good representation.

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Therefor the composition of a legislature should mirror its society.

Demographic composition of congress -

Congress is not a sociologically representative body.

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Largely protestant, followed by Catholics and Jews which sort of mimics the religious make-up of the population.

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Under representation of minorities and women, disabled.

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Women currently make up 17% of congress.

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Large percent of congress are from legal, political or business backgrounds.

Electoral Connection -

Who runs for Office?

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Voters choices are restricted by who decides to run for office

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Parties ensure that qualified candidates run

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Incumbency- Incumbents provide constituents with services which ensure their reelection.

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Hence call from some quarters for term limits to ensure new faces more often.

Party Leadership in House and Senate -

Speaker of the House is elected at the beginning of each congress (every 2 years)

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Speaker has much influence

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Legislative agenda

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Fate of legislation

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Committee assignments (house speaker)

Powers of Congress -

Collect Taxes

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Coin Money

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Declare war

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Support military...