United States Congress

3641: 3284: 2886: 4663: 4922:(FERS). Like other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3% of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. And like federal employees, members contribute one-third of the cost of health insurance with the government covering the other two-thirds. The size of a congressional pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest three years of their salary. By law, the starting amount of a member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of their final salary. In 2018, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under the 3735:. The presidency remains considerably more powerful today than during the 19th century. Executive branch officials are often loath to reveal sensitive information to members of Congress because of concern that information could not be kept secret; in return, knowing they may be in the dark about executive branch activity, congressional officials are more likely to distrust their counterparts in executive agencies. Many government actions require fast coordinated effort by many agencies, and this is a task that Congress is ill-suited for. Congress is slow, open, divided, and not well matched to handle more rapid executive action or do a good job of overseeing such activity, according to one analysis. 2640: 4033: 3925: 693: 2450: 474: 164: 760: 21560: 2468: 618: 3910: 12453: 2872: 4095: 2902: 4722:... the legislative process is easy to dislike – it often generates political posturing and grandstanding, it necessarily involves compromise, and it often leaves broken promises in its trail. Also, members of Congress often appear self-serving as they pursue their political careers and represent interests and reflect values that are controversial. Scandals, even when they involve a single member, add to the public's frustration with Congress and have contributed to the institution's low ratings in opinion polls. 4654:, which smears an opponent's character without focusing on the issues. Negative advertising is seen as effective because "the messages tend to stick." These advertisements sour the public on the political process in general as most members of Congress seek to avoid blame. One wrong decision or one damaging television image can mean defeat at the next election, which leads to a culture of risk avoidance, a need to make policy decisions behind closed doors, and concentrating publicity efforts in the members' home districts. 408: 4685:, felt that elections were essential to liberty, that a bond between the people and the representatives was particularly essential, and that "frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy by which this dependence and sympathy can be effectually secured." In 2009, few Americans were familiar with leaders of Congress. The percentage of Americans eligible to vote who did, in fact, vote was 63% in 1960, but has been falling since, although there was a slight upward trend in the 2008 election. 765: 4573: 21681: 1909: 21835: 3299: 21818: 21693: 21705: 1921: 1979: 4314: 4326: 21784: 3656: 21801: 21767: 79: 12412: 21750: 3930: 3929: 3927: 21733: 2982:. Congress struggled with efficiency in the postwar era partly by reducing the number of standing congressional committees. Southern Democrats became a powerful force in many influential committees although political power alternated between Republicans and Democrats during these years. More complex issues required greater specialization and expertise, such as space flight and atomic energy policy. Senator 4642:; any candidate winning the primary will almost always be elected, and these candidates do not need to spend money on advertising. But some races can be competitive when there is no incumbent. If a seat becomes vacant in an open district, then both parties may spend heavily on advertising in these races; in California in 1992, only four of twenty races for House seats were considered highly competitive. 3931: 4766:, have suggested that the population disparity works against residents of large states and causes a steady redistribution of resources from "large states to small states". Others argue that the Connecticut Compromise was deliberately intended by the Founding Fathers to construct the Senate so that each state had equal footing not based on population, and contend that the result works well on balance. 4714:... Still, we are not exaggerating when we say that Congress is essential to American democracy. We would not have survived as a nation without a Congress that represented the diverse interests of our society, conducted a public debate on the major issues, found compromises to resolve conflicts peacefully, and limited the power of our executive, military, and judicial institutions 3928: 2455: 2454: 2451: 4885:, where members of congress or their family members have traded on stocks related to work on their committees. One 2011 study concluded that portfolios of members of congress outperformed both the market and hedge funds, which the authors suggested as evidence of insider trading. Proposed solutions include putting stocks in blind trusts to prevent future insider trading. 4596:. After each ten-year census, states are allocated representatives based on population, and officials in power can choose how to draw the congressional district boundaries to support candidates from their party. As a result, reelection rates of members of Congress hover around 90 percent, causing some critics to call them a privileged class. Academics such as Princeton's 2456: 3272: 2453: 9682: 4778:. Constituents request assistance with problems. Providing services helps members of Congress win votes and elections and can make a difference in close races. Congressional staff can help citizens navigate government bureaucracies. One academic described the complex intertwined relation between lawmakers and constituents as 4638:(when a popular president or party position has the effect of reelecting incumbents who win by "riding on the president's coattails"), although there is some evidence that the coattail effect is irregular and possibly declining since the 1950s. Some districts are so heavily Democratic or Republican that they are called a 3106:, "down-to-the-wire budget and debt crises" and "indiscriminate spending cuts", resulting in slowed economic activity and keeping up to two million people unemployed. There has been increasing public dissatisfaction with Congress, with extremely low approval ratings which dropped to 5% in October 2013. 4105:

The Congressional Research Service, part of the Library of Congress, provides detailed, up-to-date and non-partisan research for senators, representatives, and their staff to help them carry out their official duties. It provides ideas for legislation, helps members analyze a bill, facilitates public

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be banned from holding office in the future. Impeachment proceedings may not inflict more than this. A convicted party may face criminal penalties in a normal court of law. In the history of the United States, the House of Representatives has impeached sixteen officials, of whom seven were convicted.

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of media coverage. Others saw pressure to squeeze a political position into a thirty-second soundbite. A report characterized Congress in 2013 as unproductive, gridlocked, and "setting records for futility". In October 2013, with Congress unable to compromise, the government was shut down for several

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is subject to the powers of state government and national government. To protect against abuse of power, each branch of government – executive, legislative, and judicial – had a separate sphere of authority and could check other branches according to the principle of the

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members of Congress running for reelection have strong advantages over challengers. They raise more money because donors fund incumbents over challengers, perceiving the former as more likely to win, and donations are vital for winning elections. One critic compared election to Congress to receiving

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and sent to the president for approval. The president may sign it making it law or veto it, perhaps returning it to Congress with the president's objections. A vetoed bill can still become law if each house of Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. Finally, the president may

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The House reserves roll-call votes for the most formal matters, as a roll call of all 435 representatives takes quite some time; normally, members vote by using an electronic device. In the case of a tie, the motion in question fails. Most votes in the House are done electronically, allowing members

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investigate specialized subjects and advise the entire Congress about choices and trade-offs. The choice of specialty may be influenced by the member's constituency, important regional issues, prior background and experience. Senators often choose a different specialty from that of the other senator

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Each territory and Washington, D.C., elects a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives as they have throughout congressional history. They "possess the same powers as other members of the House, except that they may not vote when the House is meeting as the House of Representatives".

