Chapter 11:
Congress
Synopsis
We expect the Congress to make wise policy decisions in a
democratic fashion. But what type of representation
defines a "democratic" legislature? The founding fathers
struggled over the apportionment of the House and the
Senate to try to balance competing views of what a
representative democracy should look like. When we argue
today over how to improve congressional performance, we
still must think about questions of representation.
The policymaking cycle in the Congress begins with issues
reaching the congressional agenda. Once Congress is ready
to fashion legislation, the work begins in committee.
Policy is most closely scrutinized and most of the
decisions over the substance of legislation are made in
committee. The authority of the committee system promotes
pluralism in the Congress. The leaders in the Congress
can play an important role in building coalitions for
legislation as it emerges from committee. Oversight can
be thought of as both the final state of one legislative
cycle and the beginning of another. It is the final stage
in the sense that oversight activity is directed at
finding out how well the legislation that was passed is
working. At the same time, it provides crucial
information to members of Congress to help them amend
existing legislation. That is, oversight helps to start
the cycle of legislating all over again.
When legislation does reach the floor, what influences
the way a member of Congress votes? This chapter examines
various factors that can have influence,
includinginfluence, political parties, the president,
constituents, and interest groups. then focuses on
oversight. Oversight can be thought of as both the final
state of one legislative cycle and the beginning of
another. It is the final stage in the sense that
oversight activity is directed at finding out how well
the legislation that was passed is working. At the same
time, it provides crucial information to members of
Congress to help them amend existing legislation. That
is, oversight helps to start the cycle of legislating all
over again.
The end of the chapter turns once again to
representation. Members of Congress are caught between
the needs of their constituencies and what is best for
the country as a whole. The classic question is posed:
Should senators and representatives act as trustees or
delegates? This debate is relevant to one of the larger
themes of the book. Members of Congress who act as
delegates help to promote pluralism in the Congress. If
we decide we want a more majoritarian Congress, we need a
fundamental reform of our party system.
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