2. DO NOW- What does it mean to
ârepresentâ oneâs constituents?
ï Pretend youâre in Tim Wahlbergâs position- A
Republican Representative for Michiganâs 7th
district. Obama decides he wants to declare war
on Switzerland, and you think itâs a bad idea. But
your district disagrees! They want you to declare
war! The vote is today. Do you vote as a voice
for your constituents, and agree to the war? Or
do you vote with your conscience and vote
against the war?
ï Take 4 minutes- jot down some thoughts.
3. Congressional Functions
ï Previously On⊠(Last week): Lawmaking
ï Money for their constituents- pork
ï Today: Representation!
ï You must please your constituents if you want to
stay in office! So every issue, every vote- must be
considered from your constituentsâ perspective.
ï What if⊠you disagree?
ï Tensions: Interests of âhomeâ and national interest
ï How can Congress work together?
4. Representation- A DILEMMA!
ï Trustee vs. Delegate- Edmund Burke (English
philosopher)
ï Votes in parliament- decided by his knowledge and
experience, allowing him to serve the public interest.
ï Not all opinions are of equal value. Constituents should
get votes based on education (working class would get
fewest amt of votes)
ï TRUSTEE- Act in favor of common good, trust in
your representative (even if it goes against interests
of constituencies)
ï Solves problem of uninformed constituents with little
knowledge
5. Some (not-fun) facts
ï Typical Congressman- white
Protestant male, 60 y.o.,
wealthy, lawyer
ï Minorities/women
underrepresented
10. Speaker of the House
ï Rep. John
Boehner
ï Republican, Ohio
ï Selected by the
majority party
ï 2nd in line of
presidential
succession
11. House Majority Leader
ï Rep. Eric Cantor
ï Republican,
Virginia
ï Selected by the majority
party
ï Acts as spokesperson
for majority party
ï Organizes party, keeps
them together
12. House Minority Leader
ï Rep. Nancy
Pelosi
ï Democrat,
California
ï Main jobâ keep the
party TOGETHER!
Maintain cohesion.
ï Former Speaker of the
House â first ever
female speaker
13. President of the Senate
ï Vice President
Joe Biden
ï Democrat, Delaware
ï Cannot take part in Senate
debate
ï Can cast tie-breaking vote
ï Rarely attends Senate
hearings
14. Senate Majority Leader
ï Senator Harry
Reid
ï Democrat,
Nevada
ï Most powerful person in
the Senate
ï Directs legislative
strategy
15. Senate Minority Leader
ï Senator Mitch
McConnell
ï Republican, Kentucky
ï The minority leaderâs
main role is to
command the
minorityâs opposition
to the policies of the
majority
16. President Pro Tempore
ï Senator Daniel Inouye
ï Democrat, Hawaii
ï Elected by the whole Senate
ï Presides over the Senate in the
absence of the VP
ï Highest ranking Asian-
American politician in American
history
ï Most senior Senator (â63)
ï Has repped Hawaii since
statehood, was a volunteer at
Pearl Harbor
17. Michiganâs Senators
ï Carl Levin, Democrat ï Debbie Stabenow,
ï Chairman, Senate Armed Democrat
Services Committee
Senate Energy, Agricultural
ï Senior senator (7th longest8 Cmt
sli serving)
Junior senator
Key issues- constituent monitors votes. For all other matters- trust the repBalancing act. Big issues- abortion, etc. Most people think their congressmen DONâT represent them. But constituents donât always agree!
Can you really represent us if youâre in the 1% does it matter? What do you make of these? Can you represent me or know what my life is about?
Do you have to be of a similar background to represent? Is it okay that men uniformly represent men/women? Whites represent all of the other races?
http://jeopardylabs.com/play/chapter-12-congress âBarackâs Andean pack animals.â What areâObamaâs llamas.âHerbertâs Military Operations- What are Hooverâs ManeuversGeorge W.âs Rumps= What are "Bush's tushes."Ambrose Bierce described this as 'a temporary insanity curable by marriage.' "What is love?
part of what they do is try to come up with consensus views
Took 7 years to graduate because he paid his way through- took many jobs. Interesting relationship with Gingrich- tried to have a coup in 98Speaker- leader of the House republicans- but does not debate/voteHard core conservativeOutranks Majority leaderSets the calendar, tries to make sure his partyâs bills are passed.
Only Jewish Republican currently in Congress (highest ranking Jewish member of Congress in its history)âRising StarâPlans agendas
First Roman Catholic VP. Secret service name CelticMeant to eliminate some explicit roles assumed by Cheney- who was very popularSaid he would provide advice in every bama decision instead of being like other VPs. Tends to get support from republicans and counsel.
Chief rep of his party in the senate
Switch to mitchOne of the strongest Iraq supportersAgriculture, appropriations2nd wife- first Asian American woman to serve in the Cabinet- former Sec of Labor under George W. millionare
2nd highest ranking official in the senate. Presides over the senate sessions when the VP is gone (is in line for presidency after VP, Speaker)Mandated by Article 1, Sec 3- kinda equal to speaker of the house. Lost an arm in WWII- Italy