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which permit Congress to "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof". Broad interpretations of this clause and of

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issue. Some see money as a good influence in politics since it "enables candidates to communicate with voters". Few members retire from Congress without complaining about how much it costs to campaign for reelection. Critics contend that members of Congress are more likely to attend to the needs of

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was $ 70,000 but costs have climbed. The biggest expense is television advertisements. Today's races cost more than a million dollars for a House seat, and six million or more for a Senate seat. Since fundraising is vital, "members of Congress are forced to spend ever-increasing hours raising money

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committee is in charge. Each branch has its own traditions; for example, the Senate relies heavily on the practice of getting "unanimous consent" for noncontroversial matters. House and Senate rules can be complex, sometimes requiring a hundred specific steps before a bill can become a law. Members

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officials, judges, and other high officers "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate". It confirms most presidential nominees, but rejections are not uncommon. Furthermore, treaties negotiated by the President must be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate to take effect. As a

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and this office is usually held by the most senior member of the Senate's majority party and customarily keeps this position until there is a change in party control. Accordingly, the Senate does not necessarily elect a new president pro tempore at the beginning of a new Congress. In the House and

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of 1791 was the first congressional investigation of the executive branch. Investigations are conducted to gather information on the need for future legislation, to test the effectiveness of laws already passed, and to inquire into the qualifications and performance of members and officials of the

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executive or judicial officials for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors". Impeachment is a formal accusation of unlawful activity by a civil officer or government official. The Senate is constitutionally empowered and obligated to try all impeachments. A simple majority in the

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Congress has authority over financial and budgetary policy through the enumerated power to "lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States". There is vast authority over budgets, although analyst Eric

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creates and sets forth the structure and most of the powers of Congress. Sections One through Six describe how Congress is elected and gives each House the power to create its own structure. Section Seven lays out the process for creating laws, and Section Eight enumerates numerous powers. Section

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Congress reflects us in all our strengths and all our weaknesses. It reflects our regional idiosyncrasies, our ethnic, religious, and racial diversity, our multitude of professions, and our shadings of opinion on everything from the value of war to the war over values. Congress is the government's

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asserted that the "historic mission of Congress has been to maintain freedom" and insisted it was a "driving force in American government" and a "remarkably resilient institution". Congress is the "heart and soul of our democracy", according to this view, even though legislators rarely achieve the

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states, "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process – legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of

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due to their coverage. Others have criticized the wealth of members of Congress. In January 2014, it was reported that for the first time over half of the members of Congress were millionaires. Congress has been criticized for trying to conceal pay raises by slipping them into a large bill at the

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asking people if they approve of the job Congress is doing have, in the last few decades, hovered around 25% with some variation. Scholar Julian Zeliger suggested that the "size, messiness, virtues, and vices that make Congress so interesting also create enormous barriers to our understanding the

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introduction. Joint resolutions are the normal way to propose a constitutional amendment or declare war. On the other hand, concurrent resolutions (passed by both houses) and simple resolutions (passed by only one house) do not have the force of law but express the opinion of Congress or regulate

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Ideas for legislation can come from members, lobbyists, state legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, or executive agencies. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress may introduce bills. Most bills are not written by Congress members, but originate from the Executive branch;

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privilege allows members of Congress to send official mail to constituents at government expense. Though they are not permitted to send election materials, borderline material is often sent, especially in the run-up to an election by those in close races. Some academics consider free mailings as

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which have jurisdiction over a particular subject such as Agriculture or Appropriations. The House has twenty standing committees; the Senate has sixteen. Standing committees meet at least once each month. Almost all standing committee meetings for transacting business must be open to the public

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speculate that a prolonged period marked by narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress has intensified partisanship in the last few decades, but that an alternation of control of Congress between Democrats and Republicans may lead to greater flexibility in policies, as well as pragmatism and

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on the Supreme Court have argued that if the constitution does not say something explicitly it is unconstitutional to infer what it should, might, or could have said. Judicial review means that the Supreme Court can nullify a congressional law. It is a huge check by the courts on the legislative

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To me the key to understanding it is balance. The founders went to great lengths to balance institutions against each other – balancing powers among the three branches: Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court; between the House of Representatives and the Senate; between the

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session, where committee members debate the bill's merits and may offer amendments or revisions. Committees may also amend the bill, but the full house holds the power to accept or reject committee amendments. After debate, the committee votes whether it wishes to report the measure to the full

2530:; one wrote that "legislators remain ghosts in America's historical imagination." One analyst argues that it is not a solely reactive institution but has played an active role in shaping government policy and is extraordinarily sensitive to public pressure. Several academics described Congress: 4936:

reported in 2009 that lawmaker trips abroad at taxpayer expense had included spas, $ 300-per-night extra unused rooms, and shopping excursions. Some lawmakers responded that "traveling with spouses compensates for being away from them a lot in Washington" and justify the trips as a way to meet

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gave every state, large and small, an equal vote in the Senate. Since each state has two senators, residents of smaller states have more clout in the Senate than residents of larger states. But since 1787, the population disparity between large and small states has grown; in 2006, for example,

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Congress is split into two chambers – House and Senate – and manages the task of writing national legislation by dividing work into separate committees which specialize in different areas. Some members of Congress are elected by their peers to be officers of these

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are the exception); important hearings are widely reported in the mass media and transcripts published a few months afterwards. Congress, in the course of studying possible laws and investigating matters, generates an incredible amount of information in various forms, and can be described as a

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to introduce bills and resolutions, and in recent Congresses they vote in permanent and select committees, in party caucuses and in joint conferences with the Senate. They have Capitol Hill offices, staff and two annual appointments to each of the four military academies. While their votes are

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An additional factor that confounds public perceptions of Congress is that congressional issues are becoming more technical and complex and require expertise in subjects such as science, engineering and economics. As a result, Congress often cedes authority to experts at the executive branch.

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on the Clerk's desk. It is assigned a number and referred to a committee which studies each bill intensely at this stage. Drafting statutes requires "great skill, knowledge, and experience" and sometimes take a year or more. Sometimes lobbyists write legislation and submit it to a member for

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Once a bill is approved by one house, it is sent to the other which may pass, reject, or amend it. For the bill to become law, both houses must agree to identical versions of the bill. If the second house amends the bill, then the differences between the two versions must be reconciled in a

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Washington, D.C., citizens alone among U.S. territories have the right to directly vote for the President of the United States, although the Democratic and Republican political parties nominate their presidential candidates at national conventions which include delegates from the five major

4080:'s private library. One of the library's missions is to serve Congress and its staff as well as the American public. It is the largest library in the world with nearly 150 million items including books, films, maps, photographs, music, manuscripts, graphics, and materials in 470 languages. 4543:

and then the bill becomes law automatically after ten days (not counting Sundays) according to the Constitution. But if Congress is adjourned during this period, presidents may veto legislation passed at the end of a congressional session simply by ignoring it; the maneuver is known as a

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Senators face reelection every six years, and representatives every two. Reelections encourage candidates to focus their publicity efforts at their home states or districts. Running for reelection can be a grueling process of distant travel and fund-raising which distracts senators and

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Patashnik suggested that much of Congress's power to manage the budget has been lost when the welfare state expanded since "entitlements were institutionally detached from Congress's ordinary legislative routine and rhythm." Another factor leading to less control over the budget was a

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The committee structure permits members of Congress to study a particular subject intensely. It is neither expected nor possible that a member be an expert on all subject areas before Congress. As time goes by, members develop expertise in particular subjects and their legal aspects.

