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Dabney Notes 7 2
Dabney Notes 7 2
1. Constituents’ interest
2. Party’s interests/ President president’s agenda
3. 3Vote according to their own beliefs
4. Personal interest
Committees- see p. 284 for more info
Standing committees
Permanent committees
Have fixed jurisdiction
People on these committees stay on these committees until they decide to move onto
something else
Special/Select committees
Created for a special purpose (ex. Military sensitivity in Iran—back in the day)
Generally are only supposed to be around for a certain time and then go away, but often
become institutionalized and end up staying around much longer than people expect
Joint committees
Created to achieve agreement in Congress
Different from conference committees because they are not final, not the last word on the
issue
Conference committees
designed to resolve the differences between the House and Senate on a particular policy
issue
Once that issue is resolved, then it’s done and will go up for passage or rejection by
Congress
The final arbiter on policy by both committees
Ad Hoc committees
Meant for policies that are somewhat sensitive in nature
Off topic policies that emerge, don’t really fit into the other, longer-standing committees
Can be extended into longer standing committees (9/11 relief committees can branch off
into homeland security committees)
People like committees because there is a sense of pride and a sense of purpose
There are Exclusive Committees, Major Committees, Non-Major
Exclusive
You can only be one one exclusive committee
Such a large issue, you only have time for one!
Major Committee
You can be on a major committee, and a non-major committee
Not as restricting/ exclusive
Non-Major Committee
No limit to how many of these you can join, usually 2-3
Officials might be matched up with a committee based on their expertise/ experience, or
because of their circumstances (like location, living near a coal deposit, etc.) that gives them
insight
District concern- strong desire to be on the committee because of concern for their own
district or area
Seniority can also give an official the privilege or right to serve on a committee
However, a newcomer showing clear signs of expertise can also get the job
Member request
(Network), Party Loyalty (you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours)
Terms of Office
Senators have a six-year term
House of Reps have a two-year term
Voter fatigue, low voter turnout in the U.S., every time you turn around there is an election!
House Reps want to extend their terms, having to devote attention to the “endless
campaign” takes attention away from really dealing with the issues “single-minded re-
election seeker”
Term Limits
Demerits Merits
Loss of Expertise/ Experience New blood
Insufficient memory Fresh ideas
Diminish pursuit of time-sensitive or Diversity
time-consuming or difficult legislation Room for new types of leadership,
(efforts) diverse leadership
Power of the President
Congress was conflicted over amount of presidential authority necessary
Didn’t want to return to system of monarchy that they’d just escaped, protect their
democratic government
He has more managing authority than law/policy-making authority
“necessary and expedient” (executor of law passed by congress
Can act in war, with the help/ approval of Congress
Can make appointments of Supreme Court Justices
Federal Papers #69: President can only be a leader as long as the people keep voting
him into office
“Take Care” Clause
President: Article 2, Section 3
He shall take care that all laws will be faithfully executed
Has power to receive diplomats and diplomacy, negotiate treaties with other countries,
Way that president uses Constitution to obtain more power:
Executive privilege
Executive order
Creating laws without the approval or inclusion of congress (ex. “No Child Left
Behind”)
Executive agreement
Congress created these checks and balances because of paranoia, internal checks to make
sure there is reign on his power
Congress did not want a vigorous and energetic president who could just make things
happen
If one man moved fast in presidency, it would speed up the process, one-man institution will
move less sluggishly than the multi-man institution of Congress—(Federalist Papers #70)