Term
The “Two Congresses”
Characteristics of the Modern Congress
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Definition
Formal legislative (lawmaking) institution structured by formal rules, political parties, committees.
Congress viewed as institution made-up of individuals
–535 individual members from diverse backgrounds seeking ways to represent their constituents
–Trustee vs. Delegate Model of Representation
In reality, these “two Congresses” are not functionally separate, but interconnected |
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Term
The “individualized Senate” and causesbehind it
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Definition
The power of an individual senator > house member
–Why?
The Transformation in the Senate
–The 1950s Senate
–Explosion of salient, highly controversial issues in the 1960s
–Party Realignment
–Hoard of new interest groups
–Increase in staff size
Changes in media
Several tools Senators can use to prevent bills from going to a full vote
–Filibuster
–Hold
–Adding a large number of amendments to a bill—these can also be non-germane
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Term
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Definition
| When a Senator informs his leader, directly or through the party secratary, that he wishes to be consulted before a measure is schedualed, the senator may only want to be sure that he or she is not otherwise commited, is prepared for flor debate or ready to offer an amendemnt. |
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Term
Unanimous Consent Agreements
"UCAs" |
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Definition
By a UCA, senators agree to bring a bull to the floor, perhaps to place some limits on the amendments that may be offered or on the length of debate on specific amendments, and then maybe to set a time for the final vote.
Some UCAs are highly elaborate and govern the entire floor consideration of a bill, but a series of partial agreements is more frequent than a single comprehensive one. |
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Term
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Definition
| A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is commonly referred to as talking out a bill, and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Model in which an elected official votes on what they believe is the best possible solution. |
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Term
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Definition
| This is the Model when an elected offical votes on how their constiutents would want them to vote. |
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Term
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Definition
| The Era that involved extremely powerful Speaker of the House. Including Speaker Cannon in 1910. Until the some of the powers of the Speaker was stripped. |
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