Lesson 52: Congressional Behavior

Lesson 52: Congressional Behavior

Do Now: Complete "Do Now 48" on Google Classroom.

Essential Questions

• How is congressional behavior affected by partisanship and divided government?

• How do role conceptions of members of Congress relate accountability to their constituency?

• What is redistricting?

• How was redistricting related to gerrymandering and unequal representation of constituencies partly addressed in Baker v. Carr?​

• What is the "one person, one vote" doctrine?

• What was the impact of the ​no racial gerrymandering decision in Shaw v. Reno?

Schedule

1. Quizziz Slides (20 min)

2. Current Scenarios (10 min)

3. SCOTUS Cases (15 min)

4. SCOTUS Comparison (15 min)

Logrolling

Trading votes to ensure passage of bills

Earmarks and Pork and Barrel Spending

Legislation giving benefits to constituents or states hoping to win votes in return (Quizlet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhOMmqKjuY

Multiple Choice

The term “pork barrel” refers to legislation specifically designed to

• encourage a balanced federal budget

• ensure the careful inspection of farm goods and other foodstuffs

• provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents

• exchange of votes between legislators

Models of Representation

• How is congressional behavior affected by partisanship?

Multiple Choice

Senator Dayton has served as the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee for fifteen years. Based on his experience, he believes signing the Iran Peace Deal is the best way to protect the nation from a nuclear Iran. Which model of representation is Senator Dayton exemplifying (demonstrating).

• Partisan Model

• Trustee Model

• Delegate Model

• Politico Model

Open Ended

In a divided government, how might the senate check the power of the president?

In a divided government, how might the house check the power of the president?

How is congressional behavior influenced by divided government?

-Gridlock - unwillingness to compromise

-Brinksmanship - taking gridlock to the eduge that often results in government shutdown

Ideological Divisions

• Party ideology is the main influence on congressional members that affects their beliefs about the role of government the type of policy they will support

• Divided Government - when the presidency is held by one party and one or both houses is held by the other party

• Divided governments leads to partisan voting

• Presidential appointees may be opposed

• ​Necessitates compromise and negotiations

What is redistricting?

• Redistricting = process used by state legislatures to redraw House districts boundaries based on changes in the population after the census

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BccbUg-2iN4

What is gerrymandering?

State legislatures redraw boundaries based on data or guesses about how districts will vote to the advantage of one party