6825:...two decades of unbroken Democratic Senate control from 1961 to 1980 ... Neither side lately has consistently reached the heights that Democrats did while they held unbroken control of the lower chamber from 1955 through 1994 when the party routinely won 250 seats or more. 5039:. Each member has the power to cite people for contempt but can only issue a contempt citation – the judicial system pursues the matter like a normal criminal case. If convicted in court of contempt of Congress, a person may be imprisoned for up to one year. 4481:

Voting within Congress can take many forms, including systems using lights and bells and electronic voting. Both houses use voice voting to decide most matters in which members shout "aye" or "no" and the presiding officer announces the result. The Constitution requires a

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Sec. 9. (l). "The 'United States' when used in a geographical sense, means the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and associated territorial waters and

11135: 5017:. The rules of the House strictly guard this privilege; a member may not waive the privilege on their own but must seek the permission of the whole house to do so. Senate rules are less strict and permit individual senators to waive the privilege as they choose. 6480: 2518:, the Congress has started and ended at noon on the third day of January of every odd-numbered year. Members of the Senate are referred to as senators; members of the House of Representatives are referred to as representatives, congressmen, or congresswomen. 3926: 3102:

weeks and risked a serious default on debt payments, causing 60% of the public to say they would "fire every member of Congress" including their own representative. One report suggested Congress posed the "biggest risk to the U.S. economy" because of its

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The influence of Congress on the presidency has varied from period to period depending on factors such as congressional leadership, presidential political influence, historical circumstances such as war, and individual initiative by members of Congress.

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which is a simple resolution specifying the particulars of debate – time limits, possibility of further amendments, and such. Each side has equal time and members can yield to other members who wish to speak. Sometimes opponents seek to

4443:, usually half of the total number of representatives, before discussion can begin, although there are exceptions. The house may debate and amend the bill; the precise procedures used by the House and Senate differ. A final vote on the bill follows. 3479:, although others respond that Congress did investigate the legality of presidential decisions. Political scientists Ornstein and Mann suggested that oversight functions do not help members of Congress win reelection. Congress also has the exclusive 3866:

Congress also plays a role in presidential elections. Both Houses meet in joint session on the sixth day of January following a presidential election to count the electoral votes, and there are procedures to follow if no candidate wins a majority.

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The Congress of the United States serves two distinct purposes that overlap: local representation to the federal government of a congressional district by representatives and a state's at-large representation to the federal government by senators.

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contributions. One source suggests post-Watergate laws amended in 1974 meant to reduce the "influence of wealthy contributors and end payoffs" instead "legitimized PACs" since they "enabled individuals to band together in support of candidates".

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The main result of congressional activity is the creation of laws, most of which are contained in the United States Code, arranged by subject matter alphabetically under fifty title headings to present the laws "in a concise and usable form".

12738: 4491:, in which a clerk calls out the names of all the senators, each senator stating "aye" or "no" when their name is announced. In the Senate, the Vice President may cast the tie-breaking vote if present when the senators are equally divided. 12748: 3617:

rests with Congress. The republican form of government in territories is devolved by congressional statute to the respective territories including direct election of governors, the D.C. mayor and locally elective territorial legislatures.

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to help provide it with information, and members of Congress have staff and offices to assist them as well. In addition, a vast industry of lobbyists helps members write legislation on behalf of diverse corporate and labor interests.

3792:, urged her former senate colleagues to approve a nuclear arms treaty with Russia in 2010. The House of Representatives has no formal role in either the ratification of treaties or the appointment of federal officials, other than in 3005:

had a powerful effect of waking up a somewhat dormant Congress which investigated presidential wrongdoing and coverups; the scandal "substantially reshaped" relations between the branches of government, suggested political scientist

4702:... it is rich in resources" and that most members behave ethically. They contend that "Congress is easy to dislike and often difficult to defend" and this perception is exacerbated because many challengers running for Congress run 4740:

has reported Congress's approval rating among Americans at 10% or below three times. Public opinion of Congress plummeted further to 5% in October 2013 after parts of the U.S. government deemed 'nonessential government' shut down.

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with a new number. Both houses have procedures under which committees can be bypassed or overruled but they are rarely used. Generally, members who have been in Congress longer have greater seniority and therefore greater power.

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in 1913. Joint Sessions and Joint Meetings are traditionally presided over by the speaker of the House, except when counting presidential electoral votes when the vice president (acting as the president of the Senate) presides.

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Members of Congress make fact-finding missions to learn about other countries and stay informed, but these outings can cause controversy if the trip is deemed excessive or unconnected with the task of governing. For example,

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rather initiated by Congress. President Roosevelt pushed his agenda in Congress by detailing Executive Branch staff to friendly Senate committees (a practice that ended with the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946). The

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Angus King of Maine, who cruised to victory last week running as an independent, said Wednesday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats. The Senate's other independent, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, also caucuses with the

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contributions. While soft money funds were not given to specific campaigns for candidates, the money often benefited candidates substantially in an indirect way and helped reelect candidates. Reforms such as the 2002

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has usurped Congress's constitutionally defined task of declaring war. While historically presidents initiated the process for going to war, they asked for and received formal war declarations from Congress for the

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3 each year unless Congress decides differently. The Constitution requires Congress to meet at least once each year and forbids either house from meeting outside the Capitol without the consent of the other house.

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Joint resolutions. There is little difference between a bill and a joint resolution since both are treated similarly; a joint resolution originating from the House, for example, begins "H.J.Res." followed by its

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hearings, makes reports, consults on matters such as parliamentary procedure, and helps the two chambers resolve disagreements. It has been called the "House's think tank" and has a staff of about 900 employees.

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House is required to impeach an official; a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for conviction. A convicted official is automatically removed from office; in addition, the Senate may stipulate that the

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if demanded by one-fifth of the members present or when voting to override a presidential veto. If the voice vote is unclear or if the matter is controversial, a recorded vote usually happens. The Senate uses

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bills. In 2007, there were approximately 17,000 federal lobbyists in Washington, D.C. They explain to legislators the goals of their organizations. Some lobbyists represent non-profit organizations and work

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Women candidates began making substantial inroads in the later 20th century, due in part to new political support mechanisms and public awareness of their underrepresentation in Congress. Recruitment and

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federal government and the states; among states of different sizes and regions with different interests; between the powers of government and the rights of citizens, as spelled out in the Bill of Rights

3512:, have described this practice as against the spirit of the Constitution. There have been concerns that presidential authority to cope with financial crises is eclipsing the power of Congress. In 2008, 3491:

are one way in which a president can "tip the balance of power between Congress and the White House a little more in favor of the executive branch", according to one account. Past presidents, including

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over most decisions. Congress had executive but not legislative authority, and the federal judiciary was confined to admiralty and lacked authority to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws.

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process, can introduce bills to the House floor and effectively bypass committee input, they are exceedingly difficult to implement without committee action. Committees have power and have been called

3793: 3010:. Partisanship returned, particularly after 1994; one analyst attributes partisan infighting to slim congressional majorities which discouraged friendly social gatherings in meeting rooms such as the 14309: 13793: 5262: 2388:, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election. Each state, regardless of population or size, has two senators, so currently, there are 100 senators for the 50 states. 3367:

with foreign nations and among the states, and coin money. Generally, the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative authority, although only the House may originate revenue and

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expanded congressional power to regulate the economy. One effect of popular election of senators was to reduce the difference between the House and Senate in terms of their link to the electorate.

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narrowly won the presidency and power shifted again to the Democrats who dominated both chambers of Congress from 1961 to 1980, and retained a consistent majority in the House from 1955 to 1994.

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which discourages members from considering acts that increase budget deficits. If both houses agree to the version reported by the conference committee, the bill passes, otherwise it fails.

