Monday, November 23, 2009
Congress--Question 16
16. What compensation do Congressmen receive? Include pay, benefits, staff, supplies, etc.
Congress--Question 15
15. Define hold and filibuster. Discuss how each allows a minority to influence policy making.
Congress--Question 14
14. Discuss the various theories on how members of Congress should represent their constituents (trustee, delegate, etc.). Include some opinions on the value of diversity among members of Congress.
Congress--Question 13
13. Using the example of the China Trade Act of 2000 (page 262 in textbook), summarize the efforts by both sides to pass or kill this bill. Have we seen any similar actions this fall during the health care reform debate? If so, explain.
Congress--Question 12
12. Identify and describe the factors that influence voting patterns of members of Congress. Include internal influences within Congress and external influences.
Congress--Question 11
11. Why do Americans "love their Congressman" yet dislike Congress as a whole?
Congress--Question 10
10. Describe the impeachment process. Use examples from Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.
Congress--Question 8
8. How did Congress attempt to curb Presidential influence through the War Powers Act and Budget and Impoundment Control Act?
Congress--Question 6
6. How and why do members of Congress participate in the practice of logrolling, consensus building, and pork barreling?
Congress--Question 5
5. Identify and describe the types of committees and their functions (Ways and Means, Foreign Relations, Rules, etc.). What is the significance of a committee assignment for a member of Congress?
Congress--Question 4
4. Identify and describe the major leadership positions in both houses of Congress. Explain the role of political parties in the organization of Congress.
Congress--Question 2
2. Define reapportionment and redistricting. What is the impact of each on the composition of Congress? Define gerrymandering and discuss Supreme Court decisions on this issue.
Congress--Question 1
1. What is the demographic composition of Congress and why does it not reflect the national population? Include a typical biography of a member of Congress.
Congress
What an exciting time to study Congress! We can observe all the dry facts in the textbook in action. Our legislators are debating several important issues such as Health Care Reform, extension of the Patriot Act, raising the national debt level, continuation of the Estate tax, and confirmation of Obama appointments, among others. They need to make decisions on several of these issues before the Christmas break and they look forward to their holiday just as much as you do.
Sixteen questions about Congress have been posted on this blog. Answer your assigned question for a daily grade by Wednesday, Dec. 2. I will grade your posted answer on the blog.
You will a Congress Report on an assigned member of the Virginia delegation in the national Congress. Instructions for this report are posted below. This is a test grade (100 points) and is due the beginning of the period, Wednesday, Dec. 9.
CONGRESS REPORT
Congressman _________________________ District _____
Prepare a typed report providing the information requested below. Each answer should be numbered to correspond to the question or request for information. The questions should be incorporated in your answers.
Information for 1-5 can be obtained from your Congressman’s website. Randy Forbes is www.house.gov/forbes
1. Provide several paragraphs of biographical information about your congressman including when he was first elected to Congress.
2. Provide the geographic location of the district and any other interesting data on the district.
3. List the Congressman’s committee assignments, leadership roles, and caucus affiliations.
4. Describe and evaluate the types of constituent service available from the congressman.
5. Evaluate the value of the website to constituents.
Information for the next questions about campaign contributions and expenditures will use the following websites:
www.opensecrets.org
www.maplight.org
www.fec.gov
6. What were your candidate’s total receipts? What percent was from outside the district? Outside the state? From individuals? From PAC’s? Compare the amount of money the winner and the challenger received.
7. Discuss the source of the money. Which were the major industries and types of PACS that contributed. Review the list of Top Donors and the Top Metro Areas. Try to explain why your candidate received money from outside the district.
8. The maplight site has a tab for money received near votes. Describe one incident for your candidate.
9. Look at your candidate’s expenditures. Discuss the largest expenditures and any particularly interesting ones. Here are the links to this info:
www.fec.gov
map of U.S.—click on VA
2nd map of U.S.—click on VA again
Choose a district—pick your assigned district
Chart of candidates—pick incumbent—click on his/her name
II. Disbursements—select Operating Expenditures
Information for the last questions about the 2008 election will come from:
www.sbe.virginia.gov
On left, click on Election Information, then Election Results,
For Year of Election, Select 2008, then November 4, 2008 Official Election Results
10. Give the statewide election percentages for Obama/Biden and McCain/ Palin. On the right side of the page click on “Votes by district” and give the election percentages for Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin for your district. Note and discuss any differences.
11. Note the political party of the candidate who won in your district. Did the same party win the presidential vote and the congressional vote? Was the congressional winner the incumbent? Give the percent of the margin of victory of the congressional winner over the challenger. Decide if the district is “safe” or “marginal” for your winner and explain. You may want to review results from previous elections to make this decision.
Sixteen questions about Congress have been posted on this blog. Answer your assigned question for a daily grade by Wednesday, Dec. 2. I will grade your posted answer on the blog.
You will a Congress Report on an assigned member of the Virginia delegation in the national Congress. Instructions for this report are posted below. This is a test grade (100 points) and is due the beginning of the period, Wednesday, Dec. 9.
CONGRESS REPORT
Congressman _________________________ District _____
Prepare a typed report providing the information requested below. Each answer should be numbered to correspond to the question or request for information. The questions should be incorporated in your answers.
Information for 1-5 can be obtained from your Congressman’s website. Randy Forbes is www.house.gov/forbes
1. Provide several paragraphs of biographical information about your congressman including when he was first elected to Congress.
2. Provide the geographic location of the district and any other interesting data on the district.
3. List the Congressman’s committee assignments, leadership roles, and caucus affiliations.
4. Describe and evaluate the types of constituent service available from the congressman.
5. Evaluate the value of the website to constituents.
Information for the next questions about campaign contributions and expenditures will use the following websites:
www.opensecrets.org
www.maplight.org
www.fec.gov
6. What were your candidate’s total receipts? What percent was from outside the district? Outside the state? From individuals? From PAC’s? Compare the amount of money the winner and the challenger received.
7. Discuss the source of the money. Which were the major industries and types of PACS that contributed. Review the list of Top Donors and the Top Metro Areas. Try to explain why your candidate received money from outside the district.
8. The maplight site has a tab for money received near votes. Describe one incident for your candidate.
9. Look at your candidate’s expenditures. Discuss the largest expenditures and any particularly interesting ones. Here are the links to this info:
www.fec.gov
map of U.S.—click on VA
2nd map of U.S.—click on VA again
Choose a district—pick your assigned district
Chart of candidates—pick incumbent—click on his/her name
II. Disbursements—select Operating Expenditures
Information for the last questions about the 2008 election will come from:
www.sbe.virginia.gov
On left, click on Election Information, then Election Results,
For Year of Election, Select 2008, then November 4, 2008 Official Election Results
10. Give the statewide election percentages for Obama/Biden and McCain/ Palin. On the right side of the page click on “Votes by district” and give the election percentages for Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin for your district. Note and discuss any differences.
11. Note the political party of the candidate who won in your district. Did the same party win the presidential vote and the congressional vote? Was the congressional winner the incumbent? Give the percent of the margin of victory of the congressional winner over the challenger. Decide if the district is “safe” or “marginal” for your winner and explain. You may want to review results from previous elections to make this decision.
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