Thursday, November 6, 2008

Thursday: November 6, 2008 Notes

[Ending Chapter 10]
The Revolving Door-interest groups criticized
Government officials both in congress and executive agencies quite their jobs to take on positions as lobbyists
may give private interests unfair influence over gov. decision

Reform of Interest Group System
1. difficult to put limits on interest groups without limiting freedoms
2. PAC contributions can be problamatic:
A. PAC donations give donors better access to members of Congress
B. Congress has required disclosure of all campaign contributions so sources can be idenified
3. 1995-congress passed a law requiring lobbyists to register and file semi-annnual reports, disclosing their clients
A. critics charge that PAC'S reinforce ,if not expand, the inequalities between rich and poor
B. PAC supporters counter that people should have right to join with others who think as they do

Chapter 11
2 separate and powerful chambers: bicameral nature has orgins of neogotaiations (Great Compromise)
Representation in House based on population-2 year terms- after new census there is new reapportionment of House seats and can be changed/revised-435 seats
Reapportionment: pop/# of H.seats= # of citizens per state
then take pop. of state/# of citizen per state= reapportionment

1964 Wesberry V. Sanders- Supreme court says districts be drawn so 1 vote would be as equal as possible to another ("one man, one vote" decision)

****State legislatures redraw the congressional district boundaries for their state

1. State legislatures redraw boundaries to make it easier to get candidates elected is gerrymandering
2. Racial gerrymandering-after 1990 census Justice Dept. ordered N.C to redraw their proposed boundaries in order to allow for the election of one more black rep.
South Carolina Case: Shaw v. Reno- plantiffs charged the justice dept with reverse discrimination based on equal protection clause of 14th amendment. Court allowed the district lines to be redrawn by Justice dept.
-Other case: Easley v. Cromartie: 2001, race could be factor in redistricting but not only deciding factor
-2 senators per state- 6 yrs terms
2. Powers of congress defined in article I section 8 plus "elastic clause" or necessary proper clause

3. Constitution gives house and sentate similar legisative tasks even though each have powers of their own.
A. House- impeachment. Senate- acts like a court to try impeachment
B. Senate approves major President Appointment
C. Senate has sole power to affirm/ratify treaties
D. revenue bill starts n the House Ways and Mean Commitee

No comments: