Mastery project 4
1. Identify and explain the organization of the Legislature
The Legislative branch is bicameral composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are 435 representatives and this number is based on state population. The representatives can initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and they elect the president when there is a tie in the electoral college. There are 100 senators; two per state. The senate ratifies treaties, confirm high officials that the president appoints, and they are the ones that try impeachment cases.
2. Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Legislature, both formal and informal.
Legislature can declare war. For example, congress declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941. One informal power of the Legislature as the power to do what is "necessary and proper." One example of this is the McCulloch vs Maryland case in which congress had attempted to create a national bank. The "necessary and proper" clause allowed them to do that.
3. Identify and explain how Congress shares powers with the Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
Through a system of checks and balances, congress can override the president's vetoes, meanwhile the president has to agree with congress declaring war and the passing of legislation. With the judiciary branch, congress has to confirm the officials that were appointed by the president. With the bureaucracy, congress has to check the rules that they set up and make sure that they are constitutional.
4. Discuss the implications of Congress sharing powers with each of the following: Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
Congressional oversight gives congress the power to be able to investigate and oversee the executive branch. This is important because congress has to approve the high officials that the President may appoint. This helps to prevent corruption. Again, with the judiciary branch has to confirm the judges. With bureaucracy, congress has to make sure that the federal bureaucracy is making appropriate rules, and that they are following the rules. This leads to rules regulation and fair rules for the people.
5. Discuss the functions that Congress performs.
Congress makes laws, revise them, and can add amendments to the constitution. They have congressional oversight of the president. These people represent the citizens by helping them, hearing what they have to say, and educating them.
6. Identify how the power of the Congress has/may evolve gradually.
The power of congress has evolved from 20th century because before that, congress was generally dominant over the executive branch as it balanced the large and small states. Congress lost its dominancy in times of political differences within congress. For example, the slavery issue and when new states were added. In times of presidential activism, congress regained its dominancy which means that there is still a potential that congress may win become dominant again.
7. Identify how the power of the Congress has/may changes dramatically as a result of crisis.
In times of crisis, the power of congress may change because there is either political disagreement within congress itself, or the decisions that need to be made cannot be done with congress as it takes too much time and the people get frustrated. In times of crisis, the executive branch can make some decisions without congress to get things done faster for the people. It is only during this time that the executive branch has more power over congress.
8. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and political parties.
Congress contains members of both the Republican and Democratic Party. This means that both sides have to agree to get a bill passed. The President uses political parties to his advantage by selecting congress people of their own political party so that they will agree with his/her bills.
9. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and interest groups.
Congress use interest groups to help with their image. They choose interest groups/bills to sponsor based on the people that they want to appeal to. This allows the person to establish themselves within the people and hopefully aid them in their reelection.
10. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and media.
Congress uses the media to expand their voter support, and to give media attention to the bills that they want to pass. This is how congressmen will show of the bills that they sponsor in the hopes of gaining the loyalty of certain groups of people. The media also helps to keep the people involved in politics by informing them of current bills.
11. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and state and local governments.
The house of representatives number of people is based on the population of the state. Within each state, there are districts that the representatives represent. These representatives tend to represent districts that have a large number of people that are of the same political party.