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in which influential lobbies advocated for railroad subsidies and tariffs on wool. Immigration and high birth rates swelled the ranks of citizens and the nation grew at a rapid pace. The

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They are assigned offices and allowances for staff, participate in debate, and appoint constituents to the four military service academies for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

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without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. The Constitution also grants Congress the exclusive power to appropriate funds, and this

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Since 2006, Congress has dropped ten points in the Gallup confidence poll with only nine percent having "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in their legislators. Since 2011,

13358: 13328: 7245: 7080:"PAC Paranoia: Congress Faces Campaign Spending – Politics: Hysteria was the operative word when legislators realized they could not return home without tougher campaign finance laws" 6108:"The republican party, who wish to preserve the government in its present form, are fewer in number. They are fewer even when joined by the two, three, or half dozen anti-federalists. 5088: 4581:

representatives from paying attention to governing, according to some critics. Although others respond that the process is necessary to keep members of Congress in touch with voters.

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From 1970 to 2009, the House expanded delegates, along with their powers and privileges representing U.S. citizens in non-state areas, beginning with representation on committees for

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Power in the chamber: Lawmakers who spend serious time along the "rail of the House floor or in the Senate cloakroom ministering to the needs of their colleagues". Famous legislator

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of the Constitution that "for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place." Accordingly, a member of Congress may not be sued in court for

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made the presidency less powerful than Congress for a considerable period afterwards. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen the rise of presidential power under politicians such as

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Congress is composed of 541 individuals from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

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The rough-and-tumble world of legislating is not orderly and civil, human frailties too often taint its membership, and legislative outcomes are often frustrating and ineffective

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from their state to prevent overlap. Some committees specialize in running the business of other committees and exert a powerful influence over all legislation; for example, the

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applies to members during sessions and when traveling to and from sessions. The term "arrest" has been interpreted broadly, and includes any detention or delay in the course of

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suggested that greater publicity undermined the power of political parties and caused "more roads to open up in Congress for individual representatives to influence decisions".

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which gather information, evaluate alternatives, and identify problems. They propose solutions for consideration by the full chamber. In addition, they perform the function of

19296: 16800: 14802: 14366: 13368: 13020: 3855: 9900:"Column One – TV Blitz Fueled by a Fortune – Once obscure, Huffington now is pressing Feinstein. His well-financed rapid-response team has mounted an unprecedented ad attack" 7017: 5692: 4013:

Senate, the actual presiding officer is generally a junior member of the majority party who is appointed so that new members become acquainted with the rules of the chamber.

16536: 14597: 14351: 13546: 12675: 11067: 5486: 5058: 2645: 11438:"An $ 84,000 trip to Qatar and a $ 41,000 retreat in Miami: Members of Congress are going on expensive travels paid for by private groups where some bring their loved ones" 7494: 3635: 11237: 7407: 6101: 21892: 19013: 16764: 16321: 16202: 14361: 13152: 13027: 4888:

Some members of congress have gone on lavish trips paid for by outside groups, sometimes bringing family members, which are often legal even if in an ethical gray area.

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The Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress in detail. In addition, other congressional powers have been granted, or confirmed, by constitutional amendments. The

3483:, allowing impeachment and removal of the president, federal judges and other federal officers. There have been charges that presidents acting under the doctrine of the 1998: 803: 792: 349: 8326: 4338:

interest groups often draft bills as well. The usual next step is for the proposal to be passed to a committee for review. A proposal is usually in one of these forms:

19018: 16457: 16134: 15998: 12948: 12743: 11482: 9932: 6089: 4941: 2272: 10225: 9882: 8532: 5666: 4694:... Unlike the presidency, Congress is difficult to conceptualize." Other scholars suggest that despite the criticism, "Congress is a remarkably resilient institution 20705: 19113: 18453: 18323: 17773: 16633: 16526: 16338: 16326: 16304: 16287: 16219: 16207: 13865: 10147: 8501: 7521: 5852: 3863:

publisher. Indeed, it publishes House and Senate reports and maintains databases which are updated irregularly with publications in a variety of electronic formats.

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was characterized by strong party leadership in both houses of Congress and calls for reform; sometimes reformers said lobbyists corrupted politics. The position of

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Joint sessions of the United States Congress occur on special occasions that require a concurrent resolution from House and Senate. These sessions include counting

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Congress. Smaller states argued for equal representation for each state. The two-chamber structure had functioned well in state governments. A compromise plan, the

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of Johnson, Clinton, and the 2019 trial of Trump all ended in acquittal; in Johnson's case, the Senate fell one vote short of the two-thirds majority required for

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charged that Congress was not doing an adequate job of oversight in this case. There have been concerns about congressional oversight of executive actions such as

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Bills are laws in the making. A House-originated bill begins with the letters "H.R." for "House of Representatives", followed by a number kept as it progresses.

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authority and limits congressional power substantially. In 1857, for example, the Supreme Court struck down provisions of a congressional act of 1820 in its

3533: 3508:, have made public statements when signing congressional legislation about how they understand a bill or plan to execute it, and commentators, including the 3429:

wrote that "Congress's war power has become the most flagrantly disregarded provision in the Constitution," and that the "real erosion began after World War

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II." Disagreement about the extent of congressional versus presidential power regarding war has been present periodically throughout the nation's history.

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in its legislative function. Although not legally mandated, in practice since the 19th century, Congress members are typically affiliated with one of the

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in the office of the vice president; in such a case, a majority vote in each House is required to confirm a president's nomination of a vice president.

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because of remarks made in either house, although each house has its own rules restricting offensive speeches, and may punish members who transgress.

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unless the committee votes, publicly, to close the meeting. A committee might call for public hearings on important bills. Each committee is led by a

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Concurrent Resolutions affect only the House and Senate and accordingly are not presented to the president. In the House, they begin with "H.Con.Res."

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magazine in 1970, "U.S. presidents ordered troops into position or action without a formal congressional declaration a total of 149 times." In 1993,

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forestalled opportunities to run for and hold public office. The two party system and the lack of term limits favored incumbent white men, making the

2501:

cases, while the Senate decides impeachment cases. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an impeached person can be removed from office.

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that a chief problem with Congress was that members focused on their future careers as lobbyists after serving – that Congress was a "

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A system of seniority, in which long-time members of Congress gained more and more power, encouraged politicians of both parties to seek long terms.

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was marked by partisanship, as is the case today. It is generally easier for committees to reach accord on issues when compromise is possible. Some

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million along with concern over PAC influence in Congress. In 2009, there were 4,600 business, labor and special-interest PACs including ones for

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affiliated with no party. In the case of the latter, the lack of affiliation with a political party does not mean that such members are unable to

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Racially polarized voting, racial stereotypes and lack of institutional support still prevent women of color from reaching Congress as easily as

3058: 2712:(benefiting larger states) and exactly two senators chosen by state governments (benefiting smaller states). The ratified constitution created a 2150: 1046: 11577: 10826: 10737: 9582: 8494:"To Make the Militia a National Force: The Power of Congress Under the Constitution "for Organizing, Arming, and Disciplining" the State Troops" 7053: 3322:

Nine is a list of powers Congress does not have, and Section Ten enumerates powers of the state, some of which may only be granted by Congress.

