How Congress Decides

There are four major factors entering into the decision-making function of Congress. These are the influences of the voters, or constituents; «principle»; party; and research. We shall consider them in this order.

Congress represents the local element in a complex national government. Its members are nominated in their home districts and states by local party organizations or by the voters in a nominating election called a «direct primary». Members are elected by local constituencies, usually with little or no help from a national party organization. A candidate for Congress campaigns mostly on issues of importance to his community, state, or region. If he loses contact with his district while serving in Congress, his re-election is endangered. There really is not much chance of this, for there are many means of communication. Letters from constituents reach him at the rate of at least a hundred a day. Telephone and telegraph are other means of communication from constituents. Members are allowed some money for travel to and from their district, and they use such home visits to judge the feelings and views of their constituents and to give them an account of what they are doing.

This influence by a member’s constituency is expressed in many ways. The Congressman tends to be very interested in public works - such as new government buildings, water projects, military bases - that will bring money to the area or improve living conditions. The federal government spends thousands of millions of dollars each year on such projects. The most important influence upon the member’s attitude comes from the economic and other groups among the voters who elect him. These groups are the greatest single element in the political pattern of America. They do not concentrate their influence on one or the other of the two major political parties. Rather, they are regional or sectional, and candidates of both parties usually try to win their support.

The whole complicated pattern of American society is expressed in the different influences on Congress.

Appearances before committees and visits to members of Congress are not the only ways pressure groups influence Congress. The attitudes of the members of Congress themselves are characteristic of the social and economic environment of the place from which they come. They themselves are often naturally the voice for the economic interests of their region. The larger and more important groups use such methods as advertising to try to influence voters who are not members of the group. They believe that the attitudes of the general voting public will become an influence on Congress.

It would be an error to believe that the influence of these groups is mostly bad or that Congressmen yield easily to the pressures of those trying to influence them.

Congress has made laws requiring most pressure groups to give information about how much they spend and how they spend it, the amount and sources of funds, membership, and names and salaries of their representatives.

«Principle» is among the chief motives that the members of Congress claim for their actions. It is natural for men of public spirit to seek some principle to guide their action on the many complicated proposals before them. For many, cost is the major principle. One member became famous for his habit of inquiring, concerning every proposal, «Where is the money coming from?»

Another factor influencing Congressmen is political party. The majority party organizes Congress and elects its officers. Party is a greater influence than the President or the entire executive branch of government on the behaviour of Congress. A considerable number of the members of the President’s party in Congress feel obliged to see that the President’s legislative proposals are introduced and obtain consideration. The party as a whole does not ordinarily assume that it is obliged to have the proposals passed. Many members of his party will defend the President’s conduct and policy in particular matters. The opposing party will seek for opportunities to be critical of the details of the President’s proposals or administration or policies. However, it will much less frequently consider it a party duty to oppose them.

Of the important votes in recent years, in the majority of instances, the majority of both parties voted on the same side or a large minority of one party joined with a majority of the other.

This non-party attitude is most seen in the closed meetings of committees where the real decisions are made. Most of the committees of both branches of Congress follow this approach. There are opposing opinions, of course, but these are not usually associated with party.

Fundamentally, this independence of action on the part of individual Congressmen is made possible by the independent elections of the President and Congress. They are each elected separately and for a fixed number of years. This independence is fundamental in United States politics today.

10.4. Answer the following questions:

1. Name the four major factors entering into the decision making function of Congress.

2. What is a «direct primary»?

3. What happens if a Congressman loses contact with his district?

4. Name the means of communication of Congressmen with constituents.

5. What projects do Congressmen tend to be interested in?

6. Do you think that cost is the major principle that the members of Congress claim for their actions?

7. Which party organizes Congress and elects its officers?

10.5. Complete the sentences below using the following words:

dominant, ignore, majority, permanent, bill, approval, specializes, minority.

