cumtbAmericanCultureAmericanGovernment.pptVIP

6. Congressperson and Their Constituents ? The people elect members of Congress to represent their interests. Those elected must be a resident of the state from which he is elected. ? Members of Congress would be sensitive to the interests of the people they represent. They shall keep faith with their constituents. ? Many members of Congress work hard to interact with the people they represent. They try to improve their understanding of constituents’ opinions, especially on complex issues. They also want to build constituent support for their own views. They may hold leadership of constituent opinion which is an important component of representative relationship. 7. Interest Groups and Lawmaking In what way can interest groups affect lawmaking? ? Lawmaking is affected at every stage by special interest groups. ? They propose and help draft legislation. ? They testify at hearings. ? They lobby members in committee and during floor debate. ? They try to pressure the President to veto the bill that they oppose. 8. Congress’ Administrative Oversight How does Congress carry out its function of administrative oversight? ? In many cases, Congress delegates responsibilities to bureaucratic agencies, charging them with making expert decisions but subjecting those decisions to legislative review. ? Congress has several tools to carry out its oversight function. ? Financial control – the power of the purse – is the most the important and effective tool. ? Legislative veto – Congress adds veto provisions to some legislation, which allows one or both houses of Congress to block executive action. ? Committee hearing – which is not effective. ? Political consideration ? Impeachment – the legislature’s weapon of last resort. 9. President’s Options to Congressional Bills What options does the President have responding to the bills passed in Congress? ? The President has several options. ? To sign the bill, at which point it becomes law. ? To allow the bill to be