19601: 18519: 18006: 17950: 17943: 17936: 17929: 17922: 17915: 17908: 17901: 17894: 17887: 17880: 17873: 17866: 17859: 17852: 17845: 17838: 17831: 17824: 17817: 17810: 17803: 17796: 17789: 17782: 16450: 16178: 16161: 15736: 14226: 13955: 13445: 12992: 12627: 11377: 11044: 10048: 8016: 7959: 7454:... saying if they had the chance to vote to defeat and replace every single member of Congress, including their own representative, they would 7110: 6748: 6595: 3463:

and is facilitated by Congress's subpoena power. Some critics have charged that Congress has in some instances failed to do an adequate job of

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among the three branches of the federal government. Its authors expected the greater power to lie with Congress as described in Article One.

3640: 3318: 2840: 2479: 1435: 956: 818: 17: 7819: 7237: 2831:, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, which resolved the slavery issue and unified the nation under federal authority but weakened the power of 21647: 21612: 20877: 19433: 19030: 18846: 18787: 18370: 18328: 18084: 18079: 18074: 18069: 18064: 18059: 18054: 18049: 18044: 18039: 16433: 16263: 16195: 16110: 16076: 16025: 15991: 15940: 15872: 15787: 15753: 15719: 15625: 14288: 13541: 13363: 12936: 11599:

Scott, Walter (April 25, 2010). "Personality Parade column:Q. Does Congress pay for its own health care?". New York, NY: Parade. p. 2.

8396: 3119: 2610: 2361: 1801: 1642: 1535: 12108: 11112:., pp. 48–49, notes that members will also regularly appear at local events in their home district, and will maintain offices in the home 9507: 8873: 20557: 20400: 20295: 20040: 19778: 18898: 18809: 18551: 18536: 18418: 16649: 16501: 16416: 16093: 15889: 15821: 15804: 15702: 15668: 14667: 14283: 13999: 13880: 13598: 13551: 13145: 12547: 8851: 5063: 4265: 3213:

and other forms of structural racism made it virtually impossible for women of color to reach Congress prior to 1965. The passage of the

2890: 1945: 1657: 1079: 12286: 12091: 11943: 11437: 11264: 8665: 5984: 5781: 4749:

When the Constitution was ratified in 1787, the ratio of the populations of large states to small states was roughly twelve to one. The

4608:; while these are not intended for electioneering, this rule is often skirted by borderline election-related mailings during campaigns. 4139:. It helps Congress estimate revenue inflows from taxes and helps the budgeting process. It makes projections about such matters as the 3162:– in which a woman temporarily took over a seat vacated by the death of her husband – the most common path to Congress for white women. 3095:

suggested that media prominence led to a greater emphasis on the negative and sensational side of Congress, and referred to this as the

21344: 20383: 19898: 19893: 19883: 19256: 18985: 18233: 16280: 16127: 15923: 15838: 15685: 14449: 14147: 13788: 13227: 11670: 10534: 10115:"Radio, Radio – New Democratic ads attacking House Republicans in the lead-up to the 2010 midterm elections don't tell the whole story" 8938: 6167: 5068: 4882: 4376:

Each chamber determines its own internal rules of operation unless specified in the Constitution or prescribed by law. In the House, a

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people to testify when investigating issues over which it has the power to legislate. Witnesses who refuse to testify may be cited for

3130:

On January 6, 2021, the Congress gathered to confirm the election of Joe Biden, when supporters of the outgoing president Donald Trump

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votes, recent Congresses have not allowed for that, and they cannot vote when the House is meeting as the House of Representatives.

2843:

dominance of Congress. During this time, lobbying activity became more intense, particularly during the administration of President

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of the minority party. Witnesses and experts can present their case for or against a bill. Then, a bill may go to what is called a

4231: 3975: 3739: 3480: 3283: 3191: 3187: 2498: 2329:, as President of the Senate, has a vote in the Senate only when casting a tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives has six 2110: 1700: 1555: 11071: 10657: 10333: 5470: 5361: 3072:

in 1970. In 1971, a delegate for the District of Columbia was authorized, and in 1972 new delegate positions were established for

2394:

requires that members of Congress must be at least 25 years old for the House and at least 30 years old for the U.S. Senate, be a

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established that there be 435 representatives, and the Uniform Congressional Redistricting Act requires that they be elected from

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then it is rejected. If amendments are extensive, sometimes a new bill with amendments built in will be submitted as a so-called

3880: 3054: 2965:'s election in 1932 marked a shift in government power towards the executive branch. Numerous New Deal initiatives came from the 2294: 1968: 1691: 704: 2974:

controlled both houses of Congress for many years. During this time, Republicans and conservative southern Democrats formed the

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who does not normally preside over debates but serves as the majority party's leader. In the Senate, the vice president is the

3788:

result, presidential arm-twisting of senators can happen before a key vote; for example, President Obama's secretary of state,

3210: 3131: 2916: 2434: 2302: 2130: 2115: 2089: 1938: 1753: 1722: 1678: 1652: 1592: 1572: 1470: 1455: 1098: 974: 773: 597: 565: 482: 197: 10949: 9485: 8589: 7626: 7497: 4841: 21337: 20422: 20310: 20180: 20084: 19993: 19917: 19462: 19428: 18443: 18433: 18428: 18286: 18281: 18145: 18110: 17531: 17499: 17483: 17419: 16607: 14268: 14253: 14180: 13921: 13813: 13783: 13573: 12660: 12648: 12344: 12136:"HISTORY – The Framers' Real Motives (book review) Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution book by Woody Holton" 11223: 9334: 8750: 8627: 8334: 7712: 6134: 5735:"History – The Framers' Real Motives (book review) Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution book by Woody Holton" 4903: 4676: 3950: 3904: 3814: 3460: 2629: 2567:

continue to change, the internal structure of Congress is important to understand along with its interactions with so-called

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of the Senate, House, and Presidency. Since 1980, the Democrats have held the Presidency for four terms, but because of the

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Lobbyists represent diverse interests and often seek to influence congressional decisions to reflect their clients' needs.

3649: 3441: 3261: 3224:. Senate elections, which require victories in statewide electorates, have been particularly difficult for women of color. 3069: 2815: 2391: 2010: 1814: 814: 7517: 6086: 4515:

and can change their votes during the last five minutes if they choose; in addition, paper ballots are used occasionally (

3738:

The Constitution concentrates removal powers in the Congress by empowering and obligating the House of Representatives to

2762:

jostled for power in the early years as political parties became pronounced. With the passage of the Constitution and the

2539:... Congress is essentially charged with reconciling our many points of view on the great public policy issues of the day. 2135: 21721: 21627: 21449: 21259: 21182: 20574: 20562: 20500: 20257: 19748: 19647: 19244: 18903: 18799: 18683: 17746: 17700: 17627: 17371: 16829: 14832: 14459: 14263: 14175: 14127: 13950: 13845: 13521: 12931: 9458: 9157: 8084: 7439: 7371: 7351: 5098: 4919: 4601: 4370: 4155:. The speaker of the House and the Senate's president pro tempore jointly appoint the CBO director for a four-year term. 3834:

decision. At the same time, the Supreme Court can extend congressional power through its constitutional interpretations.