One of the major characteristics of the Congress is the ... role committees play in its proceedings. At present the Senate has 16 standing (or...) committees: the House of Representatives has 22. Each ... in specific areas of legislation: foreign affairs, defense, banking, agriculture, commerce, appropriations and other fields. Every ... introduced in either house is referred to a committee for study and recommendation. The committee may approve, revise, kill or ... any measure referred to it. It is nearly impossible for a bill to reach the House or Senate floor without first winning committee ... . The ... party in each house controls the committee process. ... parties are proportionally represented on the committees according to their strength in each house.

10.6. Discuss the following chart. Compare the law-making process in the USA and in your country.

10.7. Match the sentences in column A with the appropriate ones in column B. Then join each pair of sentences using «if».

A B

1. A bill is passed by one a) It is sent to the president, for

house. constitutionally the president must

act on a bill for it to become law.

2. The bill is amended by the b) The bill becomes law without his signature

second house. 10 days after it reaches him (not counting

Sundays).

3. The bill is passed by both c) it becomes law

houses.

4. The president signs the bill. d) A conference committee composed of

members of both houses attempts to reconcile

the differences.

5. The bill vetoed by the e) The president’s refusal to take any action

president. then negates the bill - a process known as the

«pocket veto».

6. The president refuses f) It is sent to the other house for action.

either to sign or to veto the bill.

7. Congress adjourns after g) It must be reapproved by a two-thirds

sending the bill to the vote of both houses to become law.

president and before the 10-day

period has expired.

10.8. Wordsearch. Find as many words as you can in the puzzle below. Some of them are used in the text that precedes the puzzle.

One of the most important nonlegislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate. This power is usually delegated to committees - either the standing committees, special committees set up for a specific purpose, or joint committees composed of members of both houses. Investigations are conducted to gather information on the need for future legislation, to test the effectiveness of laws already passed, to inquire into the qualifications and performance of members and officials of the other branches, and on rare occasions, to lay the groundwork for impeachment proceedings. Most committee hearings are open to the public and are widely reported in the mass media. Congressional committees have the power to compel testimony from unwilling witnesses, and to cite for contempt of Congress witnesses who refuse to testify and for perjury those who give false testimony.

10.9. Complete the following dialogue.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Congress represents the local element in a complex national government.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. No, they are not. They are elected by local constituencies.

I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. For these purposes members are allowed some money.

I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Federal government spends thousands of millions of dollars each year on such projects.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Congress has made laws requiring to give information about how much they spend and how they spend it, the amount and sources of funds, membership and names and salaries of their representatives.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Party exerts a greater influence than the President or the entire executive branch of government on the behaviour of Congress.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Many members of his party will defend the President’s conduct and policy in particular matters.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. No, the opposing party will seek for opportunities to be critical of the details of the President’s proposals or administration or policies.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Most of the committies of both branches of Congress follow the approach of this non-party attitude.

I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Yes, you are right. They are each elected separately and for a fixed number of years.

10.10. Talking point. Compare the decision-making procedure in the USA and in your country.

UNIT 11

Political Parties

11. Before reading, match a word on the left with a definition on the right.

1. loyal a) full belief in reliability of a person or thing

2. value b) a point in question or dispute

3. rival c) be worthy of praise or censure

4. substantial d) visible to eye

5. issue e) the importance of a thing

6. share f) divide or distribute; participate in

7. confidence g) moral excellence or goodness

8. deserve h) standing in competition for superiority

9. apparent i) faithful to a government or state

10. virtue j) of considerable size or amount

11.1. Test your general knowledge in the quiz below.

1. There is ... mention of political parties in the US Constitution.

a) no

b) some

c) a lot of

2. The emblem of the Democratic party is a ...

a) lion

b) donkey

c) elephant

2. The emblem of the Republican party is a ...

a) lion

b) donkey

c) elephant

11.2.Read the following statements:

1) What political parties are there in your country?

2) Are you a member of any party?

3) Which parties dominate the US political system?

4) Are there more than two parties in the US?

5) Which Party is in power in the US now?

11.3. Now read the text below and see if you were right.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1386