This document outlines a lecture on Congress. It discusses the differences between the House and Senate, including representation, elections, and legislative processes. It also summarizes the electoral composition of districts and states, the types of candidates that run, and factors that influence congressional voters.

1. WEEK #11 LECTURE
#18
CONGRESS 1
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
PROFESSOR ANAND SHASTRI
FALL 2015

2. OUTLINE OF CONGRESS #1
PART 1A) THE “TWO CONGRESSES”
PART 1B) DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE
PART 1C) CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS 1: THE DISTRICTS/STATES
PART 1D) CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS 2: CANDIDATES,
CAMPAIGNS, VOTERS

3. PART 1A) THE “TWO
CONGRESSES”

4. REPRESENTATION VS. NATIONAL LAWMAKING
• POLITICIANS ARE LOCALLY ELECTED, BUT ARE MAKING
NATIONAL POLICY, CONFLICT OF INTEREST
• DISTRICT OR STATE IS OFTEN MUCH DIFFERENT PEOPLE,
CULTURE & POLITICS THAN OVERALL NATION
• ALSO RESPONSIBILITY TO BOTH VOTERS & PARTY
• CONSTITUENCY (PG. 234) FENNO 4 KINDS

5. REPRESENTATION &/OR NAT’L LAWMAKING
REPRESENTATION & NATIONAL LAWMAKING
• POLICY (PG. 234)
• SYMBOLIC (PG. 234)
MAINLY REPRESENTATION
• ALLOCATIVE (“PORK BARREL”) (PG. 234 FOR BOTH)
• CASEWORK (PG. 234)
MAINLY NATIONAL LAWMAKING
• PARTISAN POLITICS & FOREIGN POLICY

6. PART 1B) DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE

7. BICAMERALISM & BASIC # DIFFERENCES
• BICAMERALISM
• HOUSE ELECTED EVERY 2 YRS., SENATE EVERY 6 YRS.
• HOUSE HAS 435 MEMBERS, WHILE SENATE HAS 100
• HOUSE MINIMUM AGE TO RUN IS 25, WHILE SENATE IS 30

8. FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES
• HOUSE REPRESENTS DISTRICT, SENATE REPRESENTS STATE
• HOUSE MORE PARTY-ORIENTED, SENATE INIDIVIDUALITY
• HOUSE EFFICIENT, SENATE DELIBERATIVE
• HOUSE BILLS ONLY NEED MAJORITY, WHILE SENATE NEEDS 60
TO CUT OFF FILIBUSTER (EXCEPT FOR BUDGET DIFFERENCES)

9. LEGISLATIVE & RULES DIFFERENCES
• BUDGET BILLS MUST ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE
• SENATE HANDLES JUDICIAL CONFIRMATION AND TREATIES
• ELECTORALLY, HOUSE MORE LIKELY THAN THE SENATE TO BE
OPPOSITE PARTY OF PRESIDENT
• HOUSE RULES DESIGNED MORE TO PASS BILLS, SENATE
DESIGNED TO THWART PASSAGE

10. PART 1C) CONGRESSIONAL
ELECTIONS 1: THE
DISTRICTS/STATES

11. CREATING ELECTORAL COMPOSITION OF HOUSE
DISTRICTS
• REAPPORTIONMENT (PG. 242)
• REDISTRICTING (PG. 243)
GERRYMANDERING (PG. 243, 247)
1) PARTISAN (MORE SAFE FOR EACH, MORE TOSSUPS)
2) RACIAL (PACKING VS. CRACKING)
3) REPRESENTATION: DESCRIPTIVE VS. SUBSTANTIVE

12. ELECTORAL MAKEUP OF DISTRICTS/STATES
• SAFE SEATS VS. MARGINAL SEATS
• RACIAL COMPOSITION (DIVERSE VS. HOMOGENOUS) & ROLE
OF POLITICAL CULTURE IN A REGION
• EDUCATION, LOCATION, & REGION
• SES RELIGION

13. REPUBLICAN’S EDGE IN CONGRESS
• DEMOCRATIC VOTERS CONCENTRATED IN URBAN AREAS,
REPUBLICANS ARE MORE SPREAD OUT
• CENSUS UNDERCOUNTS MINORITIES IN URBAN DISTRICTS
• MIDTERM ELECTORATE NOW STRONGLY FAVORS REPUBLICANS
• DEMS EDGE IN MOST POPULOUS STATES HURTS IN SENATE

14. PART 1D) CONGRESSIONAL
ELECTIONS 2: CANDIDATES,
CAMPAIGNS, VOTERS

15. TYPES OF CANDIDATES
• WHO DECIDES TO RUN? WHAT FACTORS?
• IMPORTANCE OF $$$$$
• INCUMBENCY EDGE (A BIT LESS IN SENATE), CASE FOR 2014 WAVE
• SOPHOMORE SURGE & RETIREMENT SLUMP

16. DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOUSE & SENATE MEMBERS #1
• INCOME
• EDUCATION LEVEL
• AGE
• OCCUPATION

17. DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOUSE & SENATE MEMBERS #2
• GENDER
• RACE/ETHNICITY
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION
• RELIGION

18. CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS: TUG-OF-WAR
• IS THIS THE PRESIDENTIAL OR MIDTERM ELECTIONS?
• NATIONALIZE VS. LOCALIZE (“THE TWO CONGRESSES”)?
• COATTAILS VS. MIDTERM LOSSES?
• WHEN RETIREMENTS TAKE PLACE, & NEW CANDIDATES RUN

19. CONGRESSIONAL VOTERS #1
• THEIR VIEWS OF INCUMBENTS
• DIFFERENCE IN VOTING FOR INCUMBENTS IN HOUSE VS.
SENATE: MORE ABOUT CHALLENGERS & CAMPAIGN QUALITY
• HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED BY NEGATIVE ADVERTISING
• CONTACTING LOW-INFORMATION VOTERS IS CRUCIAL

20. CONGRESSIONAL VOTERS #2
• PARTISANSHIP AND VOTING: DECLINE AND RESURGENCE
• DIVIDED GOV’T: SPLIT-TICKET VOTING VS. GEOGRAPHIC
CONCENTRATION (ILLINIOIS) VS. DIFFERENT ELECTORATES
• FENNO’S “REELECTION CONSTITUENCY”
• PARTISAN VOTERS INFORMATION: LOW VS. HIGH?