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reduced the power of defeated and retiring members of Congress to wield influence despite their lack of accountability.

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such as "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled

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Various social and structural barriers have prevented women from gaining seats in Congress. In the early 20th century,

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By the beginning of the 20th century, party structures and leadership emerged as key organizers of Senate proceedings.

2811: 2180: 2084: 2046: 1872: 1852: 1627: 1622: 1577: 1265: 1147: 990: 982: 730: 8907: 3575:, have effectively widened the scope of Congress's legislative authority far beyond that prescribed in Section Eight. 21841: 21652: 21534: 21374: 21249: 21229: 21117: 21047: 20972: 20857: 20589: 20569: 20520: 20510: 20378: 20300: 20277: 20237: 20101: 20091: 19968: 19943: 19850: 19830: 19308: 19098: 18824: 18206: 17762: 17451: 17415: 17284: 17236: 17156: 17092: 17012: 16980: 16948: 16790: 14893: 14611: 14465: 14221: 13708: 13217: 13167: 12670: 12305: 12214: 12191: 12170: 12085: 12064: 12020: 12000: 11977: 11737: 11231: 11038: 10916: 10887: 10292: 9361: 9284: 9239: 9137: 8818: 8781: 7740: 7320: 7283: 6912: 6846: 6369: 6332: 6250: 6203:

The People's Lobby: Organizational Innovation and the Rise of Interest-Group Politics in the United States, 1890–1925

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Congress, which is an "old form of American politics" that further undermines Congress's reputation with the public:

4662: 3660: 2654: 2155: 1993: 1867: 1862: 1857: 1760: 1735: 1696: 1587: 1530: 1495: 1210: 712: 661: 130: 12970: 10200: 8554: 4944:, changes to congressional pay may not take effect before the next election to the House of the Representatives. In 4802:

Reelection: These are lawmakers who "never met a voter they didn't like" and provide excellent constituent services.

4333:

with committee members sitting in the tiers of raised chairs and those testifying and audience members sitting below

4040:

The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress in 1800. It is primarily housed in three buildings on

21790: 21602: 21509: 21127: 21122: 20932: 20594: 20540: 20525: 20427: 20262: 19738: 19691: 19686: 19588: 19515: 19215: 18980: 18509: 17675: 17643: 17595: 17300: 17108: 17044: 17028: 16932: 16900: 14916: 14765: 14740: 14479: 14278: 14098: 13911: 12655: 11895:"How To Clean Up The Mess From Inside The System, A Plea – And A Plan – To Reform Campaign Finance Before It's Too" 10139: 9264: 5073: 4474:) be present before doing business in each house. The rules of each house assume that a quorum is present unless a 4389: 3887: 3584: 3062: 2971: 2422: 2418: 2395: 1806: 1791: 1767: 1682: 1500: 1482: 1477: 516: 498: 461: 432: 360: 337: 314: 291: 265: 12106: 9995: 9640:"5 keys to who will control Congress: How immigration, gas, Medicare, Iraq and scandal could affect midterm races" 8645: 8201:"Presidential Authority to Conduct Warrantless Electronic Surveillance to Gather Foreign Intelligence Information" 8200: 7557: 2483:

both chambers. The Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves

21902: 21295: 20942: 20628: 20417: 20358: 20267: 20158: 20133: 19630: 19620: 19185: 19103: 19041: 19025: 18871: 18866: 18630: 18610: 18600: 18595: 17738: 17511: 17467: 17399: 17140: 17060: 16916: 14760: 14497: 14486: 14439: 14152: 13032: 12567: 12503: 8233: 4923: 2041: 1819: 1670: 1612: 1567: 1395: 1054: 98: 11317: 10787: 10712: 10396: 8681:"The very structure of the Constitution gives us profound insights about what the founders thought was important 2639: 21907: 21379: 21318: 21313: 20829: 20774: 20734: 20611: 20285: 20232: 20148: 20138: 20106: 20035: 20023: 19978: 19865: 19763: 19625: 19545: 19535: 19321: 19178: 18881: 18839: 18782: 18556: 18467: 17965: 17563: 17188: 17076: 14724: 14705: 14688: 14402: 14390: 14273: 14201: 11922: 11637: 11620: 9187: 5761: 5356: 4826: 4388:

Each bill goes through several stages in each house including consideration by a committee and advice from the

4373:, it has the power to amend or reject them. Congress has sought ways to establish appropriate spending levels. 4099: 4089: 3974:. Legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks are divided among about two hundred committees and 3955: 3034: 2484: 2341: 2221: 2077: 1637: 1632: 1132: 1112: 935: 901: 11805: 9745: 4812:

in the mid-19th century was described as an "issue entrepreneur" who looked for issues to serve his ambitions.

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Congress has alternated between periods of constructive cooperation and compromise between parties, known as

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Another resigned before the Senate could complete the trial. Only three presidents have ever been impeached:

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can also refer to a particular meeting of the legislature. A Congress covers two years; the current one, the

2410: 2246: 2175: 1617: 1602: 1320: 725: 680: 231: 12225: 9779: 8685:... the Founders thought that the Legislative Branch was going to be the great branch of government." —Hon. 7404: 4576:

In this example, the more even distribution is on the left and the gerrymandering is presented on the right.

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Simpson, G. R. (October 22, 1992). "Surprise! Top Frankers Also Have the Stiffest Challenges". Roll Call.

11638:"Congress Travels More, Public Pays: Lawmakers Ramp Up Taxpayer-Financed Journeys; Five Days in Scotland" 11004:"Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We the People can Correct It)" 10587: 10562: 10449: 9899: 9639: 6267: 4867: 4121: 4115: 4032: 3561: 3452: 3331: 3138:

supporters occupied Congress until D.C police evacuated the area. The event was the first time since the

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results, provided that each state has at least one congressional representative. Each senator is elected

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do not caucus with the Democrats, but are "formally aligned with the Democrats for committee purposes".

4845: 4557: 3303: 3179: 3065:. From 2007 to 2008, 175 members of Congress received "half or more of their campaign cash" from PACs. 3023: 2661: 1400: 1305: 21824: 11007: 10818: 3536:(1870) gave Congress authority to enact legislation to enforce rights of African Americans, including 3205:

Women of color faced additional challenges that made their ascension to Congress even more difficult.

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Huckabee, David C. – Analyst in American National Government – Government Division (March 8, 1995).

11030: 10056: 8024: 7963: 7118: 6756: 6603: 4926:(CSRS) was $ 75,528, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was $ 41,208. 4076:, but the library's collections were restored and expanded when Congress authorized the purchase of 21200: 21027: 21007: 20175: 19555: 19525: 19520: 19510: 19276: 19232: 19073: 18834: 18620: 18484: 18298: 18238: 17659: 17591: 17527: 17272: 17104: 17056: 17040: 17000: 16912: 15610: 14673: 14110: 12960: 8899: 5138: 3614: 3509: 3396: 3392: 3323: 2430: 2348:. The members of the House of Representatives are elected for the two-year term of a Congress. The 2322: 1430: 1280: 1195: 720: 108: 11509:"A Petition to Remove Health Care Subsidies From Members of Congress Has Nearly 500000 Signatures" 10492: 10426: 9717: 9428: 8054: 7994: 7937: 7900: 6983: 6882: 6786: 6726: 6693: 6663: 6633: 6573: 6540: 6510: 6407: 6241:

Davidson, Roger H.; Oleszek, Walter J.; Lee, Frances E.; Schickler, Eric; Curry, James M. (2022).

5882: 4718:... The popularity of Congress ebbs and flows with the public's confidence in government generally 3516:

called the Capitol building a "tomb for the antiquated idea that the legislative branch matters".

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have assumed important legislative and budgetary powers that should belong to Congress. So-called

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the legislature since there were two separate chambers. The new government became active in 1789.

21642: 21617: 21057: 20739: 19669: 19405: 19163: 18130: 17631: 17387: 17264: 16968: 14872: 14660: 14604: 14414: 14024: 13855: 13713: 13703: 13493: 13420: 13037: 7811: 7780: 5021: 4978: 4932: 4791: 4402: 4362: 4206: 3476: 3464: 3456: 3240: 2923: 2697: 2216: 2170: 1315: 1310: 1185: 94: 9671:"Toward a more democratic Congress? Our imperfect democratic constitution: the critics examined" 8388: 4352:

Simple resolutions concern only the House or only the Senate and begin with "H.Res." or "S.Res."

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Good public policy: Legislators who "burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership".

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suggested there were four main congressional eras, with considerable overlap, and included the

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began recruiting, training and funding women candidates. Watershed political moments like the

21592: 21489: 21484: 21464: 21459: 21216: 21167: 21077: 21042: 21032: 21017: 20992: 20962: 20897: 20852: 20789: 20320: 20003: 19118: 18675: 18640: 18635: 18578: 18561: 18291: 17754: 17715: 17655: 17519: 17431: 17407: 17391: 17248: 17120: 14512: 13728: 13655: 13568: 13563: 13072: 12075: 11939: 11918: 11859: 10079:"Decision '92 – Special Voters' Guide to State and Local Elections – The Congressional Races" 8662: 5976: 5777: 5757: 5078: 4681: 4667: 4422:

A bill which reaches the floor of the full house can be simple or complex and begins with an

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in 1803, effectively giving the Supreme Court a power to nullify congressional legislation.

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Elections are influenced by many variables. Some political scientists speculate there is a

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under the law. Generally militia forces are controlled by state governments, not Congress.

3171: 2939: 2860: 2856: 2722: 2325:'s appointment. Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators and 435 representatives. The 2306: 1913: 1410: 1385: 1290: 1230: 1205: 1175: 1165: 835: 581: 549: 443: 416: 193: 11940:"Federalist No. 15 – The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union" 11344:"These 97 Members of Congress Reported Trades in Companies Influenced by Their Committees" 7543: 5778:"Federalist No. 15 – The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union" 4459:

to limit budget bills. Both houses use a budget enforcement mechanism informally known as

2599: 8: 21568: 21162: 21152: 21012: 20957: 20779: 20769: 20744: 20212: 20128: 19938: 19654: 19339: 18970: 18167: 17723: 17707: 17671: 17535: 17503: 17471: 17423: 17296: 17024: 16920: 16896: 14822: 14429: 14380: 14142: 14093: 13778: 13645: 12080:. Hauppauge, New York: Novinka Books, an imprint of Nova Science Publishers. p. 21. 11609: 9205: 9029: 8689: 4994: 4671:, which argued in favor of a strong connection between citizens and their representatives 4242: 4027: 3936: 3891: 3610: 3339: 3225: 3151: 2487: 2461: 2385: 2326: 2206: 2125: 1345: 1300: 1240: 1215: 1170: 617: 11096:(Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, 1963), p. 55; cf. pp. 50–55, 64–66, 75–84. 8138: 7576:"The US Capitol has been stormed before – when British troops burned Washington in 1814" 7386:... if they had the chance to vote to defeat and replace every single member of Congress 5020:

The Constitution guarantees absolute freedom of debate in both houses, providing in the

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on the executive branch. Congress can borrow money on the credit of the United States,

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or PACs could make substantive donations to congressional candidates via such means as

2954: 2828: 2820: 2787: 2779: 2576: 2514:, began on January 3, 2023, and will end on January 3, 2025. Since the adoption of the 2231: 2226: 2190: 2165: 2056: 2036: 1540: 1375: 1255: 1220: 12452: 11671:"Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 27 – "Financial Compensation for the Congress"" 10251:"Campaign on Television People May Dislike Attack Ads, but the Messages Tend to Stick" 7876: 7418:

the biggest risk to the world's largest economy may be its own elected representatives

4650:

Since members of Congress must advertise heavily on television, this usually involves

3087:

In the late 20th century, the media became more important in Congress's work. Analyst

759: 473: 21559: 21454: 20952: 20195: 19351: 18703: 18201: 18120: 18105: 17583: 17559: 17375: 17359: 17184: 17072: 14582: 14546: 14525: 13982: 13718: 13665: 13625: 13610: 13297: 12417: 12340: 12301: 12295: 12259: 12247: 12210: 12203: 12187: 12166: 12160: 12081: 12060: 12016: 11996: 11973: 11733: 11385: 11351: 11227: 11034: 10883: 10288: 9357: 9330: 9280: 9269: 9133: 8934: 8814: 8777: 8489: 7736: 7708: 7653:"Here are the 4 congresswomen known as 'The Squad' targeted by Trump's racist tweets" 7316: 7279: 6908: 6842: 6476: 6464: 6365: 6328: 6246: 6130: 6122: 6055: 5912: 5620: 5558: 5516: 5476: 5324: 5167: 4998: 4478:

demonstrates the contrary and debate often continues despite the lack of a majority.

4218: 3822: 3497: 3484: 3311: 3195: 3134:. The session of Congress ended prematurely, and Congress representatives evacuated. 3007: 3002: 2894: 2871: 2733: 2665: 2650: 2406: 1550: 1420: 1380: 1335: 1235: 1137: 1032: 163: 16821: 12330: 11727: 10282: 9349: 8808: 8771: 8581: 7495:

Americans' faith in Congress lower than all major institutions – ever

7310: 6902: 6322: 5614: 5553:

Julian E. Zelizer; Joanne Barrie Freeman; Jack N. Rakove; Alan Taylor, eds. (2004).

5510: 4356:

Representatives introduce a bill while the House is in session by placing it in the

2901: 21587: 21102: 20111: 19958: 19664: 19484: 18494: 18335: 18318: 18313: 18152: 17663: 17551: 17256: 14344: 13743: 13593: 13412: 12237: 11813: 11774: 11695: 10945: 9988:"Campaign Finance Groups Praise Rep. Welch for Cosponsoring Fair Elections Now Act" 8420:"U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms Goal Is to Limit Risk to Broader Economy" 8199:

Elizabeth B. Bazan and Jennifer K. Elsea, legislative attorneys (January 5, 2006).

6456: 5977:"U.S. Constitution: Article I (section 8 paragraph 3) – Article Text – Annotations" 5228:"Senate group eyes Social Security changes as Biden hits Republicans over benefits" 4763: 4423: 4287: 4077: 3810: 3765: 3594: 3545: 3383: 3183: 3167: 3155: 3088: 2950: 2844: 2799: 2775: 2755: 2617: 2414: 2314: 1142: 629: 20683: 10654:"Congress and the Public: Congressional Job Approval Ratings Trend (1974–present)" 8742: 8624: 4385:

sometimes turn to outside experts to learn about proper congressional procedures.

21709: 21366: 21290: 21052: 19820: 19596: 19494: 19266: 18566: 18499: 18268: 18189: 18135: 17615: 17455: 17323: 17288: 17240: 17208: 17160: 17096: 17016: 16984: 16952: 14559: 13509: 13417: 11863: 11616: 11483:"This chart shows why members of Congress really should earn more than $ 172,000" 8709:"Impeachment: The Past; Johnson's Trial: 2 Bitter Months for a Still-Torn Nation" 8695: 8669: 8649: 8631: 7561: 7550: 7501: 7478: 7443: 7411: 7375: 7355: 6402: 6105: 6093: 5314: 5150: 4878: 4859: 4634: 4318: 4304: 4271: 4247: 4174: 4094: 3909: 3800: 3789: 3671: 3566: 3472: 3426: 3421: 3416: 3364: 3092: 2991: 2983: 2935: 2848: 2759: 2572: 2522: 2438: 2318: 1925: 1545: 1027: 1010: 1000: 943: 879: 806: 11958: 10980: 9088: 8998: 6024: 4902:

Some critics complain congressional pay is high compared with a median American

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Congress is constantly changing and is constantly in flux. In recent times, the

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Parlapiano, Alicia; Playford, Adam; Kelly, Kate; Uz, Ege (September 13, 2022).

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From 1974 to 1984, PACs grew from 608 to 3,803 and donations leaped from $ 12.5

2472: 2337: 1844: 1771: 21234: 11844: 11287: 6460: 6444:"Blending Powers: Hamilton, FDR, and the Backlash That Shaped Modern Congress" 4000:

president of the Senate. In addition, the Senate elects an officer called the

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are maintained by the Center for Legislative Archives, which is a part of the

21886: 21868: 21855: 21285: 21280: 20997: 20844: 19271: 18571: 18380: 18015: 17327: 17144: 17064: 13977: 13803: 13583: 13390: 12251: 11389: 11355: 10558: 9200: 6468: 5154: 4795: 4531: 4245:", one for each year; Congress has occasionally been called into an extra or 4140: 3914: 3769: 3720: 3716: 3537: 3493: 3307: 3271: 3236: 3206: 2998: 2919:

chairmen remained influential in both houses until the reforms of the 1970s.

2832: 2807: 2771: 2685: 2548: 2185: 2051: 926: 868: 846: 795: 764: 633: 407: 356: 310: 261: 12365:. University of Chicago Press: Chicago. (Equal representation in the Senate) 2905:

The 200th anniversary of Congress anniversary in 1989, which was honored by

20715: 19578: 19550: 18605: 17567: 17192: 17080: 14848: 14072: 13972: 13620: 13615: 11775:"Rules Of The Senate | U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration" 10510:"Informed Opinions on Today's Topics – Looking for Answers to Voter Apathy" 9391:"Walter Oleszek: A Hill Staffer's Guide to Congressional History and Habit" 9232: 4775: 4210: 4057: 4041: 3918: 3757: 3753: 3501: 3468: 3404: 3229: 3221: 3135: 3103: 2979: 2298: 1022: 1005: 993: 857: 784: 333: 287: 181: 12114:. Congressional Research Service – The Library of Congress. Archived from 11967: 4592:

at a university. Another advantage for representatives is the practice of

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committee that includes senators and representatives sometimes by using a

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a bill which means to change part of it. Generally, discussion requires a

4064:; and multiple overseas offices. The Library had mostly law books when it 3378:, including the exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the 2688:

body with equal representation among the states in which each state had a

21137: 20718: 19855: 19386: 18723: 18625: 18365: 18228: 17984: 17439: 17128: 13821: 13773: 13680: 13635: 12495: 12420:

was created from a revision of this article dated 4 August 2006

12242: 11412:"Stock ban proposed for Congress to stop insider trading among lawmakers" 9329:(32 ed.). Bethesda, MD: Columbia Books. November 2007. p. 949. 9233:"The Congressional Research Service and the American Legislative Process" 5032: 4737: 4625: 4589: 4545: 4475: 4398: 4073: 3826: 3761: 3606: 3597:, the federal district and national capital, and the U.S. territories of 3541: 3400: 3388: 3228:

became the first woman of color to reach the Senate in 1993. The second,

2987: 2966: 2556: 2377: 2290: 2211: 1015: 21704: 10362: 9508:"The U.S. Congress – Votes Database – Members of Congress / Robert Byrd" 4906:. Others have countered that congressional pay is consistent with other 2766:, the anti-federalist movement was exhausted. Some activists joined the 1920: 21697: 20977: 20726: 18718: 18524: 18350: 18345: 18263: 15650: 11850: 7108: 5259:"Sanders calls Sinema 'corporate Democrat' who 'sabotaged' legislation" 5123: 4910:. Another criticism is that members of Congress are insulated from the 4851: 4809: 4755: 4584: 4524: 3996: 3831: 3783:

The Senate has an important check on the executive power by confirming

3412: 3350: 3028: 2836: 2713: 2709: 2584: 2564: 2560: 2369: 2236: 12363:

Sizing Up the Senate: The Unequal Consequences of Equal Representation

9028:. U.S. Government Printing Office Access. May 25, 2010. Archived from 8642: 7554: 7349:

Unproductive Congress: How stalemates became the norm in Washington DC

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committees. Further, Congress has ancillary organizations such as the

3436:

Congress can establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and

3279:, which authorizes it to tax citizens, spend money, and print currency 2778:

were forming about 1790–1791 to oppose policies of Treasury Secretary

21574: 20207: 20200: 14044: 13650: 11288:"Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress – and a Plan to Stop It" 10322:

Lobbying: influencing decision making with transparency and integrity

6245:(18th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage CQ Press. pp. 161–162. 4863: 4855: 4639: 4527:

for another. Congressional votes are recorded on an online database.

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One of Congress's foremost non-legislative functions is the power to

3437: 2676:, referring to the new nation as the "United States of America". The 2595: 1978: 909: 21692: 15640: 11894: 10114: 9813: 7206: 4572: 3655: 3298: 78: 18390: 18340: 14619:

First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln

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Bacon, Donald C.; Davidson, Roger H.; Keller, Morton, eds. (1995).

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United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

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Senators and representatives enjoy free mailing privileges, called

4179: 3843: 3419:

described the American response as a "police action". According to

3382:, and to make rules for the military. Some critics charge that the 3175: 2958: 2580: 2506: 2381: 14877: 12351:(Legislative procedure, informal practices, and other information) 12007:(Legislative procedure, informal practices, and other information) 8848:"Clinton Presses Senate to Ratify Nuclear Arms Treaty with Russia" 7553:, Congressional Research Service; U.S. House of Representatives, " 7238:"Campaign Finance; Problems in the PAC's: Study Finds Frustration" 6973: 5089:

United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

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Committees write legislation. While procedures, such as the House

3287:

Congress authorizes defense spending, such as the purchase of the

3178:

moved into electoral politics. Beginning in the 1970s, donors and

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Smith, Steven S.; Roberts, Jason M.; Vander Wielen, Ryan (2007